Great Lakes Vision Rehabilitation at Excel est. 2004
​
Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury ∙ Learning Disabilities ∙ Autism ∙ Infant and Visual Development ∙ Neuro-Degenerative Diseases ∙ Visually Evoked Potential ∙ Visual Information Processing Testing ∙ Kinetic Color Visual Field ∙ Optometric Phototherapy
48189 Van Dyke Ave, Shelby Township, MI 48317
Phone: (586) 731-9725
Fax: (586) 488-0006
Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Research and Resources
Table of Contents:
i. Resources
ii. Publications by Dr. Nichols and Dr. Gietzen
iii. Research
The resources page provides additional reading materials on vision therapy and rehabilitation. Here, you will find easy-to-click links to resources from some of the largest organizations and supporters in the field of vision and its related diseases. You will also find publications from Dr. Nichols and Dr. Gietzen that contribute to the growth of the vision rehabilitation community, as well as general research that demonstrates the evidence-based foundation of our work.
i. RESOURCES:
The resources provided by the organizations listed below can help answer many questions and offer further information about vision therapy and rehabilitation.
The Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association
OVDRA has a rich history from 1971. It focuses on continuing education and public awareness of vision therapy and various vision disorders. These include adult vision therapy, reading and learning issues, double vision, strabismus, amblyopia, visual processing skills, and more. The OVDRA publishes the Vision Development & Rehabilitation journal, which includes case reports, perspective pieces, research findings, and reviews concerning vision rehabilitation. You can find more information on its website's "Your Vision" tab. Click for their website!
*According to the American Optometric Association up to 80% of a child's learning in school is through vision!
The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA)
NORA has existed since the late 20th century, focuses on vision disorders such as accommodation issues, eye teaming, and eye tracking, as well as brain injuries (both traumatic and acquired), neurodegenerative disorders, Lyme disease, and more. Their mission is “Enhancing Neurological Recovery Through Vision Rehabilitation.” Please visit their website’s “Patients and Caregivers” tab for additional details. Click for their website!
*Studies show that 90% of traumatic brain injury patients suffer from visual dysfunctions
VisionHelp
A collective of optometrists who analyze research and articles to make information on vision more accessible for patients and parents. The VisionHelp Group consists of leaders in developmental optometry who are passionately dedicated to sharing best practices in the field and committed to their mission of ending the senseless struggle caused by developmental and rehabilitative vision problems. Click for their website!
The American Stroke Association
Acknowledges the importance of vision in stroke recovery. Their website includes information that may benefit those who have experienced vision loss following a stroke. Click for their website.
*About 65% of stroke survivors have vision problem!
ii. Publications: Dr. Nichols and Dr. Gietzen
Our doctors at Great Lakes Vision Rehabilitation are committed to advancing research and knowledge in our treatment areas and therapies. They collaborate with several universities, researchers, and clinicians from other private practices to conduct clinical research. Additionally, our case reports highlight successful outcomes in various conditions that have improved through vision therapy and rehabilitation. Furthermore, our doctors occasionally write informational articles about vision disorders and treatment options. Please find the bibliography below, which includes hyperlinks (CLICK below) to access the publications authored by our doctors.
1. A Case-Control Method for Best Binocular Prescription and Optometric Phototherapy in Pediatric Amblyopia and Strabismus (2024). Click to read more on page 131!
2. Visual Field and Subjective Improvements in Visual Symptoms Associated with Traumatic Brain Injury Using Optometric Phototherapy Alone: A Case Report (2024). Click to read more on page 9!
3. Automated Functional Field Tester (FCFTester) Trends and Reproducibility - A Multicenter Pilot Study (Original Research, 2021). Click to read more on page 293!
4. Objective Measurement of Sustained Pupillary Constriction: A Pilot Study Using an App-Based Pupilometer (2020). Click to read more on page 57!
5. Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain and Light Therapy (a collection of articles written for optometrists.org). Click to read more!
iii. Research:
Research continues to expand, offering an evidence-based approach to vision therapy and rehabilitation. This section links to articles that support the treatment options and diagnoses we see at our clinic. This page is part of our ongoing effort to make research accessible for your reading. We also encourage you to visit our treatment areas page, where you will find additional links and references to learn more about specific topics. Click on the treatment areas to explore further!
Gold Standard Randomized Controlled-Treatment Trial:
The Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT-click here!), funded by the NIH, is a comprehensive research study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of various treatments for convergence insufficiency (CI). CI is a common vision condition in which the eyes struggle to work together when focusing on nearby objects. The trial compared different therapeutic approaches, including vision therapy and placebo treatments, to determine which methods lead to the most significant improvements in symptoms such as eye strain, double vision, and difficulty reading. By collecting extensive data on the outcomes of these treatments, the study sought to provide scientific evidence that would help clinicians offer the most effective care for patients with CI. The findings of the trial indicated that vision therapy is the preferred treatment for convergence insufficiency, which is the most commonly diagnosed vision disorder among patients.
Traumatic Brain Injury:
1. Objective Vision Based Training in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Bibliography. (CLICK to read more on page 127).
2. Primary Visual Pathway Changes in Individuals with Chronic Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. (CLICK to read more)
3. Vision Therapy for Post-Concussion Vision Disorders. (Clic​k to read more)
4. Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Using a Multisensory-Based Bottom-Up to Top-Down Paradigm for Post-Concussion Syndrome - A Retrospective Case Series Study. (Click to read more on page 235)
5. Vision-Based Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnostic Tests/Biomarkers: An Update and Reappraisal. (Click to read more on page 187)
​
6. Assessment of Three Clinical Tests for Evaluation of Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. (Click to read more)
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to affect the visual system. Research indicates that approximately 50% of the brain processes visual information. Due to the diffuse nature of TBI, it is common for individuals to experience visual deficits. These vision-related issues and symptoms are currently a significant area of research within the TBI population. Read on to learn more about the relationship between TBI and vision.
Strabismus and Amblyopia:
1. Vision Therapy: A Superior Treatment for Amblyopia! Click to read more!
2. Is it really the eye muscles problem in strabismus? If you’ve been advised that the issue lies with your eye muscles, then read this (click) to find out it may not be the eye muscles after all!
For a comprehensive overview, please visit our Strabismus and Amblyopia Treatment Areas page. There, you’ll find convenient links to detailed research and resources, with some embedded within the text and others available at the end for easy access.
Reading and Vision:
A longstanding belief has been that vision therapy does not improve reading skills. However, a recent review challenges this notion, revealing that vision therapy can indeed enhance monocular and binocular vision skills—both for individual eyes and coordinated eye use—along with visual information processing abilities and reading fluency. For further details, refer to page 13 of the journal (Click here).
Additionally, emerging research is uncovering a potential link between ADHD and vision-related issues. The review highlights that while the eyes remain healthy, the challenges lie in the brain's visual information processing rather than in the eyes themselves. Click to read the research!
In a related development, the American Academy of Optometry has issued a statement emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive visual skills assessments in struggling students. Research indicates that enhancing these students' visual skills can significantly improve their academic potential. For further insights, please refer to the complete article. (Click here).