Written By Guest Blogger: Jessica Zwilling, COVT Everyone has their own “style.”  We hear this and say this often in our world of Behavioral Vision Therapy.  As a COVT who has worked for different doctors over the last 20 years, I can attest to that fact.  Optometrists and Therapists alike, all have their own style… Read more

Originally posted on The VisionHelp Blog: Neuro-Optometry was well-represented at the Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Brain Injury Alliance held on Thursday in Eatontown, NJ.  The keynote speaker was our buddy Cavin Balaster, pictured here with me, Robert Nurisio, COVT, and Rebecca Tylor. Cavin did a wonderful job from the podium, as usual, and… Read more

Right before our eyes, social media has become a staple of life. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit and the list goes on. Seems that you can’t throw a rock anymore without hitting a new virtual medium for communicating your every move.  There actually have been studies published showing that the more means of communication that become accessible,… Read more

Most Vision Therapists aren’t exactly known for their toughness. Silly jokes, maybe. But toughness?  Not so much.  That might be changing though, or at the very least, some of the toughness may be seeping through.  The real question to ask yourself becomes “is our toughness a good thing?”, and the answer is simple: No. And yes. First the easy part.… Read more

As anyone who has spent any time around me can attest, I tend to be an introvert.  I’m just as happy sitting in silence during my meal as others may be when enjoying an in-depth conversation during theirs. My comfort zone is to sit quietly, ponder my day, and observe the happenings in my surroundings.  This… Read more

Originally posted on The VisionHelp Blog: And a reminder to join us inside Tower Ballroom 3 tonight for the Trifecta: 7:00 – 8:00 COVD/OEPF/NORA Symposium on Concussion 8:05 – 8:35 Rollout of new COVD Journal – Vision Development & Rehabilitation 8:40 – 9:00 COVD PR Update – Toni Bristol & Ruth Villeneuve They’re setting up the… Read more

When it comes to the epic battle that is vision care, it’s often been my contention that we should disengage from the turf war and focus on the positive changes being made all around Developmental Optometry.  After all, the time and energy spent being angered by other professions who claim that we have no basis… Read more

As someone working to improve the lives of others, stories like this always touch me. I know this is not VT related, but it speaks volumes about the human spirit and how people will rise to help someone they barely know. It is a pretty powerful place to be. Get your tissue ready. 😉 Read more

This post is not about vaccines, nor is it an attempt to shove my opinion on vaccinations in your face.  No, this is far more serious. This post is about respect. Long before any of us heard of Andrew Wakefield or Jenny McCarthy, long before we understood what thimerosal really was, and long before we even knew how… Read more

The blind have always been quite intriguing to me. In fact, if moving on from my current career is ever in the cards, a job in assisting the blind is most likely where you’ll find me.  Some may find this idea a bit comical, or even ironic, considering much of my adult life has been spent… Read more

In 1871, Lewis Carroll published Through The Looking Glass as a sequel to Alice in Wonderland. With many common themes to its prequel, the story asks it’s audience to entertain the notion that many things mirror the opposite of what they know to be true in real life. For instance, clocks that run backwards and tell time… Read more

I’ve written many times of the magic that occurs at COVD’s Annual Meeting.  The positive energy, the fantastic learning that occurs both in and out of the lecture halls, the rekindled friendships, and most importantly the incredible sense of family.  Here is a great video that beautifully captures the energy of the meeting that so many of us… Read more

When someone asked recently about the most underrated aspect of success in my corner of rehabilitative care, many possibilities raced through my head, from the more evident to perhaps the less considered. After a few moments in thought, my ultimate response surprised my young counterpart, but became clearer as we delved further into discussion. The most underrated and often overlooked… Read more

Over the last several weeks, my email box has been hit with many inquiries about the Sit Down interviews, basically asking if they will continue.  It’s my pleasure to inform all of you that the 2015 installment will begin in February and continue throughout the spring. In the meantime, my friend Melody Lay has compiled some favorite… Read more

According to Wikipedia, The Startle Response, often considered related to the Moro Reflex, “is a defensive response to sudden or threatening stimuli, and is associated with negative affect.”   Here’s a fun example of what this reflex might look like…if we ever start treating cats.  Take 60 seconds and watch. 🙂 Happy Wednesday!! Read more

Written by: Emilie Christensen Today was a good day. Today reminded me why I’m in the field and why I do what I do. Earlier this week though, that wasn’t the case. As I work towards my certification as a vision therapist there are definitely days that are hard. Like earlier this week as I… Read more

If I ever have the opportunity to meet Mark Zuckerberg, the credited founder of Facebook, I will offer him only one well conceived and highly original thought: Ever consider a ‘dislike’ button? But it’s doubtful that ole’ Mark, and his estimated 33.1 billion dollars in personal wealth, hangs out in the same places I do.… Read more

The answer I should have listened to can be summed in one word: “No” But, yes, I did it anyway; and now I’m here to tell you all about it. When I decided earlier today that I would sit down tonight to write something interesting, something fascinating, something penetrating, and something uplifting, I had hoped to share… Read more

Have you ever stopped and looked at your life, like really looked at it,  only to be amazed at how lucky you are? Such a glance at one’s life may not occur daily, although perhaps it should. I had one of those moments this past Sunday. With one eye open, I stumbled through the San Diego… Read more

Yesterday afternoon I discovered a new resource available to parents and professionals.  A new Facebook Group, entitled Pediatric Esotropia/ Exotropia/ Strabismus/ Amblyopia/ Cross-eyed Awareness, is emerging as another trusted forum for discussion on the “how’s and why’s” of Vision Therapy – this time with a focus on Amblyopia and Strabismus. The group was started by Virginia Serra and is currently managed and moderated by… Read more

Written By Guest Blogger: Melody Lay COVT This week, I wrapped up an amazing journey with my developmental optometry family here in central Florida.  My husband accepted a job in San Antonio, Texas and we will be pulling stakes here in Orlando in a few days. The past month has been a whirlwind in my VT… Read more

Dale Carnegie once estimated that close to 60% of human communication is non-verbal. In other words, more than half of the message others take from us is not coming from our mouth.  The direction we point our bodies, our posture, the the look on our face, the pre-occupation with our smart phones while waiting, even how… Read more

Late last summer, a new patient came to our office who had the written the words “race car driver” on his questionnaire to explain his occupation. I remember my initial thought when reading those words… Yeah, right. Michael (of no relation to the Indy Car driver with the same name) came to Austin Eye Gym seeking to enhance… Read more