Author: bouldervt

Protected: A B Sees: Vision Therapy for Preschoolers – COVD Canada

Vision Development in Children

Here are some helpful resources to learn more about vision development:

The infantSEE program is a national public health service where a doctor of optometry (OD) performs a no-cost vision assessment of babies between ages of 6-12 months of age. The infantSEE program has great information for parents on their website: infantsee.org
The American Optometric Association (AOA) has guidelines for testing and treatment of our little pediatric patients. Do you know the first eye examination should take place between ages 6-12 months and the second at age 3? The AOA Parents Center is packed with information. To learn about vision from birth to age 24 months, visit AOA Infant Vision.
To learn more about preschool vision development, visit AOA Preschool Vision
Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, a personal friend and colleague blogged about her granddaughter Edina’s Visual development at each age and stage. This great series includes videos, milestones, and observations. Learn more here: https://www.lynnhellerstein.com/category/vision-development-through-edinas-eyes/
All about Vision is a helpful website for families to learn more about children’s vision: https://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/infants.htm

I also highly recommend the following book for parents:

Active Baby, Healthy Brain: 135 Fun Exercises and Activities to Maximize Your Child’s Brain Development from Birth Through Age 5 by Margaret Sassé

What does a baby see?

Reference: https://lasermom.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/infant-vision-research/

Symptoms of refractive errors vary per individual and may include: – headache – fatigue – eye strain – squinting – blurred or distorted images, up close and/or in the distance

My colleague Sarah Lane, OD, FCOVD has some great videos on helping your child’s sensory (sight, touch, balance, pressure, hearing) and motor (movement of the body) systems development here:

Up and Down

Side to Side

I have hands

Dr. Jen Simonson, April 2020

iheartVT Virtual Conference

Top Five Vision Therapy Tools

Understand how to utilize traditional therapy procedures and when to move forward with modern alternatives. 1 hour – English – ODs, VTs, Optometry students

Course Handout Top Five Vision Therapy Tools iHeartVT 2020

Products from this course:

Virtual Reality
MFBF Game
Stereoscope
Vectograms
Facility Rock

Virtual Reality Platforms

Vivid Vision: https://www.seevividly.com/

Optics Trainer VR: https://www.opticstrainer.com/

Monocular Fixation in a Binocular Field (MFBF)

MFBF Game: https://www.bernell.com/product/MFBFMG/398

Sherman Cards: https://www.bernell.com/product/KEY4102/Games

Carl’s Cards: https://www.bernell.com/product/RGCC/398

Franzblau Cards: https://www.bernell.com/product/FZKIT/398

*Lens flipper set: Optego (Canada)

https://optego.com/product/home-therapy-flipper-set/

Home Therapy Flipper Set (each flipper sold individually)

Flipper A +0.75/-1.50 -2.50/+1.25

Flipper B +1.75/-3.50 -4.00/+2.00

Flipper C +2.25/-4.50 -5.00/+2.50

Stereoscopes

Bernell-o-scope: https://www.bernell.com/product/BC200/Cheiroscopes

Cheiroscope:

https://www.bernell.com/product/BACT/Cheiroscopes

iPad Stereoscope:

https://www.good-lite.com/gLab Stereoscope

Headline Stereoscope Cards:

https://www.bernell.com/product/HDSC/Stereoscopic_Cards

Vectograms

Vectograms and Vectographs (Polarized glasses):

https://www.bernell.com/category/Vectograms-Vectographs

Vectographs produced by Vision Assessment Corporation (note – these manuals are great and indicate the stereopsis demand of each 3-D target)

https://www.visionassessment.com/polarized-variable-vectographs

Anaglyphs (Colored Glasses)

Red/Green Emergent VT Anaglyphs:

https://www.emergentvt.com/remote-vision-therapy-kit

Tranaglyphs:

https://www.bernell.com/category/Tranaglyphs

Red/Cyan Opto iPad app: http://gerull-labs.com/red-cyan

Red/Blue Home Therapy System (HTS): https://visiontherapysolutions.net/hts-inet/

Red/Blue Vision Builder: http://www.visionbuilder.no/

Facility Rock

Facility Rock Test Set: https://www.good-lite.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=940&category=0&Secondary=0

Flipper Sets from Good-Lite: https://www.good-lite.com/flippers.pdf

Prism Flippers: https://www.bernell.com/category/Prism_Flippers

**If you have similar products in other countries and you would like me to add links, just send the information to drjsimonson@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Colorado COVD 2020 Winter Study Group

When: Sunday, February 23, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (MST)

Where: Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, P.C.7400 East Orchard RoadSuite 175-SGreenwood Village, CO 80111

Topic: Testing and Treatment of Vertical Deviations

Presentors: Dr. Jennifer Simonson of Boulder Valley Vision Therapy and Dr. Lynn Hellerstein of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, P.C.

Course Description: Dr. Simonson and Dr. Hellerstein will share clinical pearls in treating vertical diplopia. This course will discuss eye alignment, prism prescribing, and recommended vision therapy techniques to decrease symptoms of double vision. The goal is of this course will be to utilize compensatory and therapeutic strategies to improve fusion skills for patients with vertical strabismus and diplopia. During this workshop, attendees will complete hands-on training on clinical testing for vertical misalignment. Stations will include Maddox rod, Modified Thorington, laser-assisted Hess Lancaster, and other clinical techniques to measure the amplitude of misalignment and fusional ability. This training will help vision therapists understand the direction and amplitude of strabismus. Attendees will also experience induced vertical misalignment and determine optimal prism perscription based on findings. In addition, vision training concepts and procedures will be performed to increase the accuracy, stability, and concomitancy of eye alignment. Learn new techniques and appropriate procedure modifications.

Course is APPROVED for 3 hours of Colorado State licensure CE credit through COA.

Handout: COVD Study Group 2020 Handout Vertical Deviations

Thank you for coming! Additional Resources here:

Vectograph Information: https://www.visionassessment.com/polarized-variable-vectographs
Variable Prism Maddox Rod: https://www.good-lite.com/cw3/Assets/documents/120004%20Instructions-web1.pdf
Keystone Eccentric Circles: https://www.bernell.com/product/KEY411/Free_Space
Fresnel Prism: https://www.fresnel-prism.com/

SECO 2020 Board Review: Visual Perception, Accommodation, Vergence, and Oculomotor Function

Course Notes: SECO 2020 Board Review Simonson

Course Links and Resources:

1) Clinical Practice Guidelines from the American Optometric Association:

https://www.aoa.org/documents/optometrists/CPG-4.pdf

*Several other topics are available on the AOA website.

2) Binocular Vision Topics

Park’s 3-Step Test:

https://www.eyedock.com/parks-3-step

Aniseikonia:

https://shawlens.com/aniseikonia/causes_of_aniseikonia/

https://shawlens.com/symptoms/symptoms_of_aniseikonia/#other_signs

3) Entopic Phenomenon:

https://www.opt.uh.edu/onlinecoursematerials/newcoursefiles/opto6124/2_Entoptic_Phenomena.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entoptic_phenomenon

Troxler Effect:

https://telanganatoday.com/troxler-effect

Scheerer’s Phenomenon:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Blue_field_entoptic_phen omenon_animation.gif

4) Color Vision Testing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_blindness

https://ekjo.org/ViewImage.php?Type=F&aid=532955&id=F2&afn=65_KJO_29_6_359&fn=kjo-29-359-g002_0065KJO (Korean Journal of Ophthalmology)

Protected: 50th CVTC Therapy Activities and Resources

50th CVTC Research Article List 2019

Resources for: A New Neurofunctional Approach to the Treatment of Amblyopia and Strabismus

When a link or .pdf to the article was available, it was attached. If not, a more detailed reference was listed.

Birnbaum MH , Koslowe K , Sanet R American Journal of Optometry and Physiological Optics [01 May 1977, 54(5):269-275]
Occlusion for amblyopia: A comprehensive survey of outcome: F Hiscox, N Strong, J R Thompson, C Minshull & G Woodruff in Eye volume 6, pages300–304 (1992)
Neuron-V48-Oct-2005-Neuroscience-Critical-Periods
http://www.fixingmygaze.com/

https://visionhelp.com/the-psychosocial-and-emotional-consequences-of-occlusion-therapy-an-antiquated-treatment-for-amblyopia/
Elbow splinting as a method to increase patching compliance in amblyopia therapy
Why is compliance with occlusion therapy for amblyopia so hard? A qualitative study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16531452
Patching may be strengthening rather than reducing the binocular imbalance that characterize amblyopia: Binocular Plasticity in Adults
Under-correction of hyperopia reduces risk of becoming strabismic: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8776448
Refractive error change and vision improvement: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0175780
Awan, M & Proudlock, Frank & Grosvenor, D & Choudhuri, I & Sarvanananthan, N & Gottlob, Irene. (2009). An audit of the outcome of amblyopia treatment: A retrospective analysis of 322 children. The British journal of ophthalmology. 94. 1007-11. 10.1136/bjo.2008.154674.

https://www.cell.com/trends/neurosciences/fulltext/S0166-2236(00)01967-6 Environmental complexity stimulates visual cortex neurogenesis.
Duffy, F. H., Snodgrass, S. R.: Bicuculline reversal of deprivation amblyopia in the cat. Nature 260, 256-257 (1976).
https://www.nyas.org/events/2007/plasticity-of-sensory-systems/ “Alleviating neural inhibition in adulthood with drugs or training paradigms may unmask the full capacity for lifelong learning”
Birch-Amblyopia-and-Binocular-Vision “Unless the binocular dysfunction is treated, abnormal binocular vision may result in residual amblyopia, and may trigger recurrence of amblyopia”
https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/modern-medicine-feature-articles/new-perspective-posits-amblyopia-secondary-binocular-problems
Binocular Vision in Amblyopia: Hess Binocular Vision in amblyopia
User’s Guide to the Brain: Dr. John Ratey
Franz and Sherman: Amblyopia-Therapy-Rationale-for-Refractive-Correction-Occlusion-VT
Greenwald: Brock A Binocular Approach to Amblyopia Therapy brock_-_a_binoc_approach_to_amblyopia-therapy-Greenwald
“The anatomical changes that we find in the eye muscles are minimal and only in rare instances are they of any importance in the total picture” https://visionhelp.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/a-ruede-re-awakening/
ELISSS Study: Early vs. Late Infantile Strabismus Surgery Study. Note: At age six, 13.5% of the early vs. 3.9% of the late group recognized the Titmus Housefly; 3.0% of the early and 3.9% of the late group had stereopsis beyond Titmus Housefly. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16361188
Reoperation rates were between 60% and 80% for children first operated around age 1 and approximately 25% for children operated around age 4: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20843185
“It has not been possible to resolve the controversies regarding type of surgery, non-surgical intervention, and the optimal timing” The Cocharan Collaboration https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15674970
Strabismus Surgery and its complications: https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783540327042
https://eyewiki.aao.org/Strabismus_Surgery_Complications
The_Prevalence_of_Reoperation_and_Relate d Risk Infantile Esotropia: As can be seen in the decision tree, the most appropriate age for the first operation is 37 months, if a minimum number of operations and achieving gross stereopsis inpatients older than 5 years old is desired.
Pilar Vegara: Crossed and Lazy Eyes (I was unable to find this on Amazon Books) It is currently available here – https://www.oepf.org/product/643
Cook-Incomitant-Strabismus-JBO-2004

2019 Colorado Vision Training Conference (CVTC)

Title: A New Neurofunctional Approach to the Treatment of Amblyopia and Strabismus

Registration Link: https://www.regonline.com/registration/checkin.aspx?eventId=2563295

Dr. Bob Sanet

This 2-day course will provide attendees with an understanding of amblyopia and strabismus including eccentric fixation and anomalous correspondence and effective evaluation techniques to determine the prognosis in amblyopia, exotropia and esotropia. The course will provide an overview of myths and misconceptions regarding amblyopia and strabismus and review scientific studies on the underlying cause of amblyopia and strabismus and treatment options including patching, surgery and optometric vision therapy. This course will conclude with easy-to-follow, sequential and effective vision therapy treatment procedures for amblyopia, exotropia, and esotropia.

Dates: October 11-13, 2019

Location: Barclay Lodge, YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado

This event is held next to Rocky Mountain National Park. The closest airport is Denver International Airport. I recommend renting a car for the 2 hr(ish) drive. Fastest route takes the E-470 Toll Road. If you have more time, take Pena to 36 and visit Pearl Street in Boulder, CO for lunch on your way up. There are also several restaurants in the City of Estes Park, Colorado. Even more time? visit the National Park for a hike or scenic drive. Our event starts with dinner at 5 pm at the Barclay lodge. YMCA of the Rockies

50th Annual Colorado Vision Training Conference

ROBERT B. SANET, O.D., F.C.O.V.D.

Dr. Robert B. Sanet graduated with honors from the Southern California College of Optometry. He has served as President of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, Chair of the A.O.A. Sports Vision Section, Board of Directors of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, International Clinical Director of the Special Olympics Opening Eyes Program, Staff Optometrist San Diego Rehabilitation Institute at Alvarado Hospital, Consultant to the Centro de Optometria International in Madrid, Consultant to the Domus Nova Hospital in Ravenna and Adjunct Associate Professor at the Southern California College of Optometry.

Dr. Sanet has worked with amateur and professional athletes including the USA Men’s and Women’s Olympic Volleyball teams, San Diego Chargers, San Diego Padres, and LPGA Golf Professionals.

Dr. Sanet is the developer of the Sanet Vision Integrator, an automated state of the art touch-screen biofeedback Vision Therapy instrument that is beneficial for the rehabilitation of numerous types of visual problem and the enhancement of visual performance.

Dr. Sanet’s numerous awards include the San Diego County Optometrist of the Year, COVD G.N. German Award for Excellence in Children’s Vision Care, NORA Founders Award, COVD President’s Award, OEP Ralph Barstow International Award, Guiseppe Rico Award (Italy) for Excellence in Clinical Practice, International Optometrist of the Year- SIODEC (Spain), International Optometrist of the Year (Mexico), the OEP Armand Bastein International Award (OEP). Dr. Sanet was named as a Distinguished Practitioner in the multidisciplinary National Academies of Practice. He is one of only 100 Optometrists in the USA to have received this award.

Registration Link

Special event in 2019: Learn about the vision of Birds of Prey with Dr. Jennifer Redmond

http://www.birds-of-prey.org/

A room in the Barclay Reunion lodge or the Wind River Lodge (through the registration site) is $300 for the weekend (either 2 double beds or a double bed and bunk bed set). You can also make your own arrangements off-site if you prefer to stay in a hotel instead of a rustic lodge. Catered meals & entertainment plan is $100 for the weekend per person. Registration: Vision therapist $325, Optometrist is $395. Lecture will be in the Wind River lodge this year. Meals and entertainment will be in the Barclay lodge (our normal cabin).