Does Vision Therapy Really Work to Naturally Improve Eyesight?

Does Vision Therapy Really Work? The short answer is YES!

Professional athletes, Air Force fighter pilots, and most recently, patients of hundreds of medical eye doctors that now claim that they are “Board Certified in Vision Therapy”, are examples of the many who have naturally improved eyesight and restored lost vision by changing their visual practices and routinely performing vision therapy.

The longer more detailed answer follows.

Vision Therapy Used Since the Early 19th Century

Ophthalmologist William H. Bates, M. D., invented the Bates method, a system to naturally improve eyesight and correct blurred vision, in the early part of the 19th century. From his observations of patients with vision related eyesight problems Dr. Bates came to a number of conclusions, a few of them are:

• quality of eyesight can change, either for the better or the worse
• poor eyesight is caused by the strain to see;
• the way to better eyesight is through relaxation of both mind and body.

Dr. Bates had a number of proponents as well as critics and his methods are still debated and practiced to this day. Many Optometrists and Ophthalmologists have greatly expanded his treatment mythology, and much more has been learned. There are a number of websites that provide information about Dr. Bates and the Bates Method. The Bates Association for Vision Education website can be found at www.seeing.org.

Dr. Bates original book "The Cure of Imperfect Eyesight by Treatment Without Glasses" published in 1920, can be found and downloaded by clicking on the title.

How is Vision Therapy being used today?

Vision Therapy is used by The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology

The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology website indicates that vision therapy is very effective. The age of their patients range in age from 0 to 20 years but that does not mean that the success they have with vision therapy success cannot be extrapolated to age ranges beyond 20 years.

Medical Board Certification in Eye Vision Therapy

There exists a board certification in vision therapy for doctors.

Perform a Google Search for Board Certified in Visual Therapy or do it using your own search engine to see just how prevalent these doctors are. Are the results of these searches just examples of doctors using effective marketing to increase business revenue by attracting patients with specific needs, or could there really be a medical "board certified" vision therapy program that can improve and restore lost vision or maintain good vision?

“Board Certifications in Vision Therapy” are provided by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development or “COVD”. The mission of COVD is to serve as an advocate for comprehensive vision care emphasizing a developmental and behavioral approach. COVD certifies professional competency in vision therapy, serves as an informational and educational resource, and advances research and clinical care in vision development and therapy.

To be designated as Board Certificated in Vision Therapy from COVD an Optometrist must complete the Fellowship certification and receive board approval from the COVD International Examination and Certification Board (IECB). The Fellowship process consists of; guided study, written examination, oral interview, repeating examinations, fellowship Induction, case study submissions, certified examinations, and oral examination and interview.

Both Optometrists and Ophthalmologists validate and provide credibility to Vision Therapy by currently using it to improve eyesight

To learn more about the Vision Therapy or the Board Certification process you can visit:

• International Examination and Certification Board (IECB)
• College of Optometrists in Vision Development
• COVD Fellowship Certification Guide

Does Vision Therapy Really Work? The answer is clearly yes.

Under Articles, also see:

Who Can Benefit from Vision Therapy?

Why You May Not Know About the Effectiveness of Vision Therapy

Evaluating Vision Therapy Programs to Naturally Improve Vision