Getting an Eye Exam for Vision Therapy

In a Developmental Eye Exam, we assess all the visual processes that affect a child's ability to perform and learn inside and outside of the classroom.

Take our Vision Quiz to learn whether you should explore Vision Therapy

An eye exam is necessary when visual problems arise. And while eye exams are tailored to meet individual concerns, most include an assessment of corneal shape, determination of near and farsightedness, measurement of peripheral vision, and an evaluation of the pressure caused by the fluid in your eyes.

Standard tests are critical to determining how well a person can see and if they have a visual impairment. However eye exams for vision therapy (VT), address how well a person can use their eyes. By addressing use over function, a VT exam, also known as a functional eye exam, can pinpoint cognitive deficiencies, visual efficiency, and perceptual problems even if the actual eye is structurally sound.

How to Know when a Functional Eye Exam is needed

Standard eye exams are typically needed when a child is unable to see the board from a distance, it becomes difficult for someone to read small print, or you need a new eyeglass prescription. These exams are thorough, but cannot provide an in depth explanation as to why, for example, your child writes diagonally, your student sees more clearly when they cover one eye, or you find it difficult to understand the words you can read with ease.

Functional eye exams are recommended for all children as they check distance vision and all aspects of our visual processing that impact our ability to function well in the classroom and out. A functional vision exam is particularly important if you are experiencing:

Pain in the eyes
Double vision
Difficulty with word recall
Poor balance
Bad handwriting
Difficulty with sports
An inability to pay attention and concentrate on tasks at hand
Poor reading and aural comprehension
Light sensitivity
An inability to track words and objects
Eyestrain and headaches
Words that “move” as you read
Unintentional skipping of words and lines while reading
The need to insert extra large or small spaces between letters and words.

What Happens During a Vision Therapy Eye Exam

In order to improve the way your child’s eyes respond both neurologically and visually, a functional eye exam will determine how their eyes work individually and together, how brain function impacts how and what you can see, and whether or not their eyes are appropriately aligned.

Functional Vision Exam

After reviewing your child’s overall health history, a series of individualized tests will be administered. These tests will assess anything from learning issues, to developmental delays, to sports needs, and brain function. It usually takes around an hour to thoroughly determine how well your child’s brain and eyes interact.

Prior to Your Child’s Eye Exam

A number of factors will be assessed prior to your child’s functional eye exam. Amongst them are color perception, eye tracking, binocular vision and integration, and how the eyes move during reading.

During The Eye Exam

As your child’s exam progresses, more visual skills will be evaluated. These range from visual acuity, eye alignment, and convergence and divergence of the eyes, to how flexibly the eye can focus, overall ocular health, and pupil reflexes.

After the Your Child’s Eye Exam

Upon evaluating your child's eyes and visual function, our optometrist will design a treatment plan to address any visual deficits that may be affecting their success. You will be informed of the skills that need to be addressed and how, together with our eye doctor and therapist, you can accomplish this.

Common Questions

What You Can Expect From Vision Therapy?

After a plan of care has been established and visual dysfunctions identified, you will be assigned a vision therapist who will oversee the therapy of exercises intended to improve your child’s visual function. A full course of vision therapy normally consists of 20-40 sessions depending on what visual skills require therapy, with each session lasting about 45 minutes. In-office appointments are scheduled weekly and assigned eye exercises are to be practiced da

Will I Need Vision Therapy After Completing a Functional Eye Exam?

Not necessarily. Although a functional eye exam is needed to determine if you need vision therapy, you may learn after testing that you need a stronger eyeglass prescription or another type of intervention altogether.

Eye Exams for Vision Therapy Help Everyone

Vision therapy is an effective treatment for school-age children, professional athletes in need of upping their game, those who suffer from traumatic brain injury, and many others. What’s more, when vision therapy helps the patient, it ultimately helps the teachers, co-workers, and loved ones in that patient’s life. To schedule a functional vision exam, please call (562) 925-6591. Patients with functional vision issues visit our clinic from all over California, and we are proud to be a leading provider of functional vision services for patients from Bellflower, Long Beach, Lakewood, and Los Angeles.

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Testimonials

I haven't actually used the optometrist side, so my review is limited to the vision therapy offered. This office was recommended by my occupational therapist for the treatment of my double vision following a stroke.

Claire A.

Love this location. I had a brain injury accident from day one one. All the team make you feel you still important and hope in the horizon after when the medical system fell you miserably. Dr. Ikeda very professional and very understanding about your issue. Two tombs up.

Jim K.

My husband and I were immediately impressed with Dr Ikeda. I was hit by a car while cycling which caused broken bones and three brain injuries. The brain injuries caused double vision. Dr. Ikeda examined my eyes and got me started on vision therapy with his occupational therapist who specializes in vision therapy. She (Chris) is absolutely great. I am impressed with the array of tools used to help recover my binocular vision. I am doing things I never thought were possible (balance boards etc). Chris pushes me and keeps me motivated. I really enjoy my sessions with her. The office staff is always friendly and they have a wonderful appointment reminder tool that makes it easy to keep my calendar up to date. I am happy the rehab center at Little Co. of Mary recommended them!!

Teresa S.

The Vision Therapy is handled in a separate office through a different door from the shared waiting room. Chris, the vision therapist, has a wide and varied assortment of tools, equipment and resources to best evaluate and treat most vision issues. After just a few visits, my double vision became easier to control, using exercises developed during the therapy process. It was time well-spent.

Joe M.

I have been coming here since I can remember. I love it here. The staff is so amazing and nice. They explain everything they gonna do and never make you feel rushed. Dr. Ikeda has always been my doctor and I would never want another one. He is the doctor for my whole family and is always asking how everyone is doing. I am also so crazy about picking out my frames and have to try so many and each person who helps me take the time and lets me try them all on. I would never want to go anywhere else! I definitely would recommend this office to anyone looking for a great eye doctor.

Kayla W.

This is not for the eye exam but for the frames selection portion. I brought my prescription from Kaiser here with my VSP insurance. The reception staff was very polite and professional. Manny helped me to pick out frames and explain my coverage. Very helpful and patient not like the individual at the other place I rated here on Yelp. I was running late and he still helped me and was not bothered at all. I am so glad I came here ..........very pleased.

Very professional staff and pleasant.