Óptica Carreras Vision therapy
Vision therapy is a personalised programme of exercises designed to improve impaired visual skills, in both children and adults.
At Óptica Carreras we carry out vision therapy when learning or visual performance problems are related to a poor visual skill.
Vision therapy can be combined with:
- Glasses.
- Contact lenses.
- Prisms.
- Digital technology.
- Virtual reality headsets.
It is used in cases such as:
- Amblyopia (lazy eye).
- Binocular vision problems.
- Focusing difficulties.
- Strabismus.
- Deficient eye movements.
- Visual perception problems.
The goal is to reach the maximum visual potential: clear, comfortable, effective vision at any distance and for long periods of time.
Visual exercises can improve reading and writing ability, and enhance visual skills in sport.
The success of treatment depends largely on the commitment of the patient and their family. If no improvement is seen within approximately 3 months, the programme is reassessed.
Virtual reality applied to vision therapy
Virtual reality has become a highly valuable therapeutic tool in modern vision therapy, allowing us to work on the visual system in a more precise, immersive and effective way.
Thanks to this technology we can create controlled visual environments, adapted to each patient, in which the brain receives specific stimuli designed to improve different visual skills progressively and safely.
What does virtual reality bring to vision therapy?
Using virtual reality in vision therapy allows us to:
- Shorten treatment times, by stimulating the visual system more directly.
- Increase the effectiveness of the exercises, by working in highly controlled environments.
- Improve motivation and adherence to treatment.
- Personalise therapy according to the patient's age, diagnosis and progress.
The immersive experience encourages greater engagement of the brain, optimising neuronal plasticity and therapeutic results.
Visual skills trained with virtual reality
Vision therapy supported by virtual reality can train multiple skills, including:
- Binocular vision and coordination between both eyes.
- Elimination of suppression.
- Ocular motility.
- Focusing and visual stability.
- Spatial and visuospatial perception.
- Eye–hand coordination.
- Visuomotor integration.
This makes it an especially useful tool for children and adults alike.
Virtual reality for strabismus
In the treatment of strabismus, virtual reality allows specific work on the functional alignment of the eyes and binocular cooperation.
Through graded stimuli, the brain learns to:
- Use both eyes simultaneously.
- Reduce double vision.
- Improve coordination and visual control.
This technology is used as a complement to conventional vision therapy and, in many cases, improves the overall prognosis of treatment.
Applications in adults: stroke and visual field loss
Virtual reality is not only useful for children. In adults, especially after a stroke, it is being used with promising results in patients with visual field loss.
Specific programmes stimulate:
- Visual scanning.
- Compensation for affected areas of the visual field.
- Neurological reorganisation.
In many cases, functional improvements are being observed that help patients cope better in their environment and recover part of their independence.
A tool within a personalised plan
Virtual reality does not replace conventional vision therapy — it complements it. It is part of an individualised programme, which can be combined with:
- Exercises in the practice.
- Work at home.
- Glasses, prisms or contact lenses where needed.
Our goal is to use technology to optimise results, shorten treatment times and improve the patient's experience.
Vision therapy supported by virtual reality is a significant step forward that allows us to treat complex visual problems in a more effective, up-to-date, evidence-based way — and the collaboration and commitment of the patient and/or family is crucial to achieve the best results.
