The start of a new year is the perfect time for a resolution. There are many appealing options, such as fitness or finances, but here’s one that will enrich your mind – resolve to learn a few new, interesting facts every day. Why? Because the world is full of amazing information, and learning keeps your brain sharp, which is a crucial component of your vision! To help you get started on your quest for knowledge, here are some little-known facts about your eyes, vision therapy, and the incredible connection between your eyes and brain.
General Vision and Eye Care Facts
These facts show just how remarkable your visual system truly is:
- The orbicularis oculi in the eye is the fastest reacting muscle in the human body. This muscle controls your blinking movement, and closes your eye in under one-tenth of a second!
- The cornea is the only tissue without blood vessels. The cornea (the clear front window of the eye) is the only tissue in the entire human body that receives its oxygen directly from the air, not from the bloodstream.
- We see upside down. The image focused onto your retina is actually upside down and backward. It is your amazing brain that flips the image and correctly orients it for you.
- You see more shades of green than any other color.
- Blinking is a helpful break. On average, you blink 15 to 20 times per minute, but when you are concentrating on a screen or reading, this rate can drop dramatically, leading to eye strain and dry eyes.
- 20/20 is not “Perfect”. Having 20/20 vision simply means you can see clearly at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 20 feet. It is only a measure of central clarity and does not account for crucial skills like eye teaming, depth perception, or visual processing.
Vision Therapy Facts
Vision therapy is often misunderstood. It’s not just “eye exercises”. It’s a customized, specialized program to retrain the brain and eyes to work together effectively. Vision therapy is often compared to physical therapy for your eyes. Through guided exercises, patients can improve skills such as eye teaming, focusing, depth perception, and tracking.
- The retina in the human eye can transmit data at about 10 million bits per second, and your brain instantly interprets those signals to help you understand what you see.
- Undiagnosed vision problems can sometimes mimic symptoms of ADHD (like difficulty maintaining attention or fidgeting) because the visual effort required to read or focus is exhausting. Vision therapy can alleviate this strain.
- Vision therapy can benefit both children and adults with reading or learning difficulties tied to visual processing.
- Vision therapy can enhance sports performance, reading fluency and even concentration.
Facts About Post-Concussive Vision Care
After a concussion or brain injury, many people experience frustrating visual issues. These might include trouble focusing, dizziness while reading, blurred or double vision, or light sensitivity, which are all signs of visual system disruption.
Some eye-opening facts about post-concussive vision care:
- As many as 90% of concussion patients will experience visual symptoms during recovery
- Common symptoms are not always obvious. Post-concussion vision issues aren’t limited to blurred vision. They often manifest as headaches or nausea during visual tasks (like reading or screen time), sensitivity to light, or feeling overwhelmed in visually busy environments (like grocery stores).
- If visual symptoms persist for more than a few weeks after the injury, they are unlikely to resolve on their own. Specialized neuro-optometric rehabilitation is often the key to recovering skills like focusing, eye teaming, and visual processing to restore comfort and function.
Make 2026 a Year of Clearer Vision with Family Vision Development Center
As you commit to a year of learning new and amazing facts, remember to prioritize the health of the very organs that bring 80% of that information to you – your eyes! Regular comprehensive eye exams are vital for detecting diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy in their earliest, most treatable stages, often before you notice any symptoms. Whether you’re due for a routine check-up, need to discuss ongoing visual challenges, or are curious about vision therapy for yourself or a loved one, take the proactive step now. Contact us at 630-862-2020 for information or to schedule an appointment.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear.
When school is out for winter break, kids often dive into screen time, holiday movies and new digital gifts. While this downtime is fun and well-earned, it’s also the perfect opportunity for parents to help kids build lasting habits that support healthy vision all year long.
Establish Healthier Screen Time
There’s no getting around the fact that digital screens are a permanent part of kids’ daily life. And, with more time at home over winter break, screen use tends to jump – whether it’s video games or streaming shows. To protect your child’s visual comfort:
- Encourage the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Keep screens about an arm’s length away.
- Make sure rooms are well-lit to reduce glare and eye strain.
Encourage Outdoor Activities
Temperatures drop during winter break, which leads to kids staying in more. However, spending time outdoors is one of the most effective ways to help prevent the onset and progression of nearsightedness. While researchers are still studying the exact mechanisms, experts believe the exposure to bright natural light plays a protective role. Bundle up and take advantage of the winter weather by sledding, building a snowman or taking a walk to see the pretty holiday lights in your neighborhood. Even just 30 minutes a day can make a difference!
As a safety note, winter sun can still be harsh! If it’s a bright day, remember to have your children wear UV-protective sunglasses to shield their eyes from harmful rays and potential snow glare.
Prioritize Proper Lighting and Reading Habits
Kids may not be focusing on homework during their winter break, but they still have a lot of opportunity for close-up activities. When reading, doing crafts, or building holiday projects, make sure kids have bright, even lighting. Avoid reading in dim light or while lying on their side, as both can cause unnecessary eye fatigue.
Recommend Vision-Healthy Snacks
Good nutrition is vital for healthy vision, so winter break is the perfect time to get kids involved in making smart choices for snacks that are packed with eye-friendly nutrients. Vitamins C and E, Zinc, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids are all essential, and can be found in healthy snack options like carrots and bell peppers, walnuts and almonds, Greek yogurt with berries, or trail mix.
Schedule Winter Break Eye Exams
The end of the year is an ideal time to check one last thing off your to-do list: your child’s annual eye exam! With fewer school commitments and a more relaxed attitude, it’s easier to get a proper check-up in before classes resume in January. Making time for their exam shows your commitment to supporting their vision needs and helps them to understand the importance of taking care of their vision all year long.
Visit Family Vision Development Center for Continued Healthy Vision
At Family Vision Development Center, we understand that every child’s eyes are unique. Our team provides comprehensive eye exams, vision therapy, and specialized care for children with visual processing or developmental vision concerns. Winter break is the perfect time to make sure your child’s vision is supporting their learning, comfort and confidence. Contact us today at 630-862-2020 to schedule an appointment and give your child the gift of clear, healthy sight that lasts long after the holidays.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear.
If this year’s parent-teacher conferences left your family with concerning feedback, such as incomplete homework, missed assignments or less-than-stellar classroom performance, there might be a surprising reason behind the behavior. In fact, before you assume that low motivation or distractions are the main culprits, make sure you explore a lesser-known obstacle – your child’s visual health.
When Homework Feels Like an Uphill Battle
If your child regularly struggles to finish homework, complains about headaches, avoids reading, or seems easily frustrated by written tasks, the issue might go deeper than attitude or study habits. In fact, up to 1 in 4 children experience functional vision problems that don’t show up in standard vision screenings. These issues aren’t always detected by basic “20/20” eye exams but can profoundly affect how your child learns, reads and processes information. Common visual challenges that can impact homework include:
- Blurred or double vision during reading
- Losing their place while copying from the board
- Skipping lines when reading
- Confusing similar letters, such as “b” and “d”
- Difficulty focusing
- Frequent eyestrain or headaches after school
Why Vision Therapy May Be the Answer for Homework Struggles
Vision therapy is an individualized program that targets the visual skills necessary for successfully completing homework assignments, like reading, writing and comfortable learning. It’s more than simple eye exercises. It’s a personalized approach that focuses on retraining how the eyes and brain work together, and it can dramatically improve focus, comprehension and the ability to organize and complete tasks.
Through guided exercises and personalized sessions, vision therapy strengthens critical visual skills such as eye teaming, which is the ability for both eyes to work together smoothly, eye tracking, which allows the eyes to move accurately across lines of print, and focusing, which enables clear vision at varying distances. These skills are essential for reading fluency, writing and staying attentive during homework tasks. As these abilities improve, many children find that schoolwork becomes less stressful and more rewarding.
Working with Family Vision Development Center for Effective Vision Therapy
The team at Family Vision Development Center has extensive training in effective vision therapy programs. Our comprehensive evaluation can uncover any visual challenges your child may be experiencing and determine if vision therapy would be an appropriate solution. Each child is unique and has their own needs when it comes to their visual skills. Their personalized sessions can help to:
- Make reading and writing tasks less tiring
- Improve visual memory and attention span
- Reduce frustration with schoolwork
- Build confidence and success in and out of the classroom
At Family Vision Development Center, we believe that every child deserves the best shot at academic success, and getting homework completed is a big part of that! Don’t let unseen vision problems stand in the way of homework – and their confidence. Reach out to our office at 630-862-2020 to learn more about our vision therapy programs, and how they can be tailored to your child to improve their academic performance. It starts with a comprehensive vision evaluation, so reach out now.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear. We are dedicated to keeping our patients comfortable and well-informed and we will explain every exam and procedure and answer all of your questions. We accept both scheduled and emergency appointments, and offer convenient financing and insurance options to ensure that high-quality vision care is available and affordable to all of our patients.
If you’re watching the end of the year approach and still have money left in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA), don’t panic. There are plenty of smart and sometimes surprising ways to spend it on your eye health. While many people know they can use FSA dollars for vision exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses, fewer people realize that there are many lesser-known options that can help improve eye comfort, performance and long-term visual wellness.
Unique FSA Options
If you’re looking for something beyond the basics, here are some innovative, beneficial and often overlooked ways to put your remaining flex dollars to work.
- Specialized Computer Glasses – If you spend hours in front of screens, you may benefit from task-specific computer lenses designed to reduce eye strain and improve focus. These are different from typical blue-light lenses, as the prescription lenses are customized for your exact working distance. Many people who use them notice reduced headaches, neck strain, and dry eye, making them an excellent choice for FSA dollars.
- Sport-Specific Prescription Eyewear – Performance eyewear is not just for professional athletes. FSA funds can often be used for prescription swimming goggles, ski or snow goggles, eyewear for tennis or cycling, or impact-resistant sport goggles for kids. This is a great option for active or athletic families, especially with sports that pick up in spring.
- Dry Eye Treatment Options – Dry eye is a very common vision complaint, especially in the winter months. FSA funds can cover some effective options to help with this issue, such as over-the-counter eye drops, prescription dry eye medications, moist heat therapy eye masks, omega-3 supplements for eye health, or punctal plugs when prescribed as a necessity.
- Low Vision Aids – People with reduced vision from conditions like macular degeneration or cataracts can find great benefit from specialized low-vision tools that make everyday life easier. In many cases, products like magnifiers, contrast-enhancing lenses or assistive reading devices can be eligible for FSA reimbursement.
- Vision Therapy Programs – These individualized treatment programs are effective at treating a wide range of visual conditions, and are specifically tailored to each patient according to their needs. Vision therapy can help correct binocular vision issues, eye teaming difficulty, visual tracking challenges or developmental vision conditions, and can even improve athletic ability. FSA benefits can often be used to cover evaluations and testing, treatment sessions and at-home therapy support materials.
Discuss FSA Options with Family Vision Development Center Now
The end of the year sneaks up quickly, and every year people inevitably let their FSA funds expire because they simply forget to schedule appointments or make purchases. If you’re unsure how much remains in your FSA, now is the perfect time to log in and check your balance. And of course, we are here to help in any way we can! Whether you need an exam, glasses, or advice on eligible products, our team is happy to assist you in making the most of your benefits before they expire. Contact our office today at 630-862-2020 to schedule an appointment.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear. We are dedicated to keeping our patients comfortable and well-informed and we will explain every exam and procedure and answer all of your questions. We accept both scheduled and emergency appointments, and offer convenient financing and insurance options to ensure that high-quality vision care is available and affordable to all of our patients.
Many people equate “good vision” with the ability to obtain a 20/20 reading on an eye chart. But effective vision is so much more than just clarity. There are actually 17 distinct visual skills that all work together to allow us to learn, work, play, and easily navigate the world around us.
Essential Visual Skills
When one or more of these crucial skills isn’t functioning properly, it can create significant challenges in daily life.
- Eye Movement Control – the ability to move your eyes together in order to focus on a person, picture, or object.
- Binocular Coordination – the ability of the two eyes to accurately work together, at the same time, as a team.
- Convergence – the eyes’ ability to work as a team, whether they are looking inward or focusing ahead.
- Saccades – quick, simultaneous movements of the two eyes between two or more focus points.
- Pursuits – the ability of the eyes to maintain a smooth transition between two different points.
- Accommodation Flexibility – the ability to continuously change focus between objects that are up close and in the distance.
- Spatial/Visual Learning – the ability to think about and evaluate what you have seen.
- Accommodation Endurance – the ability to maintain focus on up-close tasks for extended periods of time.
- Visual Memory – the ability to remember images and words we have seen in the past.
- Central Visual Acuity – the ability to see clearly and accurately. This skill is most commonly used to determine if your vision is 20/20 or a variation.
- Depth Perception – the ability to tell whether objects are closer or further away, in relation to one another.
- Peripheral Vision (side vision) – Being able to see what’s on either side of you while your eyes are pointed forward and without turning your head.
- Gross Visual-Motor – the ability to move through the environment by using visual cues that prevent us from bumping into things.
- Color Perception – being able to tell different colors apart.
- Fine Visual-Motor – the ability to focus on activities that require small movements and attention to detail.
- Visual Integration – the ability to bring together your vision and your other senses to accomplish complex tasks.
- Visual Perception – Being aware of your environment and what is going on around you in your visual field (the area you can see).
When One or More Visual Skills Need Attention
When visual skills are underdeveloped or inefficient, it results in a functional visual problem that can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including:
- Academic struggles – Difficulty reading, poor comprehension, slow reading speed, skipping words/lines, headaches during reading, avoiding homework.
- Physical symptoms – Eye strain, fatigue, headaches, double vision, light sensitivity, dizziness, motion sickness.
- Behavior problems – Short attention span during visual tasks, fidgeting, poor posture, easily frustrated, avoiding close work.
- Impacted motor skills – Clumsiness, poor balance, difficulty with sports, struggles with driving.
Vision Therapy at Family Vision Development Center
Vision therapy is a customized program of activities and exercises that are designed to retrain how the eyes and brain work together, which is essential for developing the above-mentioned visual skills. Dr. Martin and his team have extensive knowledge and experience creating personalized programs that:
- Improve eye teaming – Teaching both eyes to work together smoothly and efficiently.
- Enhance focusing – Strengthening the ability to focus and change focus with ease.
- Develop tracking – Improving the eyes’ ability to follow moving objects and guide reading.
- Boost visual processing – Training the brain to better interpret and understand visual information.
- Strengthen visual-motor integration – Improving coordination between what the eyes see and what the body does.
Our vision therapy programs can help develop or restore proper visual function, leading to improved classroom or job performance, reduced eye strain and headaches, better athletic performance, increased confidence, and better overall quality of life! Contact our office at 630-862-2020 to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear.
Contact lenses are a popular and convenient option for millions of people, yet many myths still make patients hesitate to try them. Let’s clear up some of the most common misconceptions about contact lenses and replace them with the real facts.
Myth #1: Contact Lenses Can Get Lost Behind Your Eye
Fact – This is one of the most persistent and frightening myths, but thankfully, it’s completely untrue!
Your eye is covered by a thin membrane called the conjunctiva. This membrane lines the inside of your eyelid and folds back to cover the white part of your eye, acting as a natural barrier. Because of this anatomical structure, it is physically impossible for a contact lens to slip behind your eyeball. If a lens feels lost, it’s most likely tucked up underneath your upper eyelid, and a few blinks or some sterile solution will usually bring it out.
Myth #2: Contact Lenses are Too Difficult to Put In and Take Out
Fact – There can be a slight learning curve, as there is when trying anything new. But the process becomes second nature very quickly. We understand that touching your eye can feel strange at first. However, our team provides thorough training for every new contact lens wearer. We’ll guide you through the process step-by-step, share tips for easy insertion and removal, and ensure you are confident before you leave our office. Just like learning to tie your shoes, it gets easier every time you do it!
Myth #3: Contacts are Uncomfortable
Fact – Current contact lenses are designed with advanced, breathable materials which make them extremely comfortable, often to the point where you forget you’re wearing them. If your lenses are causing consistent discomfort, scratchiness, or redness, it is not normal. This typically signals one of three issues:
- You have the wrong fit or prescription.
- You are wearing them longer than recommended.
- You have an underlying condition like dry eye or an allergy.
If you experience discomfort, remove your lenses and call us so we can determine the cause of the problem.
Myth #4: Contact Lenses are Only for Adults
Fact – Many teens and younger kids wear contacts and do great with them. In fact, contact lenses can work for almost any age. Children, teens, adults, and seniors can all be successful contact lens wearers with the right lens type and hygiene habits. As long as a person is responsible and can follow the recommended care instructions provided, they can be a good option.
At Family Vision Development Center, we have a dedicated team that wants to make sure our patients have all of the facts in order to make the best decisions about their eye health. Contact lenses are a safe and effective choice for vision correction for many people. We have a wide range of options to meet the individual needs of our patients and will work with you to make sure you are comfortable with your selection. Reach out to us at 630-862-2020 to schedule an appointment or ask for additional information.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear. We are dedicated to keeping our patients comfortable and well-informed and we will explain every exam and procedure and answer all of your questions. We accept both scheduled and emergency appointments, and offer convenient financing and insurance options to ensure that high-quality vision care is available and affordable to all of our patients.
October is ADHD Awareness Month, a time dedicated to spreading understanding and support for those living with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. While ADHD is a well-recognized condition, what many people don’t realize is that certain vision problems can mimic ADHD symptoms, which can lead to confusion, misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.
Understanding the difference between vision issues and ADHD is essential when it comes to helping children succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
Vision Conditions that are Similar to ADHD Symptoms
There are several vision conditions that look surprisingly similar to typical symptoms of ADHD, which can lead to an incorrect diagnosis.
- Focusing issues (accommodative dysfunction) – people with this condition have trouble maintaining clear focus on near objects. This can lead to headaches, eye strain, and fatigue, making sustained attention on tasks (especially reading or writing) incredibly difficult. A child who constantly loses their place or re-reads lines might be seen as inattentive, when it is actually a focusing issue causing the problem.
- Eye teaming issues (convergence insufficiency) – this affects how your eyes work together, and makes it difficult to turn your eyes inward together to see things up close. It results in double vision and words looking blurred on a page. This can make it very difficult to read, often needing to use a finger to keep track, ultimately resulting in tired eyes and seeming lack of concentration.
- Eye tracking issues – smooth and accurate eye movements are essential for reading. If the eyes struggle to move from word to word efficiently, a common result is skipping lines or losing your place. This can be mistaken for carelessness or inattention, when it’s actually a problem with the mechanics of eye movement.
- Nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism (refractive errors) – these are more straightforward, but if they are not corrected properly it can cause eye discomfort, strain or fatigue that can make concentrating on visual tasks very difficult.
If a person is experiencing any of these vision conditions, they might exhibit symptoms that can be mistakenly diagnosed as ADHD, such as:
- Impulsiveness or short attention span
- Fidgeting or restlessness
- Avoiding close-up tasks like homework or classwork
- Poor academic performance
- Frequent frustration during tasks that require close-up work, like reading
Key Differences Between ADHD and Vision Problems
While the symptoms can overlap, there are certain differences and indicators that might suggest a vision problem rather than solely ADHD:
- Timing of symptoms – if symptoms primarily emerge during visual tasks like reading or computer work, but lessen during activities that don’t require much close-up vision, it could be a sign of a vision issue rather than ADHD
- Physical symptoms – Headaches, eye strain, rubbing eyes, blurry vision, double vision, sensitivity to light, or tilting the head to see better are strong indicators of a vision issue.
- Type of task – The type of task that a person is having difficulty with can provide a clue to the underlying cause. For example, struggling with tasks that require reading, while doing well with hands-on activities or those that involve listening might indicate a visual problem.
Generally, a person with ADHD will typically struggle with focus across many settings, whether it’s at school, home, or recreational activities. Someone with a vision problem often struggles most during visually demanding tasks, such as reading, copying from the board, or doing homework or computer work.
Getting an Accurate Diagnosis at Family Vision Development Center
Our team can play an essential role in discovering vision-related challenges that may be mistaken for ADHD. Our comprehensive vision exams test for issues like eye teaming and tracking, visual acuity at near and far distances, focusing ability and eye movement skills. If we diagnose a visual condition, we can opt for proper treatments, such as prescription lenses or vision therapy. Being able to identify visual issues early on can ensure that symptoms are corrected in the right way, even potentially sparing the unnecessary use of medications.
If you suspect ADHD or have received a diagnosis, it is important to explore every option to ensure that diagnosis is correct. Contact us at 630-862-2020 to schedule an appointment for a vision exam.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear.
As the new school year begins, parents, teachers and medical providers should all work together to achieve the goal of helping students thrive. Indeed, many factors can play a role in a child’s success in the classroom, such as study habits, teaching quality, motivation and more. But visual health is an often-overlooked factor that can have a significant impact on classroom performance.
Good vision is more than just being able to see the chalkboard or read a textbook. Vision plays a critical role in how children learn, process information, and stay engaged in the classroom. In fact, research shows that up to 80% of classroom learning is visual, making healthy eyesight one of the most important building blocks for academic achievement.
Why Vision Matters in the Classroom
Imagine trying to read a textbook when the words are blurry, or copying notes from a whiteboard that appears hazy. For many children, this isn’t a hypothetical scenario. It’s what they experience on a daily basis. A child may be intelligent, motivated, and hardworking, yet struggle in school if they are experiencing undetected vision issues. Common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism can make reading and focusing difficult. Other vision issues, such as trouble with eye tracking, eye teaming or visual processing, can lead to challenges in reading comprehension, handwriting or staying on task.
These struggles often go unnoticed because children may not realize their vision is abnormal, and they assume what they see is how everyone sees. Teachers and parents, meanwhile, may mistake vision-related learning problems for behavioral issues or lack of effort.
Warning Signs of Vision-Related Learning Problems
As students settle into the school year, parents and teachers should watch for these signs that a vision issue may be interfering with learning:
- Frequent headaches or eye strain after reading
- Complaints of blurred or double vision
- Difficulty staying focused on written work
- Avoidance of reading or homework
- Skipping lines or losing their place while reading
- Poor handwriting or letter reversals
- Short attention span during visual tasks
When these issues go unchecked, they can impact not only academic performance but also a child’s confidence and willingness to engage in school.
Parents and Teachers can Work Together to Encourage Classroom Success
When parents and teachers combine their efforts, it can go a long way in ensuring that students are getting the support they need. Here’s how they can work as a team:
- Schedule regular eye exams – Parents should make back-to-school eye exams part of their child’s routine. Comprehensive vision exams can detect vision issues that school screenings often miss.
- Communicate concerns – Teachers who notice issues with a child’s behavior, reading habits or attention should share their concerns right away with parents, as open communication can help to prevent potential problems.
- Accommodate students’ needs – If a student has a diagnosed vision problem, teachers can help by offering front-row seating, providing enlarged print, or allowing extra time on assignments.
- Encourage healthy habits – Both at home and in the classroom, encourage regular breaks from screens, good lighting for reading, and outdoor play to reduce eye strain and promote overall eye health.
Family Vision Development Center’s Role in Student Success
Prioritizing healthy vision at the start of the school year helps prepare students to be happy, confident and successful as the year progresses. A back-to-school vision exam can help us detect any visual concerns and provide any necessary treatment, to ensure they meet their academic goals. From vision correction through glasses or contacts, to more advanced vision therapy options that target issues like eye tracking, eye teaming, focus, hand-eye coordination and more, we are here to be your partner in your child’s success. Contact us at 630-862-2020 to schedule a vision exam today.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear.
A brain injury can change your life in an instant, and the effects often linger in ways that are difficult to explain. If you’ve experienced a concussion, stroke, or other form of traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may be dealing with symptoms like blurred vision, dizziness, light sensitivity or trouble concentrating. What many people don’t realize is that these symptoms are often tied to disruptions in the visual system – and that’s where neuro-optometric vision rehabilitation can help.
The Link Between a Brain Injury and Vision
Vision isn’t just about how clearly you can see. It’s about how your eyes and brain work together to interpret the world around you. In fact, more than 50% of the brain is involved in visual processing, which makes the visual system especially vulnerable following a brain injury.
Even a mild concussion can disrupt:
- Eye tracking (following a moving object)
- Eye teaming (how your eyes work together)
- Depth perception and spatial awareness
- Visual memory and processing speed
- The ability to shift focus between near and far objects
When these systems are out of sync, the results can be frustrating, and sometimes debilitating. You may feel dizzy in crowds, overwhelmed by motion, or unable to read or drive for long periods. These symptoms often go undiagnosed because they don’t show up on standard eye exams.
How Vision Rehabilitation Helps the Brain Heal
Neuro-optometric vision rehabilitation is a specialized therapy designed to retrain the visual system and restore its connection with the brain and body. Unlike glasses or contacts, which correct clarity, this type of vision therapy focuses on functional vision, which is how well your eyes and brain communicate and work together in daily life.
A personalized rehabilitation program following a brain injury may include:
- Eye movement and tracking exercises
- Activities to improve balance and coordination
- Tools like prism lenses or light therapy
- Exercises that help integrate vision with movement and cognition
Over time, these targeted therapies help reduce symptoms, restore visual function, and improve overall brain-body coordination.
Expected Improvements Following Vision Rehabilitation
Neuro-optometric vision rehabilitation helps individuals regain their independence and quality of life after a brain injury. With consistent treatment, patients often notice:
- Less dizziness and disorientation
- Improved reading and concentration
- Better coordination and balance
- Reduced light sensitivity and headaches
- Increased confidence in crowded or visually complex environments
Because each brain injury is unique, the treatment plan is customized based on a comprehensive neuro-optometric evaluation.
A brain injury can be overwhelming but recovery is definitely possible. Vision rehabilitation offers a powerful, non-invasive approach to healing that addresses the hidden visual problems that hold many people back. At Family Vision Development Center, we have extensive knowledge and training in this type of treatment and are able to help restore proper vision for patients of all ages, tailoring their plans to help them regain their quality of life as efficiently and quickly as possible.
If you have experienced any kind of brain injury, don’t let your vision go untreated. Contact our office at 630-862-2020 to schedule a comprehensive evaluation and take the next step toward restoring clarity, balance, and control in your life.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear. We are dedicated to keeping our patients comfortable and well-informed and we will explain every exam and procedure and answer all of your questions. We accept both scheduled and emergency appointments, and offer convenient financing and insurance options to ensure that high-quality vision care is available and affordable to all of our patients.
For those living with diabetes, it is important to understand that it can have a serious impact on your eye health and vision. In fact, diabetes is one of the leading causes of vision loss in adults. Unfortunately, many of the eye-related complications can develop without any noticeable symptoms early on. That’s why regular eye exams with a vision care provider who understands diabetic eye care are critical to protecting your sight.
How Diabetes is Connected to Eye Health
Diabetes requires careful management of blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels remain elevated over time, they can damage the small blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the eyes. This can lead to several serious conditions, including:
- Diabetic Retinopathy – This is a condition that occurs when high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the retina, which is the part of the eye that senses light. In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy may not cause symptoms. However, it can lead to vision loss or blindness if left untreated.
- Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) – DME is a complication of diabetic retinopathy and occurs when fluid leaks into the macula, which is the small area in the center of the retina that is responsible for sharp, detailed central vision. This can cause swelling and blurred or distorted vision, and can result in permanent vision loss if not treated properly.
- Glaucoma – Diabetes can also increase the risk of developing glaucoma, a condition that damages the optic nerve and can result in irreversible vision loss if not caught early. Managing blood sugar levels and getting regular eye exams are essential for preventing the vision complications that are related to both diabetes and glaucoma.
- Cataracts – Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy or opaque, causing blurry or distorted vision. People with diabetes often have a greater risk of developing cataracts, or may see them accelerate more quickly.
How Family Vision Development Center Can Help in Diabetic Vision Care
The care you will receive from our expert staff can play a vital role in effectively managing the vision challenges associated with diabetes.
- Comprehensive diabetic vision exams – These specialized exams go beyond a standard vision check. During your visit, we will closely examine the retina, macula, and optic nerve using dilation and digital retinal imaging.
- Early detection – Many diabetes-related eye conditions develop without noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Regular eye exams can help to detect early signs of damage before vision is affected, allowing for timely treatment and better outcomes.
- Monitoring of disease progression – If you have been diagnosed with a diabetic eye disease, we can track changes over time and coordinate care with your primary physician or endocrinologist.
- Tailored vision treatment plans – Diabetes can lead to continual changes in your vision and in your prescription. We can meet these changing vision correction needs and offer strategies to manage visual challenges at work, home, and other daily activities.
Don’t wait until you notice significant changes in your vision to get the care you need. Reach out to us at 630-862-2020 for proper diabetic vision care as early as possible to protect your vision now and into the future.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear. We are dedicated to keeping our patients comfortable and well-informed and we will explain every exam and procedure and answer all of your questions. We accept both scheduled and emergency appointments, and offer convenient financing and insurance options to ensure that high-quality vision care is available and affordable to all of our patients.
