Getting an Eye Exam for Vision Therapy

In a Developmental Eye Exam, we assess all the visual processes that affect a child's ability to perform and learn inside and outside of the classroom.

Amplify EyeCare Manhattan

An eye exam is necessary when visual problems arise. And while eye exams are tailored to meet individual concerns, most include an assessment of corneal shape, determination of near and farsightedness, measurement of peripheral vision, and an evaluation of the pressure caused by the fluid in your eyes. 

Standard tests are critical to determining how well a person can see and if they have a visual impairment. However eye exams for vision therapy (VT), address how well a person can use their eyes. By addressing use over function, a VT exam, also known as a functional eye exam, can pinpoint cognitive deficiencies, visual efficiency, and perceptual problems even if the actual eye is structurally sound. 

How to Know when a Functional Eye Exam is needed

Standard eye exams are typically needed when a child is unable to see the board from a distance, it becomes difficult for someone to read small print, or you need a new eyeglass prescription. These exams are thorough, but cannot provide an in depth explanation as to why, for example, your child writes diagonally, your student sees more clearly when they cover one eye, or you find it difficult to understand the words you can read with ease. 

How to Know when a Functional Eye Exam is needed

Functional eye exams are recommended for all children as they check distance vision and all aspects of our visual processing that impact our ability to function well in the classroom and out. A functional vision exam is particularly important if you are experiencing: 

  • Pain in the eyes
  • Double vision
  • Difficulty with word recall 
  • Poor balance
  • Bad handwriting
  • Difficulty with sports
  • An inability to pay attention and concentrate on tasks at hand
  • Poor reading and aural comprehension 
  • Light sensitivity
  • An inability to track words and objects
  • Eyestrain and headaches
  • Words that “move” as you read 
  • Unintentional skipping of words and lines while reading
  • The need to insert extra large or small spaces between letters and words.

What Happens During a Vision Therapy Eye Exam

In order to improve the way your child’s eyes respond both neurologically and visually, a functional eye exam will determine how their eyes work individually and together, how brain function impacts how and what you can see, and whether or not their eyes are appropriately aligned. 

Functional Vision Exam

After reviewing your child’s overall health history, a series of individualized tests will be administered. These tests will assess anything from learning issues, to developmental delays, to sports needs, and brain function. It usually takes around an hour to thoroughly determine how well your child’s brain and eyes interact.

 

Prior to Your Child’s Eye Exam

A number of factors will be assessed prior to your child’s functional eye exam. Amongst them are color perception, eye tracking, binocular vision and integration, and how the eyes move during reading.

How to Know when a Functional Eye Exam is needed

During The Eye Exam

As your child’s exam progresses, more visual skills will be evaluated. These range from visual acuity, eye alignment, and convergence and divergence of the eyes, to how flexibly the eye can focus, overall ocular health, and pupil reflexes.

 

After the Your Child’s Eye Exam

Upon evaluating your child's eyes and visual function, our optometrist will design a treatment plan to address any visual deficits that may be affecting their success. You will be informed of the skills that need to be addressed and how, together with our eye doctor and therapist, you can accomplish this.

Common Questions

After a plan of care has been established and visual dysfunctions identified, you will be assigned a vision therapist who will oversee the therapy of exercises intended to improve your child’s visual function. A full course of vision therapy normally consists of 20-40 sessions depending on what visual skills require therapy, with each session lasting about 45 minutes. In-office appointments are scheduled weekly and assigned eye exercises are to be practiced da
Not necessarily. Although a functional eye exam is needed to determine if you need vision therapy, you may learn after testing that you need a stronger eyeglass prescription or another type of intervention altogether.
Getting an Eye Exam for Vision Therapy
Dr. Wernick cartoon

Eye Exams for Vision Therapy Help Everyone

Vision therapy is an effective treatment for school-age children, professional athletes in need of upping their game, those who suffer from traumatic brain injury, and many others. What’s more, when vision therapy helps the patient, it ultimately helps the teachers, co-workers, and loved ones in that patient’s life. To schedule a functional vision exam, please call (212) 752-6930. Patients with functional vision issues visit our clinic from all over New York, and we are proud to be a leading provider of functional vision services for patients from New York, Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island.

Testimonials


At Amplify with Dr Wernick I was seeking help for seemingly intractable, probably age-related dryness. I've seen other doctors about it, and that has been helpful, but what he explained to me about it and the careful way he answered all my questions gave me so much more of a clear understanding of what is going on (and is not) that I am more able to implement all his and others' recommendations than I was before. And he gave me additional resources for further follow-up. I am most grateful.


Cynthia Norton

Wow! This is a great Eye Care medical facility. I was thoroughly examined by Dr. Pinkhasov for over 2 hours. She made sure to check my eyes for pretty much everything and patiently explained proper care for my eyes. They definitely know how to provide great care and treat their patients right. Now I know why they have such a great reputation and been around for so long.


Steve Fay

Dr. Kavner is a gifted diagnostician and orthoptic therapist. He treated me several decades ago for a condition similar to dyslexia. I was having migraines five times per week. I worked with him for about a year and I experienced tremendous improvement (down to 3-4 per year) that has lasted.


Mary K.

Dr. Kavner recommended two types of eye therapy for my daughter. One of them using bio-feedback. In just three sessions she is seeing considerably better. She shouted this morning: Ooh my God! I could not see these letters with my glasses on, and now I can see them without my glasses. If you are willing and able to invest in improving your vision, this is a good place to go to!


Peter G.

Dr. Kavner recommended two types of eye therapy for my daughter. One of them using bio-feedback. In just three sessions she is seeing considerably better. She shouted this morning: Ooh my God! I could not see these letters with my glasses on, and now I can see them without my glasses. If you are willing and able to invest in improving your vision, this is a good place to go to!


Kinkie F.

I have always found Dr Kavner's work, expertise and wisdom of the highest caliber. As one of the fathers of OT, occupational othomology, his depth and breadth of knowledge about the eyes' health and wellbeing of the patient is exemplary. Cannot say enough good things about him.


Allen B.
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