We understand that you probably have lots of questions about vision development, and specifically how it relates to you or your family. See our frequently asked questions below, and contact us with anything else you need to know. We are always happy to take time to talk to you!
What is vision therapy?
Vision therapy teaches you how to control your eyes more effectively and better use them to navigate your world, by strengthening the neurological pathways between the eyes and the brain.
Optometric vision therapy is an individualized program of progressive visual procedures performed one-on-one with the doctor or doctor-supervised vision therapist to fit the needs of each patient, usually conducted once or twice a week with supplemental home support activities between office visits.
Learn more at the College of Optometrists in Vision Development website.
What steps do we take from our first call to final treatment?
The first thing we want to do is listen to you.
Once we’ve heard what you need, we’ll have a conversation to determine if scheduling an evaluation is the next right step for you. We will review what’s needed to get scheduled and what to expect, including cost of the evaluation.
If recommended, we begin with scheduling a functional vision evaluation. The initial evaluation is to determine if treatment is needed (if treatment is not indicated, the process stops here, and we try to refer you to whoever we think will be of most help to you next).
Depending on the initial evaluation, Dr. Jesse may schedule a second evaluation that will take an even deeper look at visual processing skills.
After the evaluation (or evaluations), we schedule a complimentary conference where Dr. Jesse will review all of the findings and his recommendations.
Scroll down on our About page to learn more about each step of the process.
How much does vision therapy cost?
Vision therapy typically is similar to investing in a private tutoring program or orthodontic treatment.
Every program of care is specific to the individual and created after the evaluations so that we have all the facts possible to tailor the best program of care to the patient’s needs.
Some conditions take more or less time than others to treat. We will be able to accurately share the exact cost after the evaluation is complete. Vision is complex and people are even more complex, so we want to make sure that we are giving you an accurate price for your individualized problem. Please talk with us so we can learn more about what you are experiencing and can share more information with you.
Does Brighter Outlook Vision accept insurance?
To best serve our patients without delay, we operate out of network. We do provide a complimentary service where we will submit on your behalf for out-of-network reimbursement to your medical insurance provider using Reimbursify.
We’re a specialty practice, and many of the services we offer aren’t covered by insurance (even when the office is in network). Insurance companies are often inconsistent when covering vision therapy, and dictate care to a degree harmful to the patient. They sometimes recommend treatments proven to be less effective before starting vision therapy or only cover a handful of the number of sessions needed to address most conditions, if they cover it at all.
We want to provide the best care possible to our patients, with their individual needs and health in mind, while insurance companies want to do what is best for their bottom lines.
Are there payment plans?
Yes. Brighter Outlook Vision works with Alphaeon and Care Credit who specialize in financing healthcare. Many patients qualify for financing with 0% interest. We will go over the full cost of the personalized program at a consultation after the evaluation/s once we know what your needs are and if you need vision therapy.
How can vision therapy help me?
Vision therapy isn’t just strengthening eye muscles or desensitizing you to bothersome symptoms.
Vision therapy is an individualized program of care provided by a doctor where individuals can develop more coordinated and efficient visual skills to help them perform the work they need to do without blur, double vision, and eye fatigue.
This therapy is all about improving vision problems that may interfere with learning by strengthening the neurological pathways between the eyes and the brain.
Vision therapy is designed by our residency-trained OD to help patients improve basic visual skills that connect the eyes with the brain. These exercises can improve visual efficiency by changing how a patient interprets images. This helps them see and understand images correctly.
Read about adults who have found success with Vision Therapy.
Read about children who have found success with Vision Therapy.
Why don’t I know about vision therapy? Is it new?
Vision therapy has been around since the mid-1800s. Many optometrists practiced it until the 1960s, when more medical privileges became available to optometrists. Vision therapy is still provided by hundreds of developmental optometrists throughout the country.
Learn more about the history of vision therapy on our blog.
Dr. Willingham was moved to practice vision therapy specifically because he was amazed by its ability to help improve people’s lives who were suffering from visual problems and he wanted to help fix the root of the problem. He himself suffered from a visual issue growing up and wishes he had had access to vision therapy as a child so that school wasn’t such a struggle.
