Why Is Vision Development Important?

Clinical evidence shows that academic achievement depends greatly on our abilities.

Studies indicate that poor readers usually have healthy eyes, with no muscle problems and 20/20 vision acuity.  However, they may still lack important visual skills that are not identified by the routinely used Snellen Test of visual acuity.

Both visual acuity and vision are important to the academic success of the student.

Most often we think that vision acuity-the ability to see clearly with or without glasses, is the only factor to be considered when we determine vision.  However, equally important is the perception of what we see.  That determines “vision” and relates to how our brain interprets and processes the image that the eye is sending to it.  Therefore, when vision development problems are identified, the cause may not be necessarily related to “eyesight”, but to “vision,” which is the ability to identify, process and understand what is seen.

“Conventional prescription glasses worn by some children do not address specific visual deficits…”

When a defective visual system dictates inaccurate information, this causes the visual cortex to process inaccurate visual information to other parts of the brain.  Conventional prescription glasses worn by some children do not address specific visual deficits such as Eye Teaming Convergence, Ocular Alignment, Visual Fixation, Saccadic Eye Movements, Visual Pursuits, and Organized Scanning. Neurological research has shown that there is a correlation between vision, perceptual motor development and motor outcomes.

Over the past twenty-five years, research in functional vision has indicated that 21% to 33% of the general population has a vision dysfunction which effects learning.  And it was found that 90 to 95% of juveniles in a California Detention facility were undiagnosed for visual problems that contributed to their reading and comprehension deficiencies.  Such visual problems interfere with learning and success in the classroom, and may lead to behavior problems, as documented by optometric studies.  Some children with poor visual skills may misbehave in school or may have short attention spans and are frequently labeled as “day-dreamers,” “under achievers,” “disruptive,” learning disabled,” or “at-risk youths.”

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP THESE STUDENTS?

Youth with undetected and untreated vision problems must be helped if we are to improve the quality of life within our community.

Plano offers comprehensive vision services, specializing in behavioral optometry, which includes the total vision information processing system and its relationship to learning and development.  Plano has been a strong advocate and practitioner of therapeutic intervention to improve both acuity and vision.  Plano’s approach to providing school-based services integrates, students, teachers, and parents, engaging each in specific activities and workshops designed to remediate vision development problems.