A huge part of academic success rests on strong reading skills – especially given the fact that 80% of reading is visual. When the eyes do not work together properly, it can lead to frustration, fatigue, and difficulty processing text.
At Child and Family Vision Center in Ankeny, we provide vision therapy tailored to address the underlying visual challenges that impact reading, helping patients develop stronger eye coordination and focus for improved reading fluency and comprehension.
How Vision Therapy Can Help Those Who Struggle to Read
Reading is a visually demanding task that requires smooth eye movements, clear focus, and efficient visual processing. When any of these skills are compromised, it can result in:
- Losing place while reading or skipping words
- Blurry or double vision when looking at text
- Eye strain and headaches after short reading sessions
- Difficulty understanding and remembering what was read
These symptoms are often linked to learning issues like dyslexia or ADHD however there is a huge overlap between undiagnosed vision issues and how it impacts learning. We see these overlaps with one eye condition as studies show that 50% of children with learning issues have undiagnosed binocular vision dysfunction.
What is Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy is a structured, non-invasive treatment program designed to train the eyes and brain to work together more effectively. At Child and Family Vision Center in Ankeny, vision therapy is tailored to each patient’s specific needs and may include:
- Eye tracking exercises to improve smooth and accurate movement across lines of text
- Focus training to reduce eye strain and enhance visual clarity
- Binocular vision therapy to strengthen eye coordination and depth perception
- Visual processing training to help the brain interpret and retain what the eyes see
Through consistent vision therapy sessions, many patients experience significant improvements in reading speed, fluency, and comprehension.
Signs That Vision Therapy May Be Needed
A comprehensive vision evaluation can help determine if vision issues are interfering with reading. Some common signs include:
- Frequently re-reading words or sentences
- Difficulty concentrating when reading for long periods
- Relying on a finger or marker to track words
- Avoiding reading assignments or struggling with homework
At Child and Family Vision Center in Ankeny, our team assesses how the eyes function together and create a customized therapy plan to address any underlying issues.
Schedule a Vision Therapy Consultation
If reading feels like a constant struggle, vision therapy may provide the solution. Strengthening eye coordination and tracking skills can lead to improved reading fluency, comprehension, and confidence.
Schedule a vision therapy consultation at Child and Family Vision Center in Ankeny today to learn how we can help.