Are you, your child, or someone you know experiencing any of these symptoms?
You may have had your eyes examined and you were told you are seeing well and yet you are still experiencing symptoms that are affecting your school work, workplace and quality of life. Here’s a closer look at when you might need a comprehensive binocular vision and learning assessment based on these common indicators:
It is important to note if your child has been diagnosed or is being suspected to have ADD/ADHD or dyslexia, a comprehensive binocular vision assessment is critical to rule out if vision is interfering with a child’s learning ability. Many children with these diagnoses also have underlying visual issues that impact their ability to focus, read, and learn effectively. Start with a comprehensive binocular vision assessment to identify any vision-related challenges.
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, we recommend calling us to book in for a comprehensive binocular vision assessment with our Developmental Optometrist and Vision Therapist. If you have already had an eye exam in the past year, you can request your Optometrist to send us your most recent eye exam.
A comprehensive binocular vision assessment is an in-depth evaluation done by our Optometrists who have special interest in neuro-vision development to ensure that your eyes are healthy and that your eyes, body and brain are working well together.
Our holistic approach to examining eyes goes beyond just checking how clearly you see (visual acuity).
A thorough evaluation will be done to assess how the eyes, brain and body work together.
These may include, but are not limited to:
Depending on what tests are required, plan to be at our office for up to 3 hours.
Once the evaluation is complete, you will be booked in for a consultation with our developmental Optometrist and vision therapist to go over the results and discuss your treatment plan.
Please be advised that the costs associated with vision therapy assessments and treatments are not covered by Alberta Health Care. However, you may be eligible for reimbursement through your private health insurance plan. We recommend reviewing your insurance policy or contacting your provider to confirm whether vision therapy services are included under extended health benefits or paramedical coverage.
Please note that we do not offer direct billing for Vision Therapy invoices. Full payment is required at the time of service, and detailed receipts will be provided for your insurance claims.
For individuals who have sustained a concussion or experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are involved in a legal proceeding or personal injury lawsuit, it may be possible for insurance or legal settlements to cover vision therapy services. We encourage you to discuss this with your legal representative and insurance adjuster to explore potential reimbursement options.
If you have further questions about billing or insurance claims, please contact our office for assistance.
Primitive reflexes are automatic, involuntary movements that are present even before we’re born, and they help infants develop the basic motor skills needed for survival. By the time a child is around 1 year old, these reflexes should be fully integrated, meaning they should no longer be active and should give way to more mature, voluntary and purposeful movements. However, if they don’t fully integrate, it can impact visual and motor development.
Research has shown that when primitive reflexes do not integrate as they should, it can create disruptions in vision skills. Retained primitive reflexes can affect one’s eye tracking abilities, visual-motor integration, eye teaming, and development of depth perception. These visual challenges may manifest as difficulties with reading, learning, and other activities requiring coordination and spatial awareness.
In vision therapy, we focus on five primitive reflexes that are closely tied to the visual system:
If these reflexes don’t integrate, a person might show some of these behaviors orsymptoms:
When primitive reflexes are not properly integrated, it can affect not only physical movement but also visual skills. Vision therapy can help by addressing these reflexes and improving overall visual and motor skills.
Vision therapy is an effective treatment for individuals whose visual issues are related to retained primitive reflexes. It works by stimulating and retraining the visual system, helping the eyes and brain to work together more effectively. In some cases, vision therapy can also help integrate primitive reflexes by addressing the neural connections involved.
Vision therapy helps individuals understand how their brain controls their eyes, enhancing visual skills and teaching them to apply these improvements in daily life. Our vision therapy program is uniquely designed by our Optometrist and Vision Therapist to meet your specific needs. This individualized program incorporates exercises to strengthen the eye-body-brain connection, supporting overall visual performance.
Vision therapy can involve different tools and techniques, such as:
✔ Primitive reflex integration exercises
✔ Gross and Fine motor skill exercises
✔ Monocular and Binocular activities to improve tracking, focusing and eye teaming skills
✔ Use of patch, red/green glasses, lenses, flippers or prisms
✔ Syntonic light therapy
✔ Exercises to improve visual perceptual skills
The success of your vision therapy program depends on your consistent effort, commitment to in office sessions, daily home exercises and in office progress evaluations.
Syntonics, or Optometric phototherapy, is a type of light therapy used in optometry to treat visual and neurological issues. It has been used for over 70 years and is often combined with vision therapy for better results.
The term “Syntonics” comes from the word “syntony,” which means to bring things into balance. The therapy uses specific light wavelengths to help balance and regulate the body’s visual and neurological systems, improving how the eyes and brain work together.
Syntonics can help treat a variety of conditions, including:
Syntonics is an effective and holistic therapy that improves both vision and brain function. By using light frequencies tailored to each individual, it helps address a range of visual and neurological challenges, leading to better vision and overall well-being.
In-office sessions are guided by a trained vision therapist or optometrist who customizes exercises in real-time, providing direct feedback and adjusting the therapy based on your progress. These sessions often use specialized equipment and personalized techniques that go beyond what computer programs offer. Computer-based vision therapy programs can be helpful for additional practice at home, but they lack the tailored, hands-on adjustments and comprehensive approach that in-office therapy provides. Combining both can enhance overall effectiveness.
If your child has been diagnosed or is being suspected to have ADD/ADHD or dyslexia, a comprehensive binocular vision assessment is critical to rule out if vision is interfering with a child’s learning ability. Many children with these diagnoses also have underlying visual issues that impact their ability to focus, read, and learn effectively. Start with a comprehensive binocular vision assessment to identify any vision-related challenges. Vision therapy can enhance skills like eye tracking, focusing, and visual processing, helping improve learning, confidence, and school performance.
Vision therapy enhances key visual skills like tracking, eye-hand coordination, depth perception, and reaction time —critical for athletic success.
Sports such as hockey, soccer, baseball, basketball, racquetball sports, gymnastics and can greatly benefit from improved visual performance. Contact us to learn how vision therapy can give you a competitive edge.
The cost of a vision therapy assessment depends on the specific tests required. The cost of a vision therapy program varies based on its length and the individual treatment plan.
For personalized pricing or program details, please contact our office.
Yes, vision therapy can be effective at any age. While early intervention is beneficial, the brain maintains neuroplasticity—the ability to adapt and develop new neural connections—throughout life. Conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye), convergence insufficiency, and visual processing difficulties can respond well to a customized vision therapy program, regardless of age. Success depends on consistent practice, adherence to the therapy plan, and individual factors, but improvement is possible beyond the so-called “critical period.”
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Where Dr. Margaret Penny’s legacy lives on!
Under the mentorship of Dr. Margaret Penny, both Dr. Jessica Yang, Dr. Emma Wen and Dr. Farrah Sunderji continue to uphold the exceptional care standards you’ve come to expect. Whether you’re a new or existing Mayfair patient, we warmly invite you to schedule your appointments with us, without any changes to your existing information.
Call us at 587-353-5061 to schedule an appointment today
Our clinic has relocated from Centennial Place in Downtown Calgary to Rockyview Health Centre at the following address:
1011 Glenmore Trail SW Building #1 Suite 423, Calgary, AB T2V 4R6
We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional eye care to our valued patients and warmly welcoming new patients from the Calgary community. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment!
Sincerely,
The Team at Eyedeology