An Old School of Thought

Parents and educators often incorrectly assume that if a child passes a school vision screening, an eye problem does not exist. However, this is an antiquated way of thinking about vision.

School vision screenings often test visual acuity (sharpness and clarity) only and not for things like ocular motility, binocular vision, and accommodation all vital components of vision, extraocular muscle movement, and brain function.

In reality, the visual skills needed for successful reading and learning are much more complex. A child who can see 20/20 can still have a serious vision problem.

We Cannot See Through Our Child’s Eyes

It has been estimated that one in four children have undiagnosed eye problems that interfere with learning and lead to academic and/or behavioral problems. In fact, a recent study has concluded that children with vision problems are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. It is important to note: the symptoms are often similar, but the causes are not the same.

How does this happen? In addition to visual screening misdiagnoses, these children simply cannot articulate the problem or do not understand that their school difficulties may be related to their eyes.

Before concluding your child has a learning disability or an anxiety disorder, it is important to schedule an eye exam.

Reading or Writing Problem Indicators

Is your child struggling with one or more of the following?

  • Fatigue when reading or a drop in comprehension with time
  • Short attention span while reading
  • Holds head too close to book when reading or desk when writing
  • Confusion of similar words or letters
  • Difficulty keeping place while reading
  • Slow reading or word-by-word reading
  • Skips or rereads lines or uses finger as a pointer
  • Says the words aloud or lip reads
  • Difficulty remembering what has been read or newly learned words
  • Reverses words or letters
  • Poor sitting posture while reading or writing
  • Excessive head turning while reading
  • Turns head so as to use one eye only or tilts head to one side
  • Frowning, excessive blinking, scowling, squinting, or other facial distortions while reading
  • Rubs eyes during or after reading
  • Difficulty copying from a whiteboard or book

If these symptoms sound familiar, contact our office. Our expertise in behavioral and functional optometry allows us to quickly detect vision related issues. We can then successfully offer management and treatment strategies such as eyeglasses or vision therapy in order to alleviate problems at school.

At Belle Vue Specialty Eye Care, we’ll do everything we can to get your child’s vision – and school performance – back on track.

The Solution Could Be Easier Than You Think

Let’s start with a scenario: you start to notice either gradual or sudden changes in your child’s behavior. They have less interest in activities they once enjoyed, they have physical delays, they lack focus and have no motivation in school, have trouble with homework and bad grades, and if older, perhaps even suddenly change their peer group.

What is happening? For the child, it is frustrating and they often can’t articulate the problem. For the parents, it causes fear and concern as we scramble to understand the issue.

Unfortunately, more often than not, this can lead you and your child down the path of misdiagnosis. A recent study has concluded that children with vision problems are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

Before assuming your child has a learning disability or an anxiety disorder, have their vision checked first. Our expertise in functional optometry and school difficulties allow us to quickly detect issues that are vision related.

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Take our Vision Therapy Test

Developed by our team of specialists, our online test can help determine if your child could benefit from vision therapy. Take our test now then contact our offices to discuss the results.

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What Exactly Is Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy, also known as vision training, is physical therapy for the eyes and brain. It is a drug-free, non-surgical set of tests and activities that aim to resolve symptoms that interfere with visual abilities, motor skills, and brain function.

While eyeglasses and contact lenses work to improve your eyesight, vision therapy corrects binocular vision, the ability for both eyes to work together and the brain to use the information received more effectively. This can vastly improve symptoms you may not realize are related to your visual system.

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What Do We Test?

This is the way a person organizes spaces. If information is not processed properly, symptoms may include writing uphill or downhill, being clumsy, and knocking things over.

To see single and clearly, the eyes must work together as a team, meaning the eyes must point to the same place at the same time and maintain this fusion. If not done effectively, symptoms may include double vision, words “swimming” on the page, words running together when reading, head tilting when reading, closing one eye when reading, and difficulty copying from the whiteboard.

To maintain clear vision at near, our eyes must focus, or accommodate, to see clearly. This skill is closely related to binocular vision, as they happen together when focusing at near. If there are difficulties accommodating, symptoms may include headaches with near work and a short attention span when doing near tasks.

The eyes must move together as one unit. There are two distinct types of eye movements that are needed when reading:

  • Saccades – quick movements (think word to word, line to line)
  • Pursuits – smooth movements (think tracking across a page smoothly).

Poor ocular motility may cause symptoms such as skipped or repeated lines when reading, omitting small words when reading, and misaligning columns of numbers.

Visual perception is the ability to interpret the surrounding environment by processing the visual information obtained. Some symptoms of poor visual perception include poor reading comprehension, trouble staying attentive while reading, difficulty completing assignments on time, always saying “I can’t” before trying, not use time well, losing belongings, and having a forgetful/poor memory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Vision Therapy Only Benefit Children?

Does Vision Therapy Only Benefit Children?

People of any age are candidates for vision therapy. We treat adults and children who have visual quality of life issues, or who have suffered brain injury or stroke.

People of any age are candidates for vision therapy. We treat adults and children who have visual quality of life issues, or who have suffered brain injury or stroke.

How Long Does Vision Therapy Take?

How Long Does Vision Therapy Take?

After your initial examination, our staff will consult with you. Based on our findings, we will outline and recommend a schedule of training sessions, the length of which will depend on a variety of factors, including the agreed upon goals between you and your doctor.

After your initial examination, our staff will consult with you. Based on our findings, we will outline and recommend a schedule of training sessions, the length of which will depend on a variety of factors, including the agreed upon goals between you and your doctor.

Is Vision Therapy Covered By Insurance?

Is Vision Therapy Covered By Insurance?

Some insurance plans will cover vision therapy services. However, at Belle Vue Speciality Eye Care, we do not direct bill your insurance company, nor take insurance as a form of payment. Some of our patients have Flexible or Health Spending Accounts (FSA/HSA) options that we do accept.

We are happy to provide you with the forms you require to submit to your insurance company, but all payments to our office must be direct and paid up front.

Some insurance plans will cover vision therapy services. However, at Belle Vue Speciality Eye Care, we do not direct bill your insurance company, nor take insurance as a form of payment. Some of our patients have Flexible or Health Spending Accounts (FSA/HSA) options that we do accept.

We are happy to provide you with the forms you require to submit to your insurance company, but all payments to our office must be direct and paid up front.

Our Specialized Payment Plans

Our Specialized Payment Plans

At Belle Vue Speciality Eye Care, we believe every person deserves the benefits of vision therapy. That’s why we offer a range of payment plans and financial options to assist you. Our friendly staff can provide you with more information.

At Belle Vue Speciality Eye Care, we believe every person deserves the benefits of vision therapy. That’s why we offer a range of payment plans and financial options to assist you. Our friendly staff can provide you with more information.

What Our Parents are Saying

Several years before seeing Dr. Lott our child had surgery to “correct” her particular eye issue. We were told by other doctors she needed same surgery again for the same issue, but instead we decided to try Vision therapy at Belle Vue. Best decision we ever made! Dr. Lott, Dr. Maples, and the staff at Belle Vue have worked wonders with our child’s vision. Wish we would have tried vision therapy from the very beginning. Our child’s vision & grades have greatly improved and now LOVES to read! Belle Vue is the BEST!!

MR

Visit Our Convenient Location

Hattiesburg

Located in the Bellevue Corner Market Shopping Center.

Contact Information

Phone: (601) 475-2020
Fax: (800) 493-5956
hello@bellevuesec.com

Address

7117 Highway 98, Suite 30
Hattiesburg, MS 39402

Jackson Satellite Location

Located in the Highland Village Shopping Center.

Contact Information

Phone: (601) 487-1089
Fax: (800) 493-5956
hello@bellevuesec.com

Address

4500 l-55 N Suite 245
Jackson, MS 39211
Monday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday
Closed
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Book Your Appointment

Located in the Bellevue Corner Market Shopping Center.

Contact Information

Phone: (601) 475-2020
Fax: (800) 493-5956
hello@bellevuesec.com

Address

7117 Highway 98, Suite 30
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Monday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday
Closed
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Book Your Appointment

Jackson Satellite Location

Located in the Highland Village Shopping Center.

Contact Information

Phone: (601) 487-1089
Fax: (800) 493-5956
hello@bellevuesec.com

Address

4500 l-55 N Suite 245
Jackson, MS 39211