
VISION THERAPY: AN IMPORTANT OPTOMETRIC TREATMENT: A SYMPOSIUM
Date: Thursday March 18, 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Place: Lecture Hall 3, NECO Beacon Street Campus
Participants:
Dr. Mitchell Scheiman, Behavioral Optometric Scholar in Residence,
Sue Barry Ph.D., Professor of Neurobiology at Mount Holyoke College
Dr. Richard Laudon, Moderator, Coordinator of Vision Therapy Services, NEE -
Dr. Bruce Moore, Marcus Professor of Pediatric Studies, NECO
Dr. Cathy Stern, Optometrist, Private Practice Limited to Vision Therapy
Vision therapy has been an important mode of optometric treatment for a number of functional visual problems for over seventy years. Despite its effectiveness, it has been considered controversial by some authorities both within and outside of the field of optometry. This symposium will bring together a panel of distinguished optometrists and a well known patient to discuss the past, present and future of optometric vision therapy.
One of the criticisms regarding vision therapy has been the lack of scientific evidence. There has been an extensive but fragmented literature on the topic of vision therapy. In the last five years, there have been a series of peer reviewed articles and studies focused on the efficacy of this treatment approach. Dr. Mitchell Scheiman, our Behavioral Optometric Scholar, is one of the lead investigators in the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) which has addressed the question of whether or not vision therapy is an appropriate treatment option. All three of their randomized clinical trials, two of which were published in Archives of Ophthalmology, showed OFFICE-BASED optometric vision therapy to be the best treatment for this common condition.
All faculty, students and staff are invited to this exciting and informative seminar. Everyone should feel free to invite a guest or a potential patient as we explore the status of vision therapy with our panel and our Behavioral Scholar for 2010, Dr. Mitchell Scheiman.
No reservation is required. This is a free event.

