Unlocking your child's
academic success
through vision
By Sherry Lentfer, OD, FCOVD
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​Vision is simple, right?
Let’s investigate this idea more closely. We have two eyes that each see separate images and our brain needs to coordinate the images together at the place we want to look. You can experience this by putting your finger about 10 inches in front of your face while you are looking at a distance, and you should see two of your fingers. If you shift your gaze to your finger, then you should see two of everything in the distance.
We term the use of two eyes together as BINOCULAR VISION. Binocular vision is a normal and reflexive response when our eyes are open, however, there can be many complications to binocular vision such as strabismus (an eye turns in or out) and amblyopia (decreased vision out of one eye), or more subtle conditions such as convergence insufficiency, or accommodative, tracking and ocular-motor disorders.
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We don’t always know why many have problems with BINOCULAR COORDINATION, however, it can be better understood when we consider the complexity of “seeing.” Photons of light are bent by the front of our eyes and land upside down and flipped on our retinas, activating specialized cells that send electrical signals to the visual cortex of the brain (mostly). The visual cortex then quickly sends it to many other brain structures that work together to create an image and tell us where, what and why about the image, at the same time trying to keep the images single. Maintaining one image that is microns in size is difficult because our body is constantly coordinating itself through many systems that give feedback to the eye muscles so they can adjust for motion and maintain the single binocular image.
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All of that is going on while your child is trying to learn something new through their eyes.
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Recognizing BINOCULAR VISION problems in Children and Young Adults
It's important for parents to recognize signs of poor visual skills in their children, even if they have perfect eyesight. Here are some common indicators:
• Coordination Challenges. Difficulty judging distances while riding a bike or kicking a ball, struggling to catch a ball, or misjudging the location of objects.
• Reading Difficulties. Skipping or reversing letters, words, or lines of text while reading, rubbing eyes, experiencing headaches, fatigue, and losing concentration or getting drowsy during reading. Perhaps some difficulty with finding objects among a busy background, remembering what they see, or the sequence they see it in, and with spatial relationships.
• Academic Struggles. Falling behind in school, struggling with reading comprehension, and leaving homework incomplete due to visual discomfort. One may be an excellent student, however, has difficulty on tests.
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Treatment through Vision Therapy and the Benefits for Children
Up to one in five children experience visual problems that hinder their learning. These challenges can persist into adulthood, impacting academic and professional success if left unaddressed.
Vision therapy is a specialized approach designed to enhance the collaboration between a child's eyes and brain, leading to clear, comfortable and coordinated vision under all circumstances.
The treatment starts with a developmental eye examination by assessing visual acuity, depth perception, and other essential binocular movements and visual skills. If any vision problems are identified, a tailored vision therapy program is prescribed to address the child's specific needs. This program typically includes in-office exercises, complemented by at-home training once or twice a week.
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Sherry Lentfer, OD, FCOVD, is a Family Eyecare Doctor at Katmai Eye and
Vision Center and has a fellowship in vision development. Born and raised
in Anchorage, she has practiced in the Anchorage and surrounding area
since 1996. Visit katmaieye.com.
