I am a 36 year old male and have struggled with mild to moderate amblyopia most of my life. I am able to fuse close up and have very good hand eye coordination but at distance, such as driving, I am unable to fuse and the resulting strain worsens the eye turn. Is vision therapy still a viable option at my age?

This is an impossible question to answer without the benefit for a full, thorough vision exam. This would show the cause and severity of the amblyopia, eye turn,  and other visual problems that you may have and identify areas of possible improvement.

But even without the particulars in your case, I can say a few things generally. Because the purpose of vision therapy is to help you develop visual skills that may be lacking, there is not point in life when it is not possible to receive some benefit from vision therapy. The real question is this: Are you bothered enough by your visual problem that you would like to take the steps to improve the situation. (Case in point, this video of a 101 year old vision therapy patient.)

But I don’t want to paint vision therapy as a panacea either, because some conditions are very complicated and can take a significant amount of time, effort, and expense to improve. Some conditions are best treated with a combination of vision therapy and other methods, such as special glasses or surgery. Yet other conditions are better left untreated.

I would recommend against any of the “improve your vision” ads on TV or the internet. Many of these have elements of legitimate therapy, but they tend to over-promise and do not match the person with the appropriate therapy. Instead, only pursue therapy from a doctor with specialized training in visual function and vision therapy.

Have you read Susan Barry’s book, “Fixing My Gaze“? I very highly recommend it. You may also find this blog interesting: http://seeing3d.blogspot.com/.

If you would like more information about the evaluation or vision therapy, please do not hesitate to call and speak to Edna or myself.

Best Wishes.

-Dr. Nate

Bright Eyes Family Vision Care

Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LS1 Yelp

As patients of Bright Eyes Family Vision Care know, I am interested in new and interesting ways to connect. For example, I was one of the first in the Tampa Bay area to use foursquare and had a blast taking it to new heights with Foursquare Day.

Well, thanks to this story in Mashable, I have found something really cool that I want to share: Empire Avenue. The concept is super simple: buy and sell stock in people and websites. Then apply common sense. Buy low, sell high, and go for long-term rewards in the form of dividends. And it is FREE.

For example, one of my favorite Tampa bloggers is Miss Destructo. Minutes after she joined (Ticker: MSDSTO), I bought two hundred shares of her at 10.00 virtual credits per share. Not less than 24 hours later, her stock is currently at 17.95! I expect it will climb even higher after she attends the Mashable Media Summit this week in NYC so get some shares at bargain prices while you can!

If you’d like to invest in some virtual shares of your favorite optometry practice, Bright Eyes was able to score the ticker symbol EYES. You can also buy stock in Dr. Nate (ticker: NATEBW). Since Empire Avenue is in beta, you need an invitation. Just email me at doc@brighteyestampa.com if you’d like one. And then let me know when you join, so I can buy stock in you!

Have fun!

-Dr. Nate
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LocalShops1.com

Blog verification:

EAVB_VUNAIDIIJO

This video is EXACTLY the way I remember optometry school in Chicago.

Check to watch on Youtube

Join Bright Eyes on Saturday, May 8 for Baby Day!

Featuring:

• No-cost InfantSEE®eye assessment for your baby!
• Baby Tweetup!
• Free Baby Sunglasses
• Awesome Giveaways
• A chance to win a gift basket from Mi Bebe!
• Refreshments

What is Baby Day?

At Bright Eyes Family Vision Care, we love patients of all ages, but the cutest and most cuddly ones are babies. Most parents don’t know that the American Optometric Association recommends the first eye and vision evaluation should be at six months of age. So we have created Baby Day! On this day we will provide no-cost eye exams for babies and educate the public on infant and children’s eye care. See the press release here.

InfantSee Morning (10 a.m to noon)

In the morning, we will be scheduling only InfantSEE® patients. Created by the American Optometric Association, InfantSEE®is a public health initiative to screen babies for potential vision problems. InfantSEE® assessments are offered free of charge to infants between six and twelve months of age.  It’s a comprehensive eye exam that evaluates a baby’s vision, eye tracking skills, & overall eye health. Long-time readers may remember my daughter’s InfantSEE® evaluation. Now that Javier is 6 months old, he’ll be joining us on Baby Day for his very first eye exam!

Call soon to schedule, as appointments are limited for Baby Day! (And if you can’t make it May 8, you can schedule an InfantSEE® exam during regular office hours, too!)

Baby Tweetup (1 p.m. to 3 p.m. RSVP on FB  here)

Our office is fairly social media savvy and we enjoyed hosting the first Westchase Tweetup last year. If you don’t know, a Tweetup is a real-life gathering of users of social media networks like Twitter and Facebook. Typically these events are lots of fun and are excellent networking opportunities. Well, the Baby Tweetup is no different, except that we are specifically inviting little tykes under 24 months and their families. So if your Facebook page is covered with pics and videos of your little bambino, be sure and stop by. And don’t forget to check in on foursquare. 

Open House (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Stop by anytime during throughout the day to say hello and check out all the other cute babies! The first 25 babies get a tote bag with baby sunglasses and other goodies. Parents can register to win a gift basket from Mi Bebe. We’ll also have some light refreshments (sodas, juice boxes for kids, cookies and more) for you to enjoy!

Sponsors

Bright Eyes,  Mi Bebe, and My Gym are the current sponsors. However, because we want spread the word about infant vision care as far as possible, we are looking for other people or businesses to sponsor Baby Day! You can be a sponsor by donating give-aways or door prizes or by helping us get the word out! If you are interested in joining us or have any questions, please let me know.

I can’t wait to see all the babies at Bright Eyes! So cute!

UPDATES: First, We will be using the hashtag #BABYDAY to track comments on Twitter. Second, this is becoming a national event! We have eye doctors in California, New York, Indiana, and Utah who will be joining us! Ask your eye doctor if they be hosting any special BABY DAY events!

-Dr. Nate
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Connect: Facebook Twitter Foursquare LocalShops1.com

At the recent Hillsborough Society of Optometry meeting held at Ocean Prime at International Plaza, Dr. B. was presented with token of appreciation for his service to the local optometric community. He was given a very handsome plaque to hang on the wall at Bright Eyes and received a round of applause. The current officers, Drs. Luckey, Hair, and Fazio, commented on Dr. B’s passion and dedication as society president in ensuring the monthly continuing education meetings went well and for chairing the Fall Classic Committee, which was a huge success.

Dr. B. is pleased with his term as local society president, and is now turning his attention to children’s vision issues on the state and national level.

So if you stop by, say congrats to our Dr. B!

Edna Moore
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care

(located in Westchase community)
10108 Montague St.
Tampa, FL   33626
(ph) 813-792-0637          (fx) 813-792-0657

Connect with Us: Facebook Twitter Foursquare Yelp

The last new book that really got me excited was Susan Barry’s, “Fixing My Gaze.” It is a unique book about the how and why vision therapy works. I was even fortunate enough to interview Dr. Barry about her book.

Well, now there is another book out that I am equally excited about. It is called, “See It. Say It. Do It!” and is written by my friend and colleague, Dr. Lynn F. Hellerstein.  I know that the subject, developing visualization ability to improve overall performance and quality of life, was a long-time interest of Dr. Hellerstein, and I was interested to see how this would be treated in a book format.

Like “Fixing My Gaze,” this new book is very easy to read and is accessible to anyone with interest. I have given away several copies to patients and friends, and they have agreed that this is useful to anyone who wants to improve their life and abilities. You can read what Edna, our Vision Therapist, had to say about it here.

So, I am thankful that Dr. Hellerstein took some time from her very busy schedule to answer some questions about, ” See It. Say It. Do It!”

Dr. B: “See It. Say It. Do It!” is very well done. Did it take a long time to write and publish?

Dr. Hellerstein: I presented a 1 day course at COVD (College of Optometrists in Vision Development) to the vision therapists in October 2008. Numerous attendees commented on how much they learned and enjoyed the course.  They wanted more written visualization materials and references so that they could share them with their patients, parents, and teachers.  I remember saying to myself, “There needs to be a book for parents & teachers on the power of visualization.  But I’m not going to write it!”

I never really liked to write.  I’d much rather present a workshop.  I’ve published in optometry and medical journals.  A book on visualization, though, was really different.  It needed to be creative, interactive, full of pictures, and easily readable.

In December 2008, while sitting in one of Harv Eker’s self-improvement courses, the presenter made a statement that “most people have a book within them.  It’s now time to write it.”  At that very moment, I decided that I would write my book. I immediately visualized the finished book, and what needed to be included in it. The writing process itself was the obstacle.  I called a friend and mentor to ask if she would assist me, and she immediately agreed.  That reassurance was all I needed to start.  The funny part is that my friend never ended up writing the book with me!

I started the writing process in December 2008 and finished it nine months later.  It was like giving birth to a child!  I went through the ups and downs, excitement and frustrations, and the obstacles and breakthroughs. In talking with other authors, nine months from start to finish is an extremely short time for writing and publishing.  What did I know about authoring and publishing a book?  Not much.  But as I kept my dream alive, wonderful supportive coaches and mentors just appeared in my life to assist me throughout the entire process.

The real answer to your question, however, is that this book took over 30 years to write and publish.  It’s a culmination of my 30+ years of optometric experience.

So has the “See it. Say It. Do It!” model been intact for  those 30 years or has it evolved?

The ” See It. Say It. Do It!” model has evolved over the years.   As my model of vision changed throughout practice, my concept and implementation of visualization strategies expanded as well.  Patients continue to teach me what is most effective for them to become more confident, overcome obstacles, be more successful in school and sports, and develop a joy for learning.  Writing “See it. Say It. Do It!” helped me clarify my thoughts into an understandable, usable, efficient method.

If you have a reader of “See it. Say It. Do It!” who may be skeptical about the importance of vision in life and learning, what would you say to them?

I don’t get near as many skeptical questions as I used to early on in my optometric career.  Developmental/behavioral optometry now has more research and improved exposure in the media.

Occasionally, I still encounter a reading teacher who tries to convince me that reading problems don’t involve vision.  She strongly believes that reading difficulties are the sole result of language processing problems.  I ask the teacher to close her eyes and read.  “No, that’s silly to do that.   I can’t see the print,” she’ll state.  She doesn’t seem to see the humor of my example nor the importance of vision in learning.  If you can’t properly see, you can’t even start the language processing aspect of reading.  This is a very simple demonstration of a complex reading process, but the goal is to educate and to allow the skeptic to experience how vision leads to performance.

The most effective way of teaching the importance of vision is through demonstration.  It’s easy to create double or blurred vision through the use of lenses and prisms, and then let the skeptic function in life and learning.

If you have noticed, I’ve left the words “vision,” “vision therapy,” “optometry,” “20/20,” etc., off the front cover of the book.  After great consideration and consultation with my colleagues, I did that purposely.  The public still has difficulty understanding the concept that vision is more than 20/20.  The COVD Public Relations (PR) committee has worked for years to “Make Vision Therapy Visible.”  Many parents still don’t relate to information about “vision” when they think their kids see just fine.

I decided not to deal with the vision controversy on the front cover.  Rather, I wanted to find a way to use familiar language for parents  so that they could more easily relate to it.  This would hopefully make it more inviting and accessible to their needs.  Then the information about the critical link between vision and learning could be shared in the chapters.  That is why the sub-title became, “The Parent’s & Teacher’s Action Guide to Creating Successful Students & Confident Kids.”  Parents want that for their kids.  Now maybe they’ll look in the book and see how to do that.

How did you get started in vision therapy?

From day one in optometry school, I knew that there was more to vision beyond 20/20 due to my own struggles with reading.  As an 8 year old, I remembered seeing my sister snuggled on the couch reading her favorite book.  She’d read for hours and hours and hours.  She loved to read.  I’d pick up my book, sit on the couch, and after a few minutes, I’d be sound asleep.  I knew how to read, had plenty of books to read, wanted to read, and saw well. Yet after ten minutes of reading, the print would blur, the letters would dance around, my eyelids became heavy, and then it was lights out.

I never understood why my sister took books on a vacation.  Books on a vacation?  What a waste.  I go on vacation for fun!  Reading was work.

I quickly learned to avoid reading even through college and optometry school.  Nothing I’m proud of.  It’s just the way it was.  Luckily, I was able to compensate. I was organized, motivated to excel, knew how to take tests and made good grades.

After experiencing vision therapy at the age of forty, I now love to read.  I look forward to vacations.  Not just for the fun and relaxation, but it’s the only time I have to read for pleasure now!

Many of the patients I treat in my practice are not as lucky as I was.  They don’t have the skills to compensate.  They struggle in school.  They can’t finish a book, flunk spelling, dread writing, forget their math facts, feel “stupid”, avoid tasks, lose confidence and eventually give up.  Parents are frustrated watching their kids struggle.

When vision problems are diagnosed, vision therapy can often lead the way to creating successful, confident students and athletes.  What a gift—to be a developmental optometrist and be part of this beautiful learning process.

I think a lot of us have gotten interested in vision therapy based on our own visual problems. But not all of us have written books! Have you been pleased by the reception your book has gotten?

I’ve been ecstatic with the response.   COVD had scheduled me to speak on “visualization” at the 2009 Annual Meeting.  This was prior to my plan of writing a book. The timing was magical.  The book just happened to be delivered one week before the COVD meeting.

The COVD attendees at the conference were gracious and generous.  Many purchased 1 or 2 books to initially read.  Then we started getting orders from ODs for 50-100 books at a time…for their patients, parents, teachers and other referral sources.  This has resulted in more media coverage for the local ODs, increased patient referrals and new opportunities for ODs to meet with the education world.

As “Making Vision Therapy More Visible” happens with the increased book exposure as well as with other books and articles related to vision therapy, everyone benefits:  the local OD, parent/educator and most importantly…kids.  Here are examples of what some of the optometrists and medical doctors around the country have told me:

“I just had an article in our local paper, and it has generated great interest. It has been fantastic. I’ve had articles before, but I think that with books like Sue Barry’s and now yours, we have so much more “support” in our local communities than before.”

“We have created a bulletin board in our reception area to help educate our patients about this exciting new book and how it can help parents and teachers to create successful students and confident kids!”

“Order me 8 more – one for each exam room.”

Bottom line:  More kids get the help they so dearly need!

That is truly fantastic!  What other projects do you currently have going on?

“See It. Say It. Do It!” has a 2010 publishing date, so I’m in the pre-launch phase.  March 2010 is the official book launch.  PR and media experts will be utilized for written, radio and TV press coverage.  In March, which coincides with the American Optometric Association Save Your Vision week, I will be presenting a series of free webinars for parents and educators.  In addition, there will be a webinar for optometrists and vision therapists.

Another exciting project has evolved from “See It. Say It. Do It!”.  My vision therapists have collaborated to create a workbook that accompanies “See It. Say It. Do It!”. This workbook focuses on the “Do It.” aspects.  It’s all about organization skills … how to take action and be successful.  My vision therapy staff utilizes these organizational charts with our VT patients.  Increased compliance, not only with home VT activities but also with chores and school homework, are noted.  The workbook should be published in the next couple of months.

Thank you so much, Lynn. This has been wonderful. Anything else you’d like to say?

Thank you, Nate, for the opportunity to share one of the most exciting journeys of my life.  I am grateful for my mentors, colleagues, staff, friends and family who supported me throughout this process.  And a special thank you to my patients, for their teachings, courage and trust. Without them, I would have never visualized this book.  It was truly a transformational experience.  My “Ta-Dah”!

For additional information:   www.SeeItSayItDoIt.com (ph)  303-850-9499

Be well!

Nathan Bonilla-Warford, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care (located in Westchase community)
10108 Montague St.
Tampa, FL   33626
(ph) 813-792-0637          (fx) 813-792-0657

Connect with Us: Facebook Twitter Foursquare Yelp

This is long, but worth looking at. This list of recent scientific support of vision therapy was compiled by my mentor, friend, and colleague, Dr. Dominick Maino and can be found on his blog, Maino’s Memos.

Be Well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
Connect with Us:  YelpFacebookTwitter

Optometric Vision Therapy (OVT) is not a new therapeutic intervention. It has been available for decades, but few have had the access needed. It usually includes the use of lenses, prism, bifocals, and structured therapeutic activities to facilitate the desired outcomes. This therapeutic approach has been successfully used for amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eyes that turn in/out) and other binocular vision dysfunctions (convergence insufficiency/excess, divergence insufficiency/excess, accommodative dysfunctions (focusing), oculomotor anomalies (problems with saccades/pursuits/tracking).

Since these binocular vision dysfunctions have been linked to learning achievement, OVT is also used along with vision information processing therapy to not only improve vision function but academic performance.

Some say there is no research supporting what OVT offers…unfortunatley the majority of these skeptics never bother to seek out the research in the first place.

We have at least one excellent clinical trial to support OVT (see the many articles generated by this clinical trial) and several papers generated by another clinical trial demonstrating that you can treat amblyopia at just about any age…(see PEDIG papers below as well).

The research supporting OVT and learning is there, but not quite as strong as those papers noted above….(see listing below)…

Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Papers

Effectiveness of Placebo Therapy for Maintaining Masking in a Clinical Trial of Vergence/Accommodative Therapy.
Kulp MT, Mitchell GL, Borsting E, Scheiman M, Cotter S, Rouse M, Tamkins S, Mohney BG, Toole A, Reuter K, Citt SG.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Jan 17. [Epub ahead of print]

Randomized clinical trial of treatments for symptomatic convergence insufficiency in children.
Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Study Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2008 Oct;126(10):1336-49.

Feasibility of using placebo vision therapy in a multicenter clinical trial.
Kulp MT, Borsting E, Mitchell GL, Scheiman M, Cotter S, Cooper J, Rouse M, London R, Wensveen J; Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) Investigator Group.
Optom Vis Sci. 2008 Apr;85(4):255-61.

The convergence insufficiency treatment trial: design, methods, and baseline data.
Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) Study Group.
Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2008 Jan-Feb;15(1):24-36.

Accommodative insufficiency is the primary source of symptoms in children diagnosed with convergence insufficiency.
Scheiman M, Mitchell GL, Cotter S, Rouse M, Borsting E, Kulp M, Cooper J, London R, Wensveen J; Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) Study Group.
Optom Vis Sci. 2006 Nov;83(11):857-8; author reply 858-9. No abstract available.

Randomised clinical trial of the effectiveness of base-in prism reading glasses versus placebo reading glasses for symptomatic convergence insufficiency in children.
Scheiman M, Cotter S, Rouse M, Mitchell GL, Kulp M, Cooper J, Borsting E; Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Study Group.
Br J Ophthalmol. 2005 Oct;89(10):1318-23.

A randomized clinical trial of treatments for convergence insufficiency in children.
Scheiman M, Mitchell GL, Cotter S, Cooper J, Kulp M, Rouse M, Borsting E, London R, Wensveen J; Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Study Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2005 Jan;123(1):14-24.

Validity and reliability of the revised convergence insufficiency symptom survey in adults.
Rouse MW, Borsting EJ, Mitchell GL, Scheiman M, Cotter SA, Cooper J, Kulp MT, London R, Wensveen J; Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Group.
Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2004 Sep;24(5):384-90.

Validity and reliability of the revised convergence insufficiency symptom survey in children aged 9 to 18 years.
Borsting EJ, Rouse MW, Mitchell GL, Scheiman M, Cotter SA, Cooper J, Kulp MT, London R; Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Group.
Optom Vis Sci. 2003 Dec;80(12):832-8.

Other research/vision and learning:

The efficacy of visual therapy: accommodative disorders and non-strabismic anomalies of binocular vision.
Suchoff IB, Petito GT.
J Am Optom Assoc. 1986 Feb;57(2):119-25.

Vision, learning, and dyslexia. A joint organizational policy statement. American Academy of Optometry. American Optometric Association.
Optom Vis Sci. 1997 Oct;74(10):868-70.

The association between vision quality of life and academics as measured by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development Quality of Life questionnaire.
Vaughn W, Maples WC, Hoenes R.
Optometry. 2006 Mar;77(3):116-23.

Measuring ADHD behaviors in children with symptomatic accommodative dysfunction or convergence insufficiency: a preliminary study.
Borsting E, Rouse M, Chu R.
Optometry. 2005 Oct;76(10):588-92.

Visual factors that significantly impact academic performance.
Maples WC.
Optometry. 2003 Jan;74(1):35-49.

Vertical fixation disparity in learning disabled.
Sucher DF, Stewart J.
Optom Vis Sci. 1993 Dec;70(12):1038-43.

Learning disabilities and vision problems: are they related?
Keys MP, Silver LB.
Pediatrician. 1990;17(3):194-201.

A pilot study. Depth perception and near stereoacuity: is it related to academic performance in young children?
Kulp MT, Schmidt PP.
Binocul Vis Strabismus Q. 2002;17(2):129-34.

Is visual memory predictive of below-average academic achievement in second through fourth graders?
Kulp MT, Edwards KE, Mitchell GL.
Optom Vis Sci. 2002 Jul;79(7):431-4.

Effect of oculomotor and other visual skills on reading performance: a literature review.
Kulp MT, Schmidt PP.
Optom Vis Sci. 1996 Apr;73(4):283-92. Review.

Several Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group Generated Papers on Amblyopia

Amblyopia treatment: 1998 versus 2004.
Khazaeni L, Quinn GE, Davidson SL, Forbes BJ.
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2009 Jan-Feb;46(1):19-22; quiz 23-4.

Pharmacological plus optical penalization treatment for amblyopia: results of a randomized trial.
Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2009 Jan;127(1):22-30.

Patching vs atropine to treat amblyopia in children aged 7 to 12 years: a randomized trial.
Scheiman MM, Hertle RW, Kraker RT, Beck RW, Birch EE, Felius J, Holmes JM, Kundart J, Morrison DG, Repka MX, Tamkins SM; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2008 Dec;126(12):1634-42.

Further validation of the Amblyopia Treatment Index parental questionnaire.
Holmes JM, Strauber S, Quinn GE, Cole SR, Felius J, Kulp M; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
J AAPOS. 2008 Dec;12(6):581-4. Epub 2008 Oct 30.

A randomized trial of near versus distance activities while patching for amblyopia in children aged 3 to less than 7 years.
Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Ophthalmology. 2008 Nov;115(11):2071-8. Epub 2008 Sep 11.

Monocular oral reading performance after amblyopia treatment in children.
Repka MX, Kraker RT, Beck RW, Cotter SA, Holmes JM, Arnold RW, Astle WF, Sala NA, Tien DR; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2008 Dec;146(6):942-7. Epub 2008 Aug 16.

A randomized trial of atropine vs patching for treatment of moderate amblyopia: follow-up at age 10 years.
Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group, Repka MX, Kraker RT, Beck RW, Holmes JM, Cotter SA, Birch EE, Astle WF, Chandler DL, Felius J, Arnold RW, Tien DR, Glaser SR.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2008 Aug;126(8):1039-44.

Treatment of bilateral refractive amblyopia in children three to less than 10 years of age.
Wallace DK, Chandler DL, Beck RW, Arnold RW, Bacal DA, Birch EE, Felius J, Frazier M, Holmes JM, Hoover D, Klimek DA, Lorenzana I, Quinn GE, Repka MX, Suh DW, Tamkins S; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2007 Oct;144(4):487-96. Epub 2007 Aug 20.

The effect on refractive error of unilateral atropine as compared with patching for the treatment of amblyopia.
Repka MX, Melia M, Eibschitz-Tsimhoni M, London R, Magoon E; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
J AAPOS. 2007 Jun;11(3):300-2.

Treatment of strabismic amblyopia with refractive correction.
Cotter SA, Edwards AR, Arnold RW, Astle WF, Barnhardt CN, Beck RW, Birch EE, Donahue SP, Everett DF, Felius J, Holmes JM, Kraker RT, Melia BM, Repka MX, Wallace DK, Weise KK; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2007 Jun;143(6):1060-3.

Stability of visual acuity improvement following discontinuation of amblyopia treatment in children aged 7 to 12 years.
Hertle RW, Scheiman MM, Beck RW, Chandler DL, Bacal DA, Birch E, Chu RH, Holmes JM, Klimek DL, Lee KA, Repka MX, Weakley DR Jr; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2007 May;125(5):655-9.

Factors associated with recurrence of amblyopia on cessation of patching.
Holmes JM, Melia M, Bradfield YS, Cruz OA, Forbes B; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Ophthalmology. 2007 Aug;114(8):1427-32. Epub 2007 Mar 23.

A symptom survey and quality of life questionnaire for nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children.
Holmes JM, Leske DA, Cole SR, Chandler DL, Repka MX; Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Questionnaire Study Group, Silbert DI, Tien DR, Bradley EA, Sala NA, Levin EM, Hoover DL, Klimek DL, Mohney BG, Laby DM, Lee KA, Enzenauer RW, Bacal DA, Mills MD, Beck RW; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Ophthalmology. 2006 Sep;113(9):1675-80. Epub 2006 Jul 7.

A randomized trial to evaluate 2 hours of daily patching for strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia in children.
Wallace DK; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group, Edwards AR, Cotter SA, Beck RW, Arnold RW, Astle WF, Barnhardt CN, Birch EE, Donahue SP, Everett DF, Felius J, Holmes JM, Kraker RT, Melia M, Repka MX, Sala NA, Silbert DI, Weise KK.
Ophthalmology. 2006 Jun;113(6):904-12.

Treatment of anisometropic amblyopia in children with refractive correction.
Cotter SA; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group, Edwards AR, Wallace DK, Beck RW, Arnold RW, Astle WF, Barnhardt CN, Birch EE, Donahue SP, Everett DF, Felius J, Holmes JM, Kraker RT, Melia M, Repka MX, Sala NA, Silbert DI, Weise KK.
Ophthalmology. 2006 Jun;113(6):895-903.

The effect of amblyopia therapy on ocular alignment.
Repka MX, Holmes JM, Melia BM, Beck RW, Gearinger MD, Tamkins SM, Wheeler DT; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
J AAPOS. 2005 Dec;9(6):542-5.

A randomized pilot study of near activities versus non-near activities during patching therapy for amblyopia.
Holmes JM, Edwards AR, Beck RW, Arnold RW, Johnson DA, Klimek DL, Kraker RT, Lee KA, Lyon DW, Nosel ER, Repka MX, Sala NA, Silbert DI, Tamkins S; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
J AAPOS. 2005 Apr;9(2):129-36.

Randomized trial of treatment of amblyopia in children aged 7 to 17 years.
Scheiman MM, Hertle RW, Beck RW, Edwards AR, Birch E, Cotter SA, Crouch ER Jr, Cruz OA, Davitt BV, Donahue S, Holmes JM, Lyon DW, Repka MX, Sala NA, Silbert DI, Suh DW, Tamkins SM; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2005 Apr;123(4):437-47.

Two-year follow-up of a 6-month randomized trial of atropine vs patching for treatment of moderate amblyopia in children.
Repka MX, Wallace DK, Beck RW, Kraker RT, Birch EE, Cotter SA, Donahue S, Everett DF, Hertle RW, Holmes JM, Quinn GE, Scheiman MM, Weakley DR; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2005 Feb;123(2):149-57.

A randomized trial of atropine regimens for treatment of moderate amblyopia in children.
Repka MX, Cotter SA, Beck RW, Kraker RT, Birch EE, Everett DF, Hertle RW, Holmes JM, Quinn GE, Sala NA, Scheiman MM, Stager DR Sr, Wallace DK; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Ophthalmology. 2004 Nov;111(11):2076-85.

Risk of amblyopia recurrence after cessation of treatment.
Holmes JM, Beck RW, Kraker RT, Astle WF, Birch EE, Cole SR, Cotter SA, Donahue S, Everett DF, Hertle RW, Keech RV, Paysse E, Quinn GF, Repka MX, Scheiman MM; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
J AAPOS. 2004 Oct;8(5):420-8.

Recent advances in the treatment of amblyopia.
Quinn GE, Beck RW, Holmes JM, Repka MX; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Pediatrics. 2004 Jun;113(6):1800-2. No abstract available.

A prospective, pilot study of treatment of amblyopia in children 10 to <18>
Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2004 Mar;137(3):581-3.

Impact of patching and atropine treatment on the child and family in the amblyopia treatment study.
Holmes JM, Beck RW, Kraker RT, Cole SR, Repka MX, Birch EE, Felius J, Christiansen SP, Coats DK, Kulp MT; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2003 Nov;121(11):1625-32.

A randomized trial of prescribed patching regimens for treatment of severe amblyopia in children.
Holmes JM, Kraker RT, Beck RW, Birch EE, Cotter SA, Everett DF, Hertle RW, Quinn GE, Repka MX, Scheiman MM, Wallace DK; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Ophthalmology. 2003 Nov;110(11):2075-87.

The course of moderate amblyopia treated with atropine in children: experience of the amblyopia treatment study.
Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2003 Oct;136(4):630-9.

The course of moderate amblyopia treated with patching in children: experience of the amblyopia treatment study.
Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2003 Oct;136(4):620-9.

A comparison of atropine and patching treatments for moderate amblyopia by patient age, cause of amblyopia, depth of amblyopia, and other factors.
Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Ophthalmology. 2003 Aug;110(8):1632-7; discussion 1637-8.

A randomized trial of patching regimens for treatment of moderate amblyopia in children.
Repka MX, Beck RW, Holmes JM, Birch EE, Chandler DL, Cotter SA, Hertle RW, Kraker RT, Moke PS, Quinn GE, Scheiman MM; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2003 May;121(5):603-11.

Clinical research in pediatric ophthalmology: the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Beck RW.
Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2002 Oct;13(5):337-40. Review.

The clinical profile of moderate amblyopia in children younger than 7 years.
Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2002 Mar;120(3):281-7.

A randomized trial of atropine vs. patching for treatment of moderate amblyopia in children.
Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group..
Arch Ophthalmol. 2002 Mar;120(3):268-78.

The amblyopia treatment study visual acuity testing protocol.
Holmes JM, Beck RW, Repka MX, Leske DA, Kraker RT, Blair RC, Moke PS, Birch EE, Saunders RA, Hertle RW, Quinn GE, Simons KA, Miller JM; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2001 Sep;119(9):1345-53.

The Amblyopia Treatment Index.
Cole SR, Beck RW, Moke PS, Celano MP, Drews CD, Repka MX, Holmes JM, Birch EE, Kraker RT, Kip KE; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.
J AAPOS. 2001 Aug;5(4):250-4.

Academic Performance and Binocular Vision Dysfunctions/Vision Information Process

Saccade Control in Dyslexia: Development, Deficits, Training and Transfer to Reading Burkhart Fischer, Dipl Phys; Klaus Hartnegg, Dipl Phys
Optometry and Vision Development Volume 39, No. 4, 2008

Computerized Saccadic Eye Movement Therapy to Improve Oculomotor Control during Reading and Reading Rate in Adult Japanese Readersby Tomohito Okumura, MScOptom, MEd, FCOVD, FAAO, et. al.
Optometry and Vision Development Volume 39, No. 4, 2008

Filtered Text and Direction Discrimination Training Improved Reading Fluency for Both Dyslexic and Normal Readers Teri Lawton, PhD
Optometry and Vision Development Volume 39, No. 3, 2008

Subitizing and Visual Counting in Children with Problems in Acquiring Basic Arithmetic Skills Burkhart Fischer, Dipl. Phys., Christine Gebhardt, Dipl. Phys., and Klaus Hartnegg, Dipl. Phys.
Optometry and Vision Development Volume 39, No. 1, 2008

Effects of Daily Practice on Subitizing, Visual Counting, and Basic Arithmetic Skills Burkhart Fischer, Dipl. Phys., Christine Gebhardt, Dipl. Phys., and Klaus Hartnegg, Dipl. Phys.
Optometry and Vision Development Volume 39, No. 1, 2008

The Impact of Vergence and Accommodative Therapy on Reading Eye Movements and Reading Speedby Michael Gallaway, OD, FCOVD and Mark B. Boas, OD, MS
Optometry and Vision Development Volume 38, No. 3, 2007

Evaluating Changes in Quality of Life After Vision Therapy Using the COVD Quality of Life Outcomes Assessment by Kelly M. Daugherty, OD, et. al.
Optometry and Vision Development Volume 38, No. 2, 2007

The Effects of HTS Vision Therapy Conducted in a School Setting on Reading Skills in Third and Fourth Grade Students David Goss, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO, FCOVD-A, et. al.
Optometry and Vision Development Volume 38, No. 1, 2007

A Study of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Skill Therapy Delivered in a Video Game Format Don Helms, O.D., and Sara M. Sawtelle, Ph.D.
Optometry and Vision Development Volume 38, No. 1, 2007

Training Direction-Discrimination Sensitivity Remediates a Wide Spectrum of Reading Skills Teri Lawton, Ph.D.
Optometry and Vision Development Volume 38, No. 1, 2007

Is there a common linkage among reading comprehension, visual attention, and magnocellular processing?
Solan HA, Shelley-Tremblay JF, Hansen PC, Larson S.
J Learn Disabil. 2007 May-Jun;40(3):270-8.

M-cell deficit and reading disability: a preliminary study of the effects of temporal vision-processing therapy.
Solan HA, Shelley-Tremblay J, Hansen PC, Silverman ME, Larson S, Ficarra A.
Optometry. 2004 Oct;75(10):640-50.

Visual deficits and dyslexia.
Solan HA.
J Learn Disabil. 1999 Jul-Aug;32(4):282-3. No abstract available.

Role of visual attention in cognitive control of oculomotor readiness in students with reading disabilities.
Solan HA, Larson S, Shelley-Tremblay J, Ficarra A, Silverman M.
J Learn Disabil. 2001 Mar-Apr;34(2):107-18.

Effect of attention therapy on reading comprehension.
Solan HA, Shelley-Tremblay J, Ficarra A, Silverman M, Larson S.
J Learn Disabil. 2003 Nov-Dec;36(6):556-63.

Coherent motion threshold measurements for M-cell deficit differ for above- and below-average readers.
Solan HA, Hansen PC, Shelley-Tremblay J, Ficarra A.
Optometry. 2003 Nov;74(11):727-34.

Eye movements and speed reading.
Solan HA.
J Am Optom Assoc. 1999 Jul;70(7):435. No abstract available.

Eye movement efficiency in normal and reading disabled elementary school children: effects of varying luminance and wavelength.
Solan HA, Ficarra A, Brannan JR, Rucker F.
J Am Optom Assoc. 1998 Jul;69(7):455-64.

Effect of luminance on visual evoked potential amplitudes in normal and disabled readers.
Brannan JR, Solan HA, Ficarra AP, Ong E.
Optom Vis Sci. 1998 Apr;75(4):279-83.

Frequency of convergence insufficiency in optometry clinic settings. Convergence Insufficiency and Reading Study (CIRS) Group.
Rouse MW, Hyman L, Hussein M, Solan H.
Optom Vis Sci. 1998 Feb;75(2):88-96.

Transient and sustained processing: effects of varying luminance and wavelength on reading comprehension.
Solan HA, Brannan JR, Ficarra A, Byne R.
J Am Optom Assoc. 1997 Aug;68(8):503-10.
PMID: 9279050 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Dyslexia and learning disabilities: an overview.
Solan HA.
Optom Vis Sci. 1993 May;70(5):343-7. Review.

Since about half of my patients wear contact lenses, I thought this video from the Discovery Channel would be interesting to some.

Be Well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
Connect with Us:  YelpFacebookTwitter

Pamela Spiro Wagner, published poet and writer, maintains the fascinating WAGblog. She has recently been writing about her amazing discoveries as she continues a program of vision therapy.  As a writer, she is able to explain the subtleties of her new-found visual skills extremely well.

In her post “Vision Therapy, Stereopsis and Seeing At Night“,  Pamela discusses that she had previously given up driving at night because she could not see well. She then described the first time driving at night after vision therapy:

“Immediately, I could tell the difference. For one thing the whole world seemed better lit now. I could see, well, details where before there had been only darkness, and confusing chiaroscuro. Streetlights defined things, rather than merely casting shadows onto them, and assisted my vision rather than merely making matters worse. I could see into bushes, could see branches and inside the hollows. Dark recesses, doorways became just that: recesses, doorways, and not just patches of darkness, black blurs to stump and confuse me.”

In the post “Vision Therapy: Seeing Inside the Snow“, she described what it is like to observe something as simple as snow falling:

“It was immediately and stunningly obvious to me that this was something I had “never” seen before, or not in any retrievable memory. What I remembered was that always before snow had fallen in a kind of whitish mass, a jumble of flakes more or less undistinguished from one another, because indistinguishable from one another. I can’t emphasize this enough, how if you cannot perceive depth, you lose detail and even the ability to perceive certain structures because of it.”

Anyone who has any question about the potential benefits of vision therapy should spend some time reading Pamela’s blog. As a doctor,  it is extremely exciting and heart-warming to read her words.

Be Well!

Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
Connect with Us:  YelpFacebookTwitter