As parents, we want to ensure our children have every advantage when it comes to learning and development. While regular eye exams check for clarity of vision, they don’t always reveal how well a child’s eyes work together or how visual information is processed. If your child struggles with reading, attention, or schoolwork despite having 20/20 vision, vision therapy could be the missing piece.
 

The Connection Between Vision and Learning

Good vision is essential for academic success. In fact, over 80% of learning in a school environment is visual. When the eyes and brain aren’t working together efficiently, your child may appear to have learning difficulties or behavioral issues, when in reality the root of the problem is visual. A comprehensive functional vision exam can uncover these underlying issues, which are not detected in standard vision screenings.
 

What Is Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy is a non-surgical treatment program designed to improve the efficiency and coordination of the eyes and brain. It goes beyond simply correcting eyesight with glasses or contacts and addresses how your child processes visual information.

The therapy involves custom exercises and activities tailored to strengthen visual skills such as eye tracking, focusing, eye teaming, and visual processing. These sessions are often paired with at-home exercises to reinforce progress.
 

Signs Your Child May Benefit from Vision Therapy

Children don’t always recognize or verbalize when they’re having trouble seeing or processing what they see. Instead, they may show signs that something is wrong. Here are some common indicators:

• Complains of headaches or eye strain

• Frequently loses their place while reading

• Skips lines or rereads the same line

• Struggles with reading comprehension

• Avoids reading or homework

• Reverses letters like “b” and “d” past early elementary years

• Shows poor hand-eye coordination

• Has short attention span, especially for near work

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it could indicate a functional vision issue rather than a problem with eyesight alone.
 

What Happens During Vision Therapy?

At Dry Eye Center of Alabama and Family Eye Care, vision therapy begins with a thorough functional vision evaluation. Based on the results, a personalized therapy plan is developed to address your child’s specific needs.

Each therapy session is supervised by trained professionals and may include tools such as lenses, prisms, filters, and computerized visual activities. Progress is monitored closely, and the program is adjusted as needed to ensure lasting improvements.
 

Take the First Step Toward Clearer, More Effective Vision for Your Child

Vision challenges aren’t always obvious, but they can significantly impact your child’s ability to learn, focus, and feel confident in the classroom. If your child is showing signs of visual discomfort or academic difficulties that haven’t been resolved with glasses or standard eye exams, vision therapy may be a powerful tool to help them succeed.

Contact Dry Eye Center of Alabama and Family Eye Care to schedule a functional vision evaluation and determine if vision therapy is right for your child. Visit our office in Homewood, Alabama, or call (205) 490-2322 to book an appointment today.