Frequently Asked Questions About Vision Therapy

What conditions cannot be corrected by vision therapy? 

Vision therapy cannot solve problems of refraction (myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism, presbyopia), although it can help improve certain aspects of such conditions. Vision therapy can treat the side effects of refraction problems, such as refractive amblyopia or accommodative strabismus.

Does vision therapy take a long time?

The duration of treatment varies, depending on the condition. In general, a few months is enough to improve or completely treat a problem. Vision therapy programs require 4 to 16 one-hour sessions, with one session every three to four weeks. Vision therapy is an exercise program for the eyes. It is a program of visual exercises. The optometrist personally follows up with patients every 2 to 4 sessions.

Does vision therapy hurt?

Vision therapy is an exercise program for the eyes. It does not involve surgery or drugs. It is painless, but requires time and dedication.

Is vision therapy expensive?

Quebec’s health insurance program, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) covers vision therapy examinations for Quebec residents aged 16 years and under who hold valid health insurance cards. Visuomotor and perceptual exam and vision therapy sessions are not covered. The patient must pay a reasonable, non-taxable fee for each session.  A complete program can require anywhere from 4 to 16 sessions. These fees may be reimbursed by some private insurance programs, or claimed as a tax deduction, since they are an eligible medical expense.

Fees

Visuomotor and perceptual exam

$145

Visual therapy session

$125 to $155 per session

Eye exam

RAMQ*

Eye exam for a vision therapy program

RAMQ**

Regular spatial orientation exam

$215

Mono bino spatial orientation exam

$245

*Patients under 18 years of age with valid Quebec health card (RAMQ)
**Patients 16 years of age or under with valid Quebec health card (RAMQ)
***Prices may change without notice

Could I benefit from vision therapy?

The following is a partial list of signs and symptoms for conditions that could benefit from a vision therapy program.

Signs of ocular movement problems

- Head movement rather than eye movement while reading
- Difficulty with attention and concentration
- Frequently losing your place while reading
- Frequently skipping words or lines while reading
- Using a finger or a ruler to guide reading
- Difficulty writing in a straight line
- Difficulty copying information from a board
- Reading comprehension problems 
- Visual fatigue while reading
- Headaches while reading

Signs of ocular coordination problems (phoria, strabismus, etc.)

- Double vision from near or far, or both
- Tendency to often close the same eye or to cover it with one hand
- Deviated eye
- Uneven head posture
- Bad sitting posture
- Excessive blinking
- Rapid, noticeable visual fatigue
- Inconsistent reading behaviour
- Headaches
- Clumsiness
- Loss of balance
- Tendency to bump into objects or spill things

Signs of accommodation problems

- Blurry vision at near
- Blurry vision at distance after having focussed for sometime at near
- Headaches

Signs of hand/eye coordination problems

- Reading with the help of a finger or ruler
- Poor graphic skills (writing, drawing)
- Difficulty reproducing forms
- Tight grip on pen or pencil
- Difficulty writing in a straight line
- Difficulty recopying a text
- Difficulties with drawing, crafts and painting
- Deficient fine motor skills
- Clumsiness

Signs of visual perception problems

- Confusing or reversing similar  letters or symbols
- Confusing words that have similar beginnings
- Difficulty recognizing the same word on the same page
- Difficulty recognizing letters, numbers or simple shapes
- Difficulty learning to read or write
- Difficulty spelling or doing mental calculations (visualization)
- Difficulty with mathematical or geometric concepts
- Hearing superior to visual performance