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Eyes on Chelsea Vision Care

Home » Vision Therapy

Your Vision Therapy Eye Doctor In Birmingham and Sylacauga

We love helping our patients enjoy the beauty of life by improving their vision. At our vision therapy center we treat a variety of vision problems through retraining the eyes with special exercises and activities, these patients leave our program with dramatic vision improvement, heightened school performance, and positive self esteem.

What is vision therapy?

While eyeglasses and contact lenses are effective treatments for refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia, there are other vision conditions which corrective lenses cannot fix.

Vision therapy, often referred to as “physical therapy for the eyes and brain,” is a treatment program that consists of a series of “eye exercises” or activities that are prescribed and monitored by a trained optometrist, and are used to retrain the visual system to function more efficiently. The therapy program is customized towards the visual needs of each patient, and is adjusted throughout the process to encourage further visual improvements. The human brain is remarkable in its ability to adapt to new information with remarkable speed and success. This is known as neuroplasticity, and is the guiding concept behind vision therapy’s success.

Vision Therapy Info

Who can benefit from vision therapy?

Healthy people with good visual acuity can still suffer from vision problems that affect their quality of life. Vision therapy has shown to be an effective method of treatment for patients of all ages and for many conditions that affect the visual system, including but not limited to:

  • Oculomotor dysfunction (eye movement disorders)
  • Accommodative disorders (eye focusing disorders)
  • Non-strabismic binocular disorders (eye teaming disorders)
  • Strabismus (crossed eyes)
  • Amblyopia (lazy eye)
  • Visual sequelae of acquired brain injury (stroke or concussion)
  • Visual information processing disorders

These vision problems are treatable, and are often overlooked at visual screenings. At Jessica Palmer, OD, we help people overcome these challenges by addressing the underlying vision problem.

Our Vision Therapy Doctor

Dr. Jessica Palmer

Dr. Jessica Palmer

Dr. Jessica Palmer graduated from Troy State University, in Troy, Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999. She obtained her Doctorate of Optometry degree from the University of Alabama, Birmingham in 2005. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Alabama Optometric Association, the Birmingham Area Optometric Society and the University of Alabama, Birmingham, School of Optometry Alumni Association. She was awarded Greater Shelby County Optometrist of the Year in 2015 and again in 2022.

two kids

How can I enroll in vision therapy?

A comprehensive eye examination is required to determine if vision therapy is an appropriate treatment option for you and your condition. Contact our office to book an appointment and learn more about vision therapy.

How long can treatment take with vision therapy?

Effective therapy requires visual skills to be developed until they are integrated with other systems and become automatic, enabling patients to achieve their full potential. The length of treatment varies between patients depending on the complexity of their condition and the specific needs of the patient. This may take as little as 10 sessions, or it may take longer.

Success with vision therapy

Vision therapy results can vary depending on each condition and circumstance. Successful vision therapy requires active engagement from the prescribing doctor, vision therapist, patient, and parents of any children enrolled in the program. With time, consistency, and hard work, patients can experience significant improvements in symptoms and efficiency in school or work-related tasks. Many school-aged patients often report increased reading speed, reading comprehension, and performance in school overall.

boy with chalkboard

Questions and Answers About Vision Therapy

Dr. Palmer will answer the most common questions about vision therapy, including:

  • What is Vision Therapy?
  • Can Vision Therapy help with learning problems?
  • Where to research about vision therapy?
  • How long does Vision Therapy take?

And many more! Call Today!

Request Appointment Online Call For Information (205) 980-4530