Before Vision Therapy:
First, let me say that I’m over 40. My vision isn’t what it used to be. I have glasses to correct my eyesight, but I was still struggling with aspects of my vision. During an eye exam with Dr. Oakland, he really listened to my concerns and explained that eyesight is different from vision. He introduced me to vision therapy and said it’s not just for kids. Before therapy, I struggled with things like Scrolling on my phone & Reading tickers making me dizzy, and Focusing beyond closer objects. Also, I could not see into the future. Of course, I’m kidding, but Dakota Vision Therapy was very upfront with me about the realistic and logical expectations of the process before I started. Because we are all created differently, we will not all reach 100% perfect vision. But Oh My Goodness did I reach more than I expected.
After Vision Therapy:
During therapy, I learned that vision is not all in the eyes. Vision is your brain processing what your eyes are seeing. Sometimes that can get out of whack, and therapy helps realign it, even for old dogs like me.
I’ll be honest though, I didn’t quite understand half the exercises at the beginning, but here at the end, I’m seeing real results in things I didn’t think would be possible. My biggest achievement would have to be in the Pepper Arrows. I have no rhythm, so I was miserably horrible at it at first, but now I’m sailing through recognizing the direction from a distance, indicating the direction as I take a step forward or backward, and doing it to a beat of over 90 BPM.
Jordan and Alyssa (therapists) explained every exercise very well AND its purpose. Understanding how and why the exercises worked made it easier to stick with them. Their ingenious solutions to customize the exercises to my ability created tools I can use for the rest of my life to maintain my vision and keep it in peak condition, for my age.
Good Vision is a journey, and Therapy is a map.
"Madalyn's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
I didn’t know I had double vision, I thought everyone saw that way. My hand/eye coordination wasn’t the best. During archery season I would line the aim upright but the arrows would still be off target. My hand writing was also awful.
After Vision Therapy:
My hand writing has improved, and its apparent that everybody doesn’t have double vision but mine has improved. Thanks to some of the exercises my hand/eye coordination has gotten better. Archery season hasn’t started yet but I would suspect improvement there.
~Madalynn S.
"Lucas's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
I had double vison and sometimes I could not see clearly.
After Vision Therapy:
Aidan worked with me on making my eyes stronger. Things that were hard for me at first got easier with my exercises.
~Lucas A.
Before Vision Therapy:
Lucas told one of his teachers that he was seeing double sometimes. We met with Dr. Oakland who observed this as well and set Lucas up with vision therapy. We didn’t know much about vision therapy, but have a nephew that has been through it, so we trusted that it would help Lucas as well.
After Vision Therapy:
As we went through many vision exercises with Lucas, we found that they got easier the more we worked on them. This gave us confidence that the therapy was working. At Lucas’s final exam with Dr. Oakland, he confirmed that his notes showed significant progress from the beginning of vision therapy. We are happy with the results and hopeful for how this will help Lucas moving forward.
~Megan A.
"Karis's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
I had trouble transitioning form close to far and sometimes everything looked fuzzy. I got headaches after reading and I got car sick easily.
After Vision Therapy:
School is a lot eaiser now because I can read the board and my notes a lot more clearly. It also helped me in volleyball, the ball isn’t fuzzy anymore. I haven’t gotten a single headache since I started and I actually like reading now.
~Karis H.
Before Vision Therapy:
Karis had been saying she couldn’t see the front board at school. We had her vision tested more than once, but each time the report was that her vision was fine.
After Vision Therapy:
After completing the recommended number of vision therapy sessions, Karis’s ability to transition from close reading to far away reading had greatly improved. She can definitely see the board now, enjoys reading a bit more, and doesn’t seem to get as many headaches.
~Allison H.
"Jaxtyn's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
I couldn’t read books. I could see my papers or board clearly when switching between the two. I had a hard time tracking the ball in baseball to catch it. I would get multiple headaches in a week. I was prescribed glasses by and eye doctor and they didn’t help me.
After Vision Therapy:
Now I can read books with minimal help. I now don’t have to use glasses. I only have headaches one or twice a month. Its not easier to track where balls are going. When switching between close up and far away, its not blurry anymore.
~Jaxtyn J.
Before Vision Therapy:
I noticed struggles in Jax when his ability to read had declined. We tried other interventions at school that were unsuccessful. Jax would get 2-4 headaches per week during the school year. He would complain of everything looing blurry when he would look at the board then down to paper and visa versa. I took him to an eye doctor and they gave him glasses to improve headaches and fix the blurriness. This was also proven to be ineffective.
After Vision Therapy:
The improvements Jax has accomplished brings me to tears. He can now read with little to no help. He now only gets 1-2 headaches per month. His confidence has skyrocketed. We also have gotten to ditch those glasses he didn’t need. Jordan has poured her heart into helping Jax. I am so thank for her and how well she worked beside him.
~Jessica B.
"Ailyn's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
Softball was hard when they pitched the ball. It was a little bit hard to read big paragraphs.
After Vision Therapy:
I was pretty good at softball. I hit the ball a lot. It is kind easier to read paragraphs. My favorite therapy exercise was hitting the ball.
~Ailyn C.
Before Vision Therapy:
Our daughter was not confident in 2 main areas of life, sports and reading. While reading she would skip lines, loose her spot often, and had difficulty with sight words and letter reversals. In softball she struggled following the ball from the pitcher to home plate. Batting was difficult.
After Vision Therapy:
Our daughter is confident. She can read sight words quicker and doesn’t fight us to read books. She rarely looses her spot and has less difficulty with letter reversals. She had a great softball season and her batting skills improved greatly. Overall, her ability to track got easier and we saw success.
~Kayli C.
"Zoey's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
I noticed I was struggling to read, skipping lines, even my vision blacking out, to me this was a problem. Due to this I struggled in school. I also noticed that when I was looking at something for too long my eye would shake and blur my vision.
After Vision Therapy:
I can read just fine; my eyes don’t blur my vision. I’ve noticed multiple changes such as; hand and eye coordination, multi-tasking, and improved depth perception. Thank you VT!
~Zoey J.
"Miles's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
Before vision therapy I was not the best at paying attention. Also, during class, my mind would be thinking of random stuff all the time.
After Vision Therapy:
After vision therapy I noticed that I can stay focused for longer periods of time. I also noticed in sports that I can estimate the distance of something. I also could tell if somebody was coming at me from the side because of my peripheral vision.
~Miles V.
Before Vision Therapy:
Before Starting vision therapy, we noticed Miles struggling with reading and comprehension. He would often omit words, skip lines, and lose focus. Although he is a smart kid, he was struggling in school. His focus, attention, and confidence were not there and his grades were starting to show that.
After Vision Therapy:
We noticed improvement with Miles’ schooling/grades within a few short weeks of starting vision therapy. His reading is much more fluid, not so choppy. His attention span in school has improved, which has resulted in better grades and confidence. He has also shown more accuracy in sports.
~Amber V.
"Nora's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
Before vision therapy I wrote sentences up and down. I always skipped lines when I was reading. My memory was horrible and I used to walk into different rooms forgetting the task at hand. My handwriting was also bad for many reasons.
After Vision Therapy:
After my vision therapy, my sentences are semi straight when I write. I don’t skip lines anymore and I can read straight. My memory got better. Now I remember what I was doing if I get distracted. My handwriting is a lot better than before. There are many other things that impacted my life with vision therapy, but I probably couldn’t fit it on here. Thank you Jordan and Alyssa!!!
~Nora S.
Before Vision Therapy:
We had our daughter evaluated because at the age of 10 she was still having difficulties reading, which we found out was called “tracking.” With that, and other issues, she avoided reading and school tasks were “too hard.” In writing we also saw deficiencies. Many times she would retreat, or seem too overwhelmed to react when in a chaotic/loud environment.
After Vision Therapy:
We have observed significant improvements in her willingness to tackle and participate in more challenging schoolwork. Before, she would pass on reading aloud, and now she accepts the task. Her writing has greatly improved and she now identifies when she writes numbers or letters backwards, and often corrects it on her own. She is becoming less sloppy and understands when she has left a mess.
~Katie S.
"Rylan's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
In the beginning of vision therapy, while I was playing baseball, I could not see the baseball very well. It would disappear on me. In basketball, I couldn’t tell how far away the hoop was. During reading, I would keep reding the same lines. Finally, in long car rides I would get motion sickness all the time.
After Vision Therapy:
After vision therapy, I could see the ball better than ever and I’m hitting the ball good now. Then in basketball, the hoop is not as hard to tell the distance from me. In reading, I am not reading the same lines over and over again. I have not gotten sick from car rides since starting vision therapy.
~Rylan R.
Before Vision Therapy:
Rylan struggled with sports at certain times. This was not observed before and we knew something needed to be evaluated. And, in our opinion, vision therapy was the best place to start. He did indeed have three areas that were showing a deficit: depth perception, left to right tracking, and convergence.
After Vision Therapy:
I’m happy to report that basketball season has gone better this year. Free throws and jump shots are being made at a higher percentage. He also seems to be reading in a more fluid manner. Overall, this therapy has given him his confidence back in sports and school.
~ Seth R.
"Oliver's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
Before I went to DVT I couldn’t see clear near. I also had bad double vision. Also, before I went to DVT I had A LOT of headaches while working. Another thing is words would run together a lot and that made it tough to read. And I would say “I can’t” a lot on hard problems.
After Vision Therapy:
After I went to DVT, I can see clear near and I don’t have that many headaches. I don’t lose as many things as I used to. I’m more confident in myself, and in the things I do. I don’t see as much double vision. Last but not least…words don’t run together anymore. BIG CHANGE FROM THE START.
~Oliver P.
Oliver loved working with Alyssa. She made every session fun for Oliver. I honestly believe she has a large part of his motivation to work hard. She was always ready for him and did a great job explaining the homework to me. Jordan also was so great to work with.
~Kathleen P.
"Delaney's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
Before I did vision therapy, I had migraines and my reading was okay. But my handwriting was really sloppy. Also, sometimes my eyes kind of hurt.
After Vision Therapy:
Now after vision therapy, I haven’t had a migraine in a really long time. And I’m a better reader. Also, my handwriting is much better. I think I improved a lot since I started vision therapy.
~Delaney K.
Before Vision Therapy:
Delaney had always been doing “ok” in school. She seemed to be somewhat clumsy, especially when eating meals. She also had some headaches.
After Vision Therapy:
Delaney’s reading has improved in school and she seems more willing to do reading at home. She doesn’t seem to knock stuff over like she would before. Also, her headaches have improved!
~Sara K.
"Kellyn's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
I had headaches every day after school. I didn’t like math or reading. I didn’t want to do my homework.
After Vision Therapy:
I had no headaches! I don’t even have to wear glasses anymore. I love school and love reading, math, and history. I have more confidence. I have three new friends, Dr. Oakland, Alyssa, and Jordan.
~Kellyn R.
Before Vision Therapy:
Before VT we struggled getting Kellyn to do homework. She came home with a headache daily! She always said “I can’t…”, and wouldn’t even try new things with school. She cried at Barnes and Nobles getting her first chapter book. She had no self-confidence, hated reading and math, and school work was always a chore!
After Vision Therapy:
She is coming home from school and doing homework FIRST! She reads on her own time! She wanted THREE chapter books at Barnes and Nobles the last time! No more headaches! She even wrote a letter in school that she enjoys math! She is truly a different kid! She has more excitement about learning, which is awesome! We have seen her grow SO MUCH! VT is a game changer!
~Stacy R.
Extra from Stacy R.
Vision therapy has been a blessing for Kellyn and our family! We knew she had more potential than what we were seeing in her work and it turned out that her vision made things harder for her leading to inconsistencies, frustration, and lack of confidence! We have seen her bloom since VT!
"Ford's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
Ford used to strongly oppose reading and writing tasks. He displayed a great deal of avoidance and a lot of negative self-talk when presented with these tasks. This showed in his school performance as he struggled to meet grade level expectations; despite numerous supports and interventions.
After Vision Therapy:
Ford ended first grade reading texts a year beyond the expectations. While reading and writing are still not his most preferred activities, he is much less resistant. He no longer proclaims that he can’t and instead let’s us know “he’s got it” when presented with new words. There have been clear benefits from vision therapy and we are grateful for all Alyssa has done to support Ford’s success!
~Alisha B.
"Sam's Success Story"
Before Vision Therapy:
I could not read well and I could not catch the football good.
After Vision Therapy:
Now I can read and catch the football.
~Sam L.
Before Vision Therapy:
Sam had trouble reading. He would often lose his place when reading. His eyes were all over the page. He would look at pictures in the book he was reading and try to guess what the next word was in the sentence.
After Vision Therapy:
Sam reads so fluently now! He can read more quickly and doesn’t lose his spot. He has much better focus when reading. His favorite part about vision therapy, though, was that he can catch a football so much better! We are so grateful for the confidence vision therapy has given Sam!
~Megan L.
"Kaitlyn's Success Story"
Before vision therapy my eyes would not work together, so it was hard to comprehend what I was reading. I would skip lines, skip words, I would get dizzy when reading and I would get frustrated. My hand writing would go crooked and very sloppy. I would always lose my spot when reading. I struggled reading hard and long words on tests. My hand eye coordination was TERRIBLE.
After vison therapy, my eyes work better together. I can comprehend what I’m reading. I don’t skip lines or words anymore and I enjoy reading better. My hand eye coordination is so much better. My hand writing is a lot better. Tests and quizzes are less frustrating. The workers were very fun to work with.
~Kaitlyn G.
The Process of Vision Therapy:
Kaitlyn was diagnosed with amblyopia. We were referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist who recommended patching the strong eye for a brief period of time but no other real solutions. Kaitlyn began to struggle with reading and writing. She would skip over small words and miss entire lines when reading. She couldn’t sound out even simple vocabulary. When she did read, she was very slow and often could not finish school work in the allotted time. She would get very dizzy when reading and especially with use of the smartboard and chrome books in school. Over time she became angry and frustrated. She would act out in school against teachers when she was rushed and became embarrassed when reading because she could only read and comprehend books meant for much younger children instead of the chapter books her classmates were reading. Fast forward to middle school. Kaitlyn was placed in reading specialty classes and despite the additional help she continued to struggle, get angry, and still scored extremely low on MAPS testing in ELA. During my own eye appointment that year, I asked Dr. Oakland about vision therapy. After he examined Kaitlyn’s eyes, and visited with her, he thought she would be a good candidate. We started her therapy in January of her 6th grade year, just shortly after she had taken the MAPS test and scored at a 3rd grade level in ELA. I was worried that she would be hesitant or refuse to participate, but Alyssa and Jordan were so welcoming and their amazing personalities fit perfect with Kaitlyn. The activities were fun and each week she worked hard to show the team how much she could do. As the weeks progressed, she became more confident in her ability to read and write. She started caring about her grades and working hard to improve them and do well on assignments. She even began reading more challenging chapter books. At night she would ask us to read with her. She would even challenge her older brothers to do the homework tasks as a competition sometimes. Her reading became more fluent. She was no longer skipping words or entire lines. She stopped complaining of dizziness. After 5 months, the school administered the end of the year MAPS test and Kaitlyn went to school very nervous. BUT she came home so excited because she had almost doubled her scores in ELA and was now ABOVE her grade level!! She was so proud of herself and, of course, we were as well. One of the first things she asked was if we could email Dr. Oakland and Alyssa to tell them the great news.
I don’t have the words to explain how grateful we are for the vision therapy team. They were so amazing, supportive, and positive through the entire process. Kaitlyn has gained a new confidence and drive for excellence in school. I do not believe this would have been possible without their program. Thank you all!
~Nicole G.
Kolby's Success Story
Before Vision Therapy:
Reading was hard for me. Staying on track with words was hard. My eyes would get tired. I would also skip lines and words.
After Vision Therapy:
I am now reading shorter chapter books. Reading is easier because I don’t skip lines and words. I am faster also. My eyes focus easier and don’t get so tired.
~Kolby
Before Vision Therapy:
Kolby really struggled with reading. He would skip words and whole lines. Sometimes he would read words backwards. Kolby was also very slow but his comprehension was great. He has a tutor that helps him also. Our eye Doctor said he sounds just like him and told us he did vision therapy at Kolby’s age. That’s how we started. He also hated reading and fought hard not to.
After Vision Therapy:
Kolby no longer uses his finger while reading. He barely misses words and never skips a line. He is still a slow reader but has progressed an amazing amount. Kolby no longer hates reading. We don’t have to fight him to read. Sports has gotten way better too. This program has done so much more for him than reading. He has way more confidence. Thank you!!
~Cassie Lindsey
Maxine's Success Story
Before Vision Therapy:
Before I started vision therapy I had a “silly” eye. When I would try to focus, my silly eye was all over the place. I would lay my head down on my desk at school because my eyes were tired. When I would read, I would cover my right eye (silly eye).
After Vision Therapy:
Now when I am at school my eyes are not tired. I can now read a book without covering my eyes. It is now easier to stay focused at school.
~Maxine
Before Vision Therapy:
Maxine was quick to say that she can’t before even trying. When reading she would skip words and often lines (often skipping small words). She called her right eye her “silly eye” and would cover it when reading. Her teacher last year said that Maxine seemed tired at school, (rubbing eyes/ laying head down on desk).
After Vision Therapy:
Maxine told us that she no longer has a silly eye. She has become more confident in her ability to read. Reading is still a challenge but she is working hard at school and home. She no long has a meltdown (crying) when reading at home.
~Becca Te Slaa
Lucy's Success Story
Before Vision Therapy:
I had a lot of headaches and dizziness. In the past I have had two concussions and I had one when I first came to Dakota Vision Therapy. It was really bad. Alyssa taught me lots of tricks and lots of stuff during vision therapy.
After Vision Therapy:
Now I can do things up close and far away. I can hit a ball well and love wiffleball. I think vision therapy is ok, I don’t love it but it changed me in a good way. Now I like vision stuff. For example: pong, magic eye pictures, and slap tap B. Thank you Alyssa!
~Lucy
Before Vision Therapy:
Prior to vision therapy our child struggled to follow lines while reading. She complained of frequent headaches and tired easily with school work. She was constantly tripping or falling over things. She avoided sports of all kinds and struggled with catching and throwing. She didn’t enjoy group dance because she struggled to follow usually and differentiate left from right and vice versa. So much frustration and sadness.
After Vision Therapy:
Our child has both vision and eye sight! Life is so much easier for her and her social confidents has grown, being able to join in neighborhood wiffle ball games and kickball with confidence has been amazing to watch. She is an enthusiastic and fluent reader. Vision therapy was a lot of work on all parts but was tremendously worth it!!! Five Stars- recommend for kids struggling with vision
~Julie Anderson
Jaxson's Success Story
Before Vision Therapy:
At the end of the day at school, I would look up at the smartboard and it would look blurry. I also tripped a lot, and would stub my toe on the door plate.
After Vision Therapy:
When I look at the smartboard it's not blurry anymore. I trip a little just on one crack in the side walk. I don’t stub my toe on the door plate anymore. I can catch a football better.
~Jaxson L.
Before Vision Therapy:
Jax had many complaints about his eyes seeing double at the end of the school day. He struggled catching a football, and wasn’t confident in himself.
After Vision Therapy:
He is no longer complaining about his eyes being tired at the end of the day. He has better focus when it comes to school work and reading. Jax has definitely improved with catching a football and I see a big confidence boost!
Thank you for helping my child.
~Jenni Lebrun