Your optometrist near San Diego offers vision therapy treatment for adults.
Far too often, people believe that vision therapy is only for children. This, however, isn't the case. Adults who have a lazy eye, have eyes that don't work together properly, or who experience double vision may benefit from vision therapy.
If these problems have persisted since childhood, vision therapy can still be used. Even if you haven’t had vision therapy in the past, it's never too late.
Purpose of Vision Therapy
Vision therapy is for individuals who have an eye problem that can stem from the muscles in the eye. Therapy focuses on strengthening and training these muscles to correct the vision problem. Children may struggle with vision problems and are unaware of how to compensate. Therefore, they may struggle to read.
Adults, on the other hand, learn to compensate but may find tasks to be difficult. For instance, computer-related tasks, paperwork, and reading may be difficult and stressful. Vision therapy can help address the underlying cause, so an adult can perform these tasks without stress and frustration.
Types of Issues That Can Be Treated Using Vision Therapy
Dr. Nathan Anderson can help adults with issues like strabismus, amblyopia, and double vision.
Amblyopia
Amblyopia is the medical term for a lazy eye. It occurs when a person has one eye that doesn't work properly. Individuals who have this problem can't make their one eye work properly. It occurs as the result of a miscommunication between the brain and the eye. The brain isn't able to recognize sight in the "lazy" eye.
Over time, the problem worsens. The brain begins to rely more and more on the stronger eye. In the other eye, a person's vision begins to worsen. You may notice that your weak eye may drift in different directions without you controlling it.
Strabismus
Strabismus occurs when your eyes don't line up. When you focus on something, one of your eyes doesn't look in the same direction. Most often, a person has the form of strabismus known as being cross-eyed.
Your eyes have six muscles on the outside of them that help them to function. These muscles are necessary for your eyes to line up properly and focus. Those with this condition have muscles that aren't helping them to focus and line up properly.
If this isn't treated, your brain may begin to ignore signals for the eye that doesn't focus. Eventually, this could lead to you having a lazy eye.
Double Vision
Double vision is an issue that occurs when you see two of the same object. It can stem from a number of problems, such as severe astigmatism, cataracts, or Grave's disease, among other issues. Depending on the cause of your double vision, our optometry specialist may be able to help.
Types of Therapy We Offer
One type of therapy we offer at Anderson Family Vision Therapy includes working with our optometrist to strengthen the muscles in your eyes and help them work properly. You'll go through a series of eye exercises that can assist.
Dr. Anderson could also prescribe you an eye patch that you wear for a certain length of time each day. This helps strengthen vision in your weaker eye. Sometimes, our practitioner will evaluate your vision and prescribe prescription glasses to enhance your vision.