What is Vision Therapy?

Oct 14
3 min read

How In-Sight Vision Therapy Helps People of All Ages See, and Function, Better

At In-Sight Vision Therapy, we believe good vision is about more than seeing clearly, it’s about how your eyes and brain work together to guide movement, attention, learning, and confidence in everyday life.

Vision therapy is a structured, evidence-based program that helps retrain the connection between the eyes and the brain. It’s not simply about eyesight, it’s about how efficiently and comfortably a person uses their vision.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, support worker, or adult seeking help after injury or strain, understanding what vision therapy involves can make a life-changing difference.

So, What Exactly is Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy is like physical therapy, but for the visual system. Through guided activities, exercises, and tools, it helps strengthen the way your eyes move, focus, and coordinate, and how your brain processes visual information.

It targets functional visual skills such as:

Eye tracking – following a moving object smoothly and accurately
Eye teaming – using both eyes together for single, clear vision
Focusing flexibility – shifting focus from near to far without strain
Visual processing and memory – making sense of, remembering, and acting on what you see
Visual–motor integration – connecting vision with movement and balance

When these skills don’t work efficiently, a person can appear clumsy, avoid reading, tire quickly, or find it hard to concentrate, even if they see the eye chart clearly.

Who Can Benefit

Vision therapy supports a wide range of people, including:

Children who struggle with reading, learning, or copying from the board
Adults who experience eye strain, fatigue, or double vision during work
People with neurological or developmental conditions that affect how visual information is processed
Individuals recovering from concussion, stroke, or brain injury
Anyone with persistent visual discomfort not explained by a standard eye test

If you’ve ever felt like “something still isn’t right” with your vision, despite wearing glasses, vision therapy may address what’s been missed.

What Happens During Vision Therapy

Each program at In-Sight Vision Therapy is individually designed and goal-driven. Here’s what the process typically looks like:

Comprehensive Functional Vision Assessment
We begin by assessing how your visual system works in real-world tasks — not just how clearly you see. We test eye movements, focusing, coordination, and visual processing.
Personalised Therapy Plan
Based on your results, we design a structured plan that may include:
- Eye movement and focusing exercises
- Activities that build visual processing and memory
- Use of lenses, prisms, or assistive devices
- Strategies for reading, screen use, or balance tasks
- Collaboration with teachers, therapists, or support workers
Flexible Delivery
Sessions can be completed in-clinic, via telehealth, or through guided home practice, depending on the person’s goals, communication needs, and location.
Review and Progress Tracking
Progress is reviewed regularly, with goals adjusted as skills strengthen and confidence improves.

How It’s Different From an Eye Test

A routine eye exam checks how well you see, measuring clarity and prescribing glasses if needed. Vision therapy goes deeper, looking at how you use your vision, how efficiently your eyes and brain perform as a team.

That’s why someone can have perfect 20/20 sight but still experience visual fatigue, skipping lines, or difficulty judging depth. Vision therapy fills that functional gap.

A Collaborative Approach

At In-Sight Vision Therapy, our orthoptists specialise in visual function and binocular vision. We often work as part of a multidisciplinary team, alongside optometrists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, teachers, and support workers, to ensure therapy is practical, goal-focused, and integrated into daily life.

The Impact of Vision Therapy

When the eyes and brain communicate more effectively, the results are tangible: ✅ Better reading fluency and comprehension ✅ Reduced eye strain and headaches ✅ Improved balance and coordination ✅ Greater confidence in learning, work, and play

For many clients, it’s not just about seeing better - it’s about feeling more capable, independent, and connected.

Ready to Learn More?

If you or someone you support is struggling with visual challenges that don’t seem to add up after a regular eye test, vision therapy may be the missing link.

Early intervention, at any age, can make a world of difference.

📞 Contact In-sight Vision Therapy today to book a functional vision assessment or chat with our team about how we can help.