Course Description
Prerequisite: VT/Visual Dysfunctions VT - 1 This course supplements the core VT/Visual Dysfunctions (VT I) course with testing and therapy activities to diagnose and treat patients with strabismus and amblyopia. For whatever reasons, strabismus and amblyopia have a reputation for being difficult to understand and treat. The approach of the OEP Clinical Curriculum stems from the understanding of Chaos and Complexity Theory which states, "That which appears to be complex, most often can be explained very simply. That which appears so simple, most often is actually very complex.” You will learn how specific disruptions or "thwarting" experiences occurring at critical times in normal infant development can result in strabismus or amblyopia. How and why do amblyopia and strabismus develop? What percentage of strabismus and amblyopia are functionally related? How can the development of amblyopia or strabismus be beneficial to the person at a specified point in time and why is this behavior not beneficial in the long run? Once the mechanism of the development of strabismus and amblyopia is understood, treating the conditions is easier. Supplemental testing will be discussed in reference to gaining insights into the behaviors of strabismics and amblyopes. Among these tests are the following:
- Contrast Sensitivity
- 2.5X Telescope
- Pinhole VA
- Single Letter Vs. Whole Line VA
- Bagolini Striated Lenses
- Visual Evoked Potentials
- Opticokinetic Nystagmus
- Vestibular Ocular Reflexes
- Parks Three Step
- Brock Posture Board
- Special Considerations of the Cover Test
The following will be covered in depth:
- The terms eccentric fixation, anomalous retinal correspondence, suppression, eccentric viewing
- The myth of critical periods
- How to induce new periods of neural plasticity
- Using reduced plus lenses for the treatment of "accommodative esotropia" and...
- How to reduce the compensatory plus lenses after the person has become binocular
- Bill Ludlum’s procedures for reducing vertical tropias
- Israel Greenwald's over-correcting prisms
- Twenty-three additional vision therapy procedures, many from Drs. Kraskin, Ludlum, Greenwald and other master "strabismologists"
Each course participant receives a Vision Therapy III Manual which includes: Case histories, VER samples, additional readings and individual procedure instruction sheets. The VT III course gives you the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to start successfully treating amblyopia and strabismus cases immediately upon completion of this course. *Courses begin at 9:00 am each morning and will finish at 5:00 PM. On the last day of the course we begin at 9:00 am and generally finish by 3:00 PM. Lunch is included in your tuition. (NOTE: If you have special dietary considerations please let us know at the time you make your reservation.)