“The Harmon Distance” is considered to be optimal visual distance for reading and other close work.  It is measured by placing a closed fist under the chin and then holding a book at the tip of the elbow.  The book should not come any closer.

In our previous post “Difficulties with Writing Could be a Vision Problem – Part 1,” we illustrated a number of different ways you can spot a visual problem in the physical handwriting of a student.  In this post, we’ll deal with how to use visual skills to improve physical handwriting, as well as some corrective tips for bad habits.

We’ve been blogging recently about how vision issues can impact a child’s spelling and reading abilities.  Students who have difficulties writing could also be suffering from vision problems as well.

We applaud the American Academy of Ophthalmology for creating their Museum of Vision.  Anything the medical community can do to heighten public awareness of vision issues is a plus.  We also commend them on their recent program which spotlighted the vision problems of past presidents – an event that raised some interesting questions.

We are now a civilization of small screen electronic devices.  It seems like everyone, everywhere has their nose stuck in a small video screen.  Unfortunately, “everyone” includes preschool children, who may be in danger of future vision problems if parents continue to use these devices as babysitters.

A success story submitted by Carole Passarelli.

I discovered the field of developmental vision therapy as a treatment modality for my 41-year old autistic daughter quite by chance.  When I re-read the autobiographical books by Donna Williams (a high functioning person with autism), I was struck this time by the breakthrough she experienced with vision therapy using Irlen Lenses.  She described how her world started to make more sense.  This led me to research and seek a potential provider of therapy for Marie.  This search led me to Dr. Kellye Knueppel at The Vision Therapy Center.

We like to blog about the kinds of good visual skills that are critical for a smoothly-functioning visual system.  Let’s take a look at eye teaming, and how vision therapy can help you if your two eyes aren’t working in tandem.

Every movie for kids seems to be in 3D these days.  From the latest Harry Potter to re-releases like The Lion King, 3D is all the rage.  Unfortunately, kids and adults with a binocular vision problem may not enjoy a 3D movie like everyone else.  Even worse, they may not know they have a problem.

It’s not uncommon to have an eye turn, but is there a point where you should be concerned about a cross-eyed baby?

We were lucky.  After finding out that our daughter had vision problems, her first grade teacher wanted to know all about vision therapy and the treatment she would receive.