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Rockyview Health Centre, 1011 Glenmore Trail SW Building #1 Suite 423, Calgary, AB T2V 4R6, Canada
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How Optometric Vision Therapy Supports Learning and Academic Success

optometric vision therapy supports learning

BY DR FARRAH SUNDERJI

Did you know that “good vision” is about more than just seeing tiny letters on a wall? Most people think that if they have 20/20 eyesight, their eyes are perfect. But vision is actually a significant team effort between your eyes and your brain.

Think of your eyes as two teammates, and your brain as the coach. They have to work together to track words on a page, focus on a whiteboard, and understand what they are seeing. When this team doesn’t play well together, school can feel really, really hard. At Eyedeology, our vision therapy in Calgary helps train the eyes and brain to be a winning team.

Why Some Kids Struggle at School

Have you ever tried to read, only for the words to seem to jump around? Or you got a headache after doing a little bit of homework. For many students, the problem isn’t that they aren’t smart. The problem is that their eyes are working way too hard.

If your eyes can’t stay focused or follow a line of text, your brain quickly gets tired. We call this “visual fatigue.” It can make you feel frustrated or like giving up. Our Optometrists (eye doctors) help find these hidden problems that regular school vision checks might miss.

What is Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy is like “physical therapy” or “gym class” for your eyes and brain. Sometimes, glasses alone can’t fix how your eye muscles move. That’s when you need a specialised Optometrist near you to show you how to retrain your visual system.

If you’ve been looking for vision therapy near you, our program is hands-on and uses fun exercises. We work on:

  • Tracking: Being able to follow a moving ball or a line in a book smoothly.
  • Teaming: Making sure both eyes point at the same spot at the same time.
  • Focusing: Changing focus quickly from your paper to the teacher and back.

At Eyedeology, we even include balance and movement games. This helps your brain “lock in” the new skills so you don’t even have to think about them anymore!

How It Changes Everything

We love seeing our students succeed. We’ve seen kids who used to hate books suddenly start reading for fun. When your eyes work right, you don’t have to spend all your energy just trying to see the words; you can use that energy to learn and have fun.

Our Optometrists also use vision therapy to help with:

  • Lazy Eye: Helping a weak eye get stronger.
  • Concussions: Helping the brain feel better after a bump to the head.
  • Sports: Helping athletes see the ball better and react faster.

Learn more in our blog, Beyond 20/20: Enhancing Learning and Athletic Skills Through Optometric Vision Therapy, and see how vision therapy in SW Calgary helps students and athletes strengthen their visual skills for success.

Let’s Find the Missing Piece

If you find yourself skipping lines, getting tired while reading, or struggling to keep up in class, it might be your eyes! Even if you can see things far away perfectly, your “eye team” might need some coaching.

If you are looking for vision therapy in SW Calgary, our team of Optometrists is here to help. We want to find the root cause of the struggle so you can feel confident in school again.

School shouldn’t be a headache. Visit www.eyedeology.ca to book a vision and learning assessment today!

FAQs

+ Is vision therapy the same as just wearing glasses?
Not exactly! Glasses help clear up blurry images, but vision therapy is like training for your eye muscles and brain. Even if you can see clearly, your eyes might not be working together as a team. Our Optometrists use therapy to teach your eyes how to move and focus correctly.
+ How do I know if my child needs vision therapy?
Keep an eye out for "red flags" like skipping lines while reading, using a finger to keep their place, frequent headaches, or closing one eye to see better. If schoolwork feels like a constant struggle despite your child being bright and hardworking, it’s a good idea to check their visual skills.
+ Does vision therapy help with sports?
Yes! Many athletes use vision therapy to improve their depth perception and reaction time. If your eyes and brain can track a ball faster, you can catch it or hit it more easily. It’s a great way to boost performance on the field or the court.
+ How long does the program take?
Every student is different, but most programs involve weekly sessions for a few months. Because we are retraining the brain, it takes a little time and practice, just like learning a musical instrument or a new sport.

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Supporting Ocular Surface Healing and Comfort

The membrane contains natural growth factors and anti-inflammatory properties. When placed over the cornea, it acts as a protective layer that supports healing and may help reduce inflammation.

Potential Benefits

  • Supports Healing: Helps promote natural healing of the eye’s surface.
  • Reduces Inflammation: Its natural properties may help calm inflammation.
  • Improves Comfort: May help relieve discomfort related to dry eye.
  • Supports Recovery: Helps support the healing of the ocular surface.

Who May Benefit?

Amniotic Membrane Therapy may be suitable for people with moderate to severe dry eye, particularly when conventional treatments have not provided enough relief. An eye care professional can assess your eyes and determine if this treatment is appropriate.

How Does It Work?

The amniotic membrane is the innermost layer of the placenta and contains growth factors and anti-inflammatory properties. During treatment, a specially prepared membrane is placed over the eye’s surface to act as a biological covering and support healing.

What to Expect

Before treatment, your optometrist will examine your eyes and determine whether Amniotic Membrane Therapy is suitable for you.

  • Before Treatment: The eye is numbed with topical anesthetic drops, and the area is prepared.
  • Membrane Placement: The preserved and sterilized membrane is placed over the cornea.
  • After Placement: A special contact lens may be used to hold the membrane in place.
  • Post-Treatment Care: Antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eye drops may be prescribed when needed.
  • Follow-Up: Regular visits help monitor healing and the membrane’s absorption or integration.
Some patients may experience mild discomfort, a foreign body sensation, or temporary blurred vision after treatment. Improvement in symptoms may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the individual.

Understanding Dry Eye and Your Treatment Options

Dry eye can develop for several reasons, and understanding the underlying cause is an important part of managing symptoms. Our team can assess your eyes and help develop a management plan based on your individual needs.

Common Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye can affect both eyes and may cause different symptoms, including:

  • Stinging or Burning – A burning, stinging, or gritty feeling in the eyes.
  • Eye Redness – Red or irritated eyes.
  • Light Sensitivity – Increased sensitivity to light.
  • Excessive Watering – Eyes that water more than usual.
  • Blurred Vision or Eye Fatigue – Blurry vision or tired, strained eyes.
  • Foreign Body Sensation – A feeling that something is in your eye.

What Causes Dry Eye?

A healthy tear film has several components that work together to keep the surface of the eye comfortable and protected. Dry eye can occur when tear production decreases or when tears evaporate too quickly.

Several factors may contribute to dry eye, including:

  • Aging
  • Allergies
  • Hormonal changes
  • Eyelid problems
  • Gland dysfunction
  • Certain health conditions
  • Living in a dry climate
  • Extended screen time

One common factor is blockage of the Meibomian glands, which produce the lipid layer of the tear film. When these glands are not functioning properly, tear evaporation can increase and contribute to dry eye symptoms.

A Personalized Approach to Dry Eye Management

Managing dry eye involves more than simply using eye drops. Our team can help develop a personalized plan that may include targeted in-office treatments, nutritional guidance, and home care based on your needs. 

Home care may include:

  • Warm Compresses: Used as part of a regular eye-care routine.
  • Lid Hygiene: Keeping the eyelids and surrounding area clean.
  • Artificial Tears: May be recommended to help manage dryness and discomfort.

In-Office Treatment Options

For patients with more severe dry eye symptoms, targeted in-office treatments may be considered. Available options include:

  • Radiofrequency
  • Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)
  • LipiFlow Therapy

These treatments may be used as part of dry eye management for symptoms such as burning, itching, redness, and irritation. The appropriate approach depends on the underlying factors contributing to your symptoms.

Managing Your Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye can have several contributing factors, so treatment is not the same for everyone. A thorough assessment can help identify factors affecting your tear film and determine which management options may be appropriate.

If you are experiencing persistent dryness, irritation, redness, light sensitivity, or other symptoms, speak with our eye care team about your dry eye management options.

Deep Cleansing for Healthier Eyelids and Lashes

ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) is an in-office eyelid cleaning and debridement treatment developed by Zocular®. It is designed to clean the eyelids and lashes while helping address concerns associated with dry eye, blepharitis, and demodex.

The treatment uses a natural, okra-based gel to remove oil, debris, and residue from the eyelid margins and lashes. By improving eyelid hygiene, ZEST can help reduce the buildup that may contribute to irritation and inflammation around the eyes.

What Is ZEST?

ZEST works like a deep cleansing treatment for the eyelids and lashes. During the procedure, the okra-based gel is applied along the eyelid margins and lashes using a cotton swab. The gel is gently worked into a lather using circular motions before being rinsed away with saline solution.
The gel contains a refined extract of okra, an edible green seed pod. According to the provided product information, okra helps lift and clear oil, debris, and residue while being gentle around the eye area.

How Can ZEST Help?

Keeping the eyelids, eyelid margins, and lashes clean is an important part of eye hygiene. Buildup along the eyelid edges can contribute to symptoms such as itching, burning, gritty sensations, redness, and irritation.

ZEST is designed to address this buildup through thorough cleansing and debridement.

  • Removes Debris: Helps clear dirt, oil, and residue from the eyelid margins and lashes.
  • Supports Eyelid Hygiene: Provides a deeper cleansing treatment than routine eyelid cleaning.
    Addresses Demodex: The treatment is designed to help remove demodex mites and associated debris.
  • Helps Reduce Inflammation: Cleansing the eyelid area may help address buildup associated with irritation and inflammation.
  • Supports Dry Eye Care: ZEST may help relieve symptoms associated with dry eye and poor eyelid hygiene.

ZEST for Dry Eye, Blepharitis, and Demodex

Dry eye and blepharitis can be associated with inadequate eyelid hygiene. Debris along the eyelid margins can enter the tear film with blinking, potentially contributing to redness and irritation.

Demodex mites can also be present in the hair follicles around the eyelashes. According to the provided information, they may contribute to inflammation and dry eye symptoms by blocking the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes.

ZEST provides targeted cleansing of the eyelid margins and lashes to help remove this buildup and address demodex-related concerns.

A Simple In-Office Treatment

The ZEST procedure is performed in the office and involves applying the cleansing gel to the eyelid margins and lashes, working it into a lather, and then rinsing the area with saline solution. The treatment is designed to provide thorough eyelid and lash cleansing without requiring a lengthy procedure.

Is ZEST Right for You?

ZEST may be considered for patients experiencing symptoms associated with dry eye, blepharitis, demodex, or eyelid debris. An eye care professional can assess your symptoms and determine whether ZEST is appropriate for your eye care needs.
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