Orthoptic Therapy

Orthoptic therapy, often called “vision therapy,” is a program of eye exercises that are designed to help people, primarily children, who have eye-focusing problems, such as convergence and/or accommodative insufficiency and in certain cases of exotropia.

Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania is the leading ophthalmology practice in Berks County, Lancaster County, Lebanon County, Montgomery County and Schuylkill County.

Our staff includes a nationally-recognized team of specialized ophthalmologists, ophthalmic surgeons and eye care professionals who are Board Certified, have been trained by some of the most respected medical facilities in the world, and have vast clinical experience in a wide variety of eye disease and surgical services.

Although problems with binocular vision (eye coordination) can occur in adults, orthoptic or vision therapy is most often prescribed for children when the problem cannot be corrected with eyeglasses alone.

When children have vision or eye problems, they may not be able to explain what is bothering them. Pediatric ophthalmologists are specially trained to diagnose and treat children, and use equipment that is designed just for kids. The pediatric team at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania provides care in a comfortable and kid-friendly environment that will put your child at ease.

David S. Goldberg, MD is a board certified Pediatric Ophthalmologist who specializes in pediatric surgery and oculoplastic surgery in children and adults. After graduating with high honors from Princeton University and University of South Florida Medical School, Dr. Goldberg was fellowship-trained in pediatric ophthalmology by the renowned Zane Pollard, MD of Eye Care Associates in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jennifer H. Cho, OD, is a optometrist and a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She received her B.A. degree from Tufts University and her O.D. degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. She completed her clinical internships at the Brooklyn VA Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, and The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, where her emphasis was on pediatrics, binocular vision, and vision therapy.

What is Orthoptic Therapy?

Orthoptic therapy refers to eye exercise programs that are designed to improve or eliminate the symptoms associated with poor eye coordination (binocular vision) skills, such as eye strain, headache, fatigue and blurred or double vision, especially when reading.

An individual treatment program is prescribed for each patient, office-based therapy by a trained therapist is performed, and then the exercises can be continued at home by means of helpful computer programs.

What is Convergence Insufficiency?

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a common eye muscle coordination problem that occurs when your eyes don’t work together while you’re trying to focus on a nearby object.

To read or perform close-up work, our eyes must converge (or turn in) in order for the words to be singular and clear. In CI, the eyes do not turn in easily and, as a result, extra convergence effort must be used to force them to turn in. This additional effort can cause the symptoms described above as well as difficulty concentrating and slow reading. It may make parents or teachers suspect that a child has a learning disability, instead of an eye disorder.

Studies show that vision therapy can be very effective for convergence insufficiency. In rare cases, if orthoptic therapy doesn’t work, your doctor may recommend surgery.

The services at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania span the full range of eye care and include orthoptic therapy. We have five convenient locations in Wyomissing, Pottsville, Pottstown, Lebanon and Blandon. Get in touch with us today to learn more. For an appointment, call toll-free 1-800-762-7132.