your family's eye care

What To Expect From Vision Therapy

While glasses, contacts, and surgery can address a wide array of eye problems, sometimes you also need to do some therapy in order to improve eye function. Most eye therapy exercises are designed to strengthen certain muscles in and around your eyes. They can help greatly with issues like strabismus and exotropia. If your eye doctor has recommended that you undergo vision therapy, here's a look at what you can expect.

Weekly Sessions

Needs vary between patients, but in most cases, you'll need to attend vision therapy weekly. You can expect a session to last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the exact nature of the therapy you need. Most sessions will start with a general assessment of your vision and how your eyes respond to various stimuli. Then, the therapist will guide you through a series of exercises that have been specialized for your needs.

At-Home Exercises

In order for vision therapy to be effective, patients usually need to spend time performing the prescribed exercises at home, too. The exercises you need to do at home are generally similar to the ones you're guided through in the office, although they might be a bit simplified. You may be told to do some exercises daily and others less frequently. It is vitally important that you do the exercises as prescribed or else you may not make progress as expected in vision therapy.

Insurance Coverage

Patients often wonder how they'll pay for vision therapy. The good news is that most health insurance plans do cover vision therapy if they cover vision, in general. Vision therapy is considered a necessary medical treatment for an array of conditions. You might have to pay a co-pay for the service, or you may have to pay a certain amount until you reach your deductible on certain plans, but overall, this is usually an insurance-backed therapy.

Ongoing Care

If you are undergoing vision therapy as a part of a treatment plan after eye surgery, you may only need a few sessions. On the other hand, if you're managing a chronic condition, you may need to continue therapy for a few months or more. Your therapist won't always be able to tell you, from the get-go, how long you'll need their services. It will depend on how quickly you progress.

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what to expect from vision therapy. It can be really helpful for patients with various conditions. Visit an eye clinic like Performance Vision And Learning for more information about vision therapy.