--- title: "It’s Never Too Late: How an Adult Patient Overcame a Lifetime of Vision Problems" description: An adult patient relates how vision problems plagued her all her life, and how vision therapy provided a solution. image: https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/hubfs/11.30.17%20TVTC%20Federlin_%20cover%20(2).png --- - [Make an Appointment](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/schedule-an-appointment) - [Make a Payment](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/make-a-payment) - [Locations](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/locations) - [262-784-9201](tel:2627849201) [![The Vision Therapy Center](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/hs-fs/file-554902641-png/images/layout/logo-green.png?width=149&name=logo-green.png "The Vision Therapy Center")](https://91892.hs-sites.com/homepage) - [Home](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/old) - [What is Vision Therapy](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/what-is-vision-therapy) - [Symptoms](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/what-is-vision-therapy/symptoms) - [Treatment](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/what-is-vision-therapy/treatment) - [Functional Vision Exam](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/what-is-vision-therapy/diagnosis-functional-vision-test) - [ADHD](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/what-is-vision-therapy/adhd) - [Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/amblyopia-lazy-eye) - [Concussions](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/vision-problems-after-concussions-concussion-symptoms-eyes) - [Convergence Insufficiency](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/convergence-insufficiency-convergence-excess) - [Double Vision (Diplopia)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/double-vision-diplopia) - [Dyslexia](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/what-is-vision-therapy/dyslexia) - [Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/strabismus-crossed-eyes) - [Costs](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/costs-the-vision-therapy-center) - [Appointments and Billing](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/what-is-vision-therapy/appointments-billing) - [About Us](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/about-us) - [Success Stories](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/category/success_stories) - [Resources](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/resources) - [Presentations](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/schedule-a-presentation-on-vision-therapy) - [Studies](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/resources/clinical-studies) - [Parents](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/parents) - [Teachers](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/teachers) - [Optometrists](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/optometrists) - [News - Media](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/media-in-the-news) - [Links](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/resources/links) - [Blog](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy) - [Contact](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/contact) - [Privacy](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/data-usage-page) Discovering Vision Therapy Blog # It’s Never Too Late: How an Adult Patient Overcame a Lifetime of Vision Problems - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Lifelong vision problems can be overcome.](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/hs-fs/hubfs/11.30.17%20TVTC%20Federlin_%20cover%20(2).png?width=625&name=11.30.17%20TVTC%20Federlin_%20cover%20(2).png "Lifelong vision problems can be overcome.") It’s common for us to see adult patients like Barbara Federlin, who have suffered through a lifetime of vision problems and are at wit’s end. Her story, and her success, is an inspiring message to all that it’s never too late to overcome a functional vision problem. If you watch the success story video below of Barbara Federlin, you’ll find a confident, happy woman, at ease with the world around her.  According to Dr. Heather Motisi, the developmental optometrist who helped guide her therapy, this is a drastically different woman than the one who visited us for her initial exam. “When we started, she [Barbara] was high stress, high anxiety, afraid to give up control and tearful,” Dr. Motisi recalls.   It’s no wonder.  She had suffered from a functional vision problem her entire life, and a recent fall and cataract surgery had pushed her over the edge. Watch Barbara’s Success Story Video, and then read the rest of her story. Throughout her life, Barbara had been suffering from an eye turn (constant alternating esotropia), which was affecting her binocular vision and affecting her eyes’ ability to work as a team. “She had known about her eye turn since she was little, but never had any intervention for it,” Dr. Motisi explained.  As a result, Barbara had experienced double vision in the past, but the symptoms had increased following her recent cataract surgery. At some point after the surgery, the symptoms reached a tipping point after Barbara suffered a fall. She was experiencing nausea and vertigo, and a friend recommended she consider vision therapy. She contacted The Vision Therapy Center, and underwent a functional vision exam. ![We were her last hope.](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/hs-fs/hubfs/11.30.17%20TVTC%20Federlin_%20quote.png?width=625&name=11.30.17%20TVTC%20Federlin_%20quote.png "We were her last hope.") Dr. Motisi recalls that her initial exam was an emotional one: “She told me that we were her last hope.” ## **A Whole New World Emerges as Vision Therapy Begins** Vision therapy involves a series of activities and exercises designed to help retrain the visual system to work correctly.  During therapy, we commonly see some level of discomfort with patients as they work to correct their respective vision problem.  This is because your body becomes accustomed to working in a certain way. Any change, even one for the better, will likely result in your system resisting your efforts. As Barbara underwent therapy, she initially experienced more nausea and dizziness.  However, she soon began to see positive effects resulting from her hard work. ![It's never too late!](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/hs-fs/hubfs/11.30.17%20TVTC%20Federlin_%20too%20late.png?width=625&name=11.30.17%20TVTC%20Federlin_%20too%20late.png "It's never too late!") Her nausea and dizziness eventually went away.  She began to see things differently as her depth perception improved.  “The therapist talked about seeing space,” Barbara said.  “Trees looked different. Houses looked different. Everything took up more space.” ## **Looking Back, Barbara Understands More About Herself** Functional vision problems affect every aspect of your life. From a very early age, they make you behave differently than other people.  What’s incredibly challenging for our patients is that they’re unaware they even *have* a problem until they’re diagnosed. In the video above, Barbara noted that vision therapy helped her understand her early challenges.  Dr. Motisi agreed.  “She’s been able to reflect on why she behaves the way she does because of her visual issues, and how they have shaped her into the person she has become.” The struggle, and the success, has been worthwhile.  “It’s never too late to make changes,” Dr. Motisi said.  “Barbara is genuinely a happier person, and it’s really rewarding to see that her life is changing.” ## **Take the Vision Quiz: The First Step Toward Detecting a Problem** If you think you or your child may be suffering from a functional vision problem, the first step toward diagnosis is to take the Vision Quiz. It can help you identify if you’re suffering from any of the symptoms associated with a functional vision problem. [![Take The Vision Quiz Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/91892/aca1f99a-1967-4799-9438-475fe9e4d667.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/91892/aca1f99a-1967-4799-9438-475fe9e4d667) Posted by   [The Vision Therapy Center, Reviewed by Dr. Kellye Knueppel](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/author/the-vision-therapy-center-reviewed-by-dr-kellye-knueppel) --- ![](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/hs-fs/hub/91892/file-988536385.jpg) The content in this post created was written by professional writers and then reviewed and edited for medical accuracy by Dr. Kellye Knueppel of The Vision Therapy Center.   [Learn more about Dr. Knueppel's medical background](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/about-us/dr-kellye-knueppel) ## Join over 5,000 people receiving monthly updates on vision therapy!  Enter your email below to receive our monthly enewsletter, featuring new developments in vision therapy and our latest success stories! ### About the content on this website The content on this website has been created by The Vision Therapy Center. It was written by professional writers and then reviewed and edited for medical accuracy by the Developmental Optometrists at The Vision Therapy Center.  ### Categories - [Success Stories (62)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/success-stories) - [Functional Vision Problems (54)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/functional-vision-problems) - [Vision Therapy (53)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/vision-therapy) - [Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) (31)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/amblyopia-lazy-eye) - [Learning-Related Vision Problems (26)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/learning-related-vision-problems) - [Strabismus (Crossed Eyes) (21)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/strabismus-crossed-eyes) - [Functional Vision Test (14)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/functional-vision-test) - [Vision and Learning (13)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/vision-and-learning) - [Concussions (12)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/concussions) - [Convergence Insufficiency (12)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/convergence-insufficiency) - [News (12)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/news) - [Visual Skills (12)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/visual-skills) - [Traumatic Brain Injury (9)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/traumatic-brain-injury) - [Functional Vision (8)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/functional-vision) - [ADD - ADHD (7)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/add-adhd) - [Computer Vision Syndrome (7)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/computer-vision-syndrome) - [Developmental Optometrist (7)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/developmental-optometrist) - [Success Stories - CI (7)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/success-stories-ci) - [Symptoms of Functional Vision Problems (7)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/symptoms-of-functional-vision-problems) - [The Vision Therapy Center (6)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/the-vision-therapy-center) - [Dr. Kellye Knueppel (5)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/dr-kellye-knueppel) - [Visual System (5)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/visual-system) - [Symptoms of Dyslexia (4)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/symptoms-of-dyslexia) - [Vision and Reading (4)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/vision-and-reading) - [Double Vision (3)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/double-vision) - [Reading Problems (3)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/reading-problems) - [Snellen Eye Chart (3)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/snellen-eye-chart) - [Sports and Vision (3)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/sports-and-vision) - [Success Stories - Amb (3)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/success-stories-amb) - [Syntonics (3)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/syntonics) - [Writing Problems (3)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/writing-problems) - [3D and Vision (2)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/3d-and-vision) - [Directionality (2)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/directionality) - [Focusing (2)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/focusing) - [International Children's Vision and Learning Month (2)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/international-childrens-vision-and-learning-month) - [Paying for Vision Therapy (2)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/paying-for-vision-therapy) - [Slant Board (2)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/slant-board) - [Success Stories - Strabismus (2)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/success-stories-strabismus) - [COVD (1)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/covd) - [Eye Safety (1)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/eye-safety) - [Lazy Eye Correction for Adults (1)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/lazy-eye-correction-for-adults) - [Madison Reading Project (1)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/madison-reading-project) - [Screen-Free Week (1)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/screen-free-week) - [Special Olympics (1)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/special-olympics) - [Spelling Problems (1)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/spelling-problems) - [Vision Friendly Gift List (1)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/vision-friendly-gift-list) - [Wisconsin Resources (1)](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/topic/wisconsin-resources) [Expand](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy/its-never-too-late-how-an-adult-patient-overcame-a-lifetime-of-vision-problems#) ### Favorite Blogs - [College of Optometrists in Vision Development Blog](http://covdblog.wordpress.com/) - [The Vision Help Blog](http://visionhelp.wordpress.com/) - [The College of Optometrists in Vision Development blog](http://covdblog.wordpress.com/) - [EXCELerated Vision](http://wowvision.typepad.com/) - [Bright Eyes Family Vision Care News and Updates](http://www.brighteyesnews.com/) - [Maino’s Memos](http://www.mainosmemos.blogspot.com/) - [American Optometric Association](http://www.aoa.org/)  - [Home](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/old) - [What is Vision Therapy](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/what-is-vision-therapy) - [About Us](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/about-us) - [Success Stories](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/category/success_stories) - [Resources](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/resources) - [Blog](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/discovering-vision-therapy) - [Contact](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/contact) - [Privacy](https://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/data-usage-page) **The Vision Therapy Center, Inc.** – Phone: 262-784-9201  FAX 262-784-9206 ***Locations*** **The Vision Therapy Center, Inc. - Brookfield, WI** 13255 W Bluemound Rd #200 Brookfield, WI 53005 262-784-9201 ****Brookfield hours of o**peration / **8 am - 6 pm M-Th  -  8 am - 5 pm F **The Vision Therapy Center, Inc. - Madison, WI **4781 Hayes Rd #103 Madison, WI 53704 262-784-9201 ****Madison hours of o**peration /** 9:15 am - 5:45 pm Th **The Vision Therapy Center FDL, LLC - Fond du Lac, WI **101 Wisconsin American Drive, Suite 800 Fond du Lac, WI 54937 262-784-9201 **Fond du Lac hours of operation / **9:00 am - 6:00 pm Tues  © 2026 The Vision Therapy Center