ORTHOPTICS

Orthoptic therapy is a treatment program designed to eliminate or improve symptoms associated with poor eye coordination skills. At UCEC, we mainly use orthoptic therapy to treat patients with convergence insufficiency. This is a form of intermittent exotropia, in which the patient is unable to maintain convergence on near objects. While reading, these patients often experience double vision, eye strain, blurry vision, loss of place, words moving on the page, or headaches. These symptoms may be more intense at the end of the day, or when the patient is tired. The best treatment for convergence insufficiency is orthoptic exercises.
 
An orthoptic therapy program is monitored and tailored to the individual’s needs. Various equipment, from something as basic as a pencil, to an advanced computer system, are used. These activities are done at home. However, the patient must be motivated to perform these tasks as directed, in order for success to be achieved.
 
Prior to beginning an orthoptic therapy program, specific measurements must be taken. These measurements allow the doctor to determine convergence and divergence ability (how well the patient can cross and relax his or her eyes.) Depth perception (stereopsis), eye alignment in various positions, and the ability to track or follow an object in different directions are also measured, and monitored throughout the therapy process.
 
As mentioned, orthoptic therapy is most commonly successful for treating convergence insufficiency. Intermittent exotropia, occurring less than 25% of the time, can also be successfully treated using orthoptics. In addition, patients who will require, or who have had, some types of strabismus surgery can benefit from the increased fusional ranges achieved through orthoptic therapy. Orthoptic therapy can NOT help eliminate letter reversals, and other symptoms of a true learning disability.

The initial in-office instructional visit, and the final in-office evaluation (both performed by Dr. Rose Hughes, O.D.) will be billed to your insurance carrier if Dr. Hughes is a participating provider. After the evaluation, Dr. Hughes will create a customized plan for your child and provide you with an access code for the online, at-home therapy program. The cost for this program is $300. It is not covered by insurance, and is non-refundable.

Over the next 8-12 weeks, Dr. Hughes will monitor your child’s progress remotely (this includes adjusting the difficulty level, and answering questions sent to her through the patient portal.) After the final evaluation appointment with Dr. Hughes, your child will be referred back to his or her referring ophthalmologist if necessary.