Vision Therapy & Progressive Lenses - Is This Really Needed?

Try Dr. Edward Fong - he works with children with autism spectrum disorders and also provides sports vision therapy.

Bright Eye Care & Vision Development
4427 Highway 6, Suite L
Sugar Land, TX
###-###-####
www.movetherapy.com

For more info on vision therapy in general, go to www.visiontherapy.com

Perhaps you can enlist the pediatrician or the doctor that diagnosed the autism spectrum. We thought my daughter had lazy eye and the pediatrician sent us to a opthalmologist to diagnose. If it had been in need of therapy, then we were go to the optomotrist. What eye problem did the opto diagnose?

The advice you got about working with the school is a great suggestion.

Sorry for the late response.... I don't know what area you are in, but I have been an optician in the Corpus Christi area for several years. Progressive lenses also called a "no line" have three areas for vision: far, near, and arms length. I could recommend several people in the area who could give you a second opinion and also a lot more information. There are optical warehouses that could fill your script for a lot less than you have been quoted. Varilux is the top of the line progressive lens which are pricey but are the easiest to adjust to, have a wider optical center, and better offer clarity. Before you make a purchase ask lots of questions (ie. brand, warranty, ect...) Good luck. If more information is needed and I may be of help please don't hesitate to contact me.

I live in Magnolia. My daughter is 8 1/2. We went to Baxter Eye Care in woodlands before school started for her follow-up of her recurrent headaches since K. I have always struggle with reading and writing but the teachers always said it was normal. Dr. Baxter said she had visual perceptual problems related to weak eye muscles and need more testing. The cost was outrageous and "insurance never pays". I held off throughout school year because she has always maintained her reading leek until recently when school put her in reading group and been doin Irlens color overlays with her with has help very little. Reading teacher said her son had same problems at her age & went through vision therapy which made a huge difference. After a lot of phone calls & research I found Dr. Ann Voss with the Vision learning center in Houston. She is a neuro-visual developmental optometrist. The testing they do is way more than the standardized testing that Baxter eye care and child and family eye care in magnolia do. And, they file with insurance. Staff was extremely knowledgeable and the dr was fantastic. Long drive for initial tests but all follow-up was off louetta & spring cypress. My daughter has 20/20 vision but since her muscles are weak she now has glasses(so far so good). Dr. Voss was able to pinpoint exactly what was going on as I have seen throughout the year. We will do the therapy. Yes, it is expensive and it falls under the out if network benefits since no therapist in Houston are providers. The dr and reading teacher are convinced that this will be the answer to our prayers...after see all results I am too!! I called opthomologist and they said they are more surgical/medical aspect and that a developmental behavior opthomologist is the one to see. Remember too moms that each time are kids go through a growth spurt their nervous system goes hay wire. You will be please!! As a mother and a bachelor in nursing...vision learning center & dr. Voss is the way to go!! Good
Luck!!!

Try an opthamologist! they deal with the health and condition os the eye:)

If you are in The Woodlands area--check out Dr. Li, he is adjacent to the Sam's Club in the Portofino center. I know at first I was like no way am I going to an eye dr. at Sam's, but I have been going to him for 4 years now and he is great. My daughter was with me last time and he did a quick test on her vision at no charge. He frequently gives me "extra" contacts when he has them. I feel like he will only charge me for what he has to and doesn't try to pad the bill. I initially started going to him after I had been going to one of the "franchise" places and even with my insurance they were charging me $200+for my contact lens exam, I think this was their way of padding the bill b/c I wouldn't purchase my contacts from them, I buy them at Sams. He didn't accept my insurance at first, but did make a huge effort checking, he was still less than the other places. He takes my insurance now which saves me even more. And just FYI--you don't have to have a Sam's card to see him. Good luck

My son is visually impaired with retina detachment. I won't go into the long history of that, but I will say at the age of two, we took him to the University of Houston Low Vision Clinic and they did a low vision evaluation on him. Because we did not know if and what he could see at that age, they were able to tell us what his range of vision was. We did it again at the age of five and they recommended a dome and telescope. It will cost around $300. Here is the number for your convenience ###-###-####. I hope this helps.
Deborah

Vision problems can cause all kinds of delays and getting a good vision screening is harder than I used to think. Have you taken her to a pediatric ophthalmologist for a second opinion? If you have concerns about whether you are on the right course, I think it'd be a smart way to go. I took my daughter to one when she was having difficulties. After years of being told she didn't need glasses at all, we found out that she actually needed very strong reading glasses. This is the doctor that helped us. I value her opinion and her approach. http://www.eyeassociates.us/monan.html Either way you'll be no worse off right? Good luck. Our children need all the help we can give them to get ahead. :-)

Hi S.,
It never hurts to get a second opinion. Where are you taking your daughter? My son took vision therapy at age 9-10, and it did work. He does not need special lenses but I've heard of 3D lenses and other kinds that would make a difference on people. He was diagnosed by Dr. Voss in Houston and took the vision therapay at Children and Family Eye care in Magnolia. I also wondered about spending so much money on his therapy, specially because we don't have eye insurance but if you can afford it or have insurance, why take any chances?
I understand how you feel though, I feel the same way with my dentist!!!

Hi S..

Did either of your kids have ECI (Early Childhood Intervention)? I, too, have a special needs child and we are in a program called MDCP (Medically Dependent Children's Program), a Medicaid-based program that gives eligibility to those of us who do not otherwise qualify because of income level. If you've done ECI, you might want to contact your Case worker and get information. My child wears glasses and contacts, both of which are paid for through his program. There are some criteria that your child must meet for eligibility but it may be worth your time to get some info. If you did not have ECI, you might want to contact your school diagnostician and get a referral to a case worker through the CLASS programs.

HTH

Second opinions are many times worth it.

My daughter went through vision therapy two summers ago. She had convergence insufficiency. She made amazing progress. She will always have this problem, but they taught her how to deal with it. It worked out great for us, but it took going to therapy and working at home. Also, help from the teachers at the school. Can I ask what dr. you went to?

The only advice I can give you is look for an Opthalmologist. Opthalmologist's are Medical Doctors and have more education. I'm a Nurse and this same advice was given to me by an Internal Medecine Doctor.

Best of luck,
Elisa M

My daughter had vision therapy from Child and Family Eye Care in The Woodlands (since then they have also opened an office in Magnolia). It was expensive but worth every cent for the difference it has made in her reading ability and self confidence. I know it would be a long drive for you but it might be worth it to get a second opinion from them. They may be able to recommend someone in your area for a second opinion if you are unable to drive all the way up here. Even if you don't see them, check out their website. It has a lot of information on it about vision therapy.

With our daughter we were able to tell a difference fairly quickly and her therapy only lasted 12 weeks with a couple of follow ups just to tweak things.

Best of luck to you.

3/30/09

Greetings!

First, I’d like to refer you and your daughter to my Holistic Vision Care Professional, Dr. Sue Moss, Therapeutic Optometrist of “Eyes Are Precious” 2 Chelsea Blvd. Houston, TX 77006 ###-###-#### for a 2nd opinion re. your daughter’s condition.

Second, I’d like to suggest the idea of using Vision Training ~ Pinhole Glasses. They’re available in children’s size frames in the colors of Red, Green and Blue through A New Body Lifestyle http://www.acwbinc.org/products/pinholeeyeglasses.html

For more info., contact M. @ ###-###-####.
Be Well...

**M.

Yes yes yes it is needed. Take it from a former teacher- wouldn't you rather do everything in your power to help if you can. If she says things look bubbly that may just be her word for blurry. My husband was 8 when he got his glasses and even now he can't tell me exactly what he doesn't see when he is not wearing them. He says he remembers the car ride home though and realizing that trees have individual leaves for you to look at not just one big green top. How sad is that?! Get her the glasses and pat yourself on the back for sacrificing 200 that could go to something else but went for the good of your precious baby girl!

Since your daughter is in the austism spectrum I would definitely recommend taking her to a Pediatric Optamologist before investing any more money in visual therapy and/or progressive lenses. I used to work in Optical and have talked with many Optometrists and Opthamologists over the years regarding visual therapy. In some instances visual therapy can be very beneficial, but not always.

My youngest son sees a Pediatric Opthamologist, Dr. Miller in Tomball. My son had a form of Strabismus (lazy eye) and because of his age AND the condition visual therapy was not an appropriate option. After much research I agreed to having the operation, and he is doing very well. Dr. Miller is VERY GOOD, actually is EXCELLENT with children, and most importantly I TRUST him. He takes the time to answer questions, address concerns/worries, and is happy to point you in whatever direction you need to go to get the answers you need.

Good luck. If you would like Dr. Miller's phone number I will be happy to forward it to you.