By scientific basis we understand efficacy confirmed or proven through scientific experiments or studies. Statistical analysis of cases is another way of determining whether something is valid and worthwhile.

There is sufficient evidence for the American Optometrist Associations to publish a special report in support of the efficacy of vision training.

On the other hand the American Acadamy og Ophthalmology do not think that vision training is any good. In a policy statement they found that there is no scientific evidence supporting vision training. In their opinion most of learning disabilities, dyslexia and vision research is flawed.

It is perhaps useful to remember that vision training is simply a series of common sense exercises that have proven to be effective in restoring natural vision in children as well as adults.

To read the American Optometrist Association document

To read the American Acadamy of Ophthalmologist policy statement

Why is vision training the best approach for strabismus treatment?

Vision training has a track record of not only correcting the direction of the eyes, but to fully restore normal three dimentional vision. Research show 80% success rate. Further more the yes tend to stay straight.

The medical approach to strabismus is first to try forcing the eyes to straighten using prisms and bifocal lenses. If that doesn't work then surgery is recommended. Most ophthalmologists believe that strabismus surgery should be done before the age of 7. The aim of strabismus surgery is to restore cosmetic apperance. ALsmost 80% of the childrten who has undergone strabismus surgery never devlop normal binocular vision (3D perception).

Now, compare that with full restoration of normal vision which is the aim of vision training.

Frankly, it is unbelievable that ayone can suggest a surgical procedure that has marginal efficacy when there has been non-invasive therapies available with efficacy better than 80%. Incidentally vision training exercises for strabismus was introduced by Dr. William Bates in 1918.

Many ophthalmologists have this belief, since this is what theylearn in medical school. "Lazy eye"or ambliopia happens when the brain switches off the input from one eye. Ambliopia is often associated with strabismus. Visual input from the divergent eye is switched off.

There is substantial vision training research proving that age is no limit to successful ambliopia treatement.

Yes, normal vision can be restored to an ambliopic eye. The vision training track record is about 75% to 80% cure rate without invasive procedures or disagreable practices.

How long does it take to train a "Lazy eye"?

It depends on the severety of the problem. Ambliopia is defined by a condition that is not correcable with optics to better than 20/40 visual acuity.

Naturally, the earlier you start the vision training exercies the better. There is no age limit, children as well as adults can re-train their "Lazy eye" successfully. The specific time it takes to train the eye may range from a few weekns to several months. Incidentally, the Magic eyes vision training exercise can be done at home.

Magic eyes works vis the mond body interface. Vision is learned, and as such undesirale vision habits can be re-trained. The fundamental principle is to involve the mind and let it work out the best way to achive the desired outcome. Our mind learn incredibly fast, so if you present the right kind of training activity, generally with an immediately verifiable goal, then quick change is possible.

This is especially true with children. If its fun they will do it. Kid's also enjoy succeeding. Remember, a child's body and mind is growing a little bit every day. So simple vision training exercises have profound effect

Magic eyes vision training exercises are similar to learning dance steps, to master a scateboard, videogames, throving a ball or catching a ball. It is something everyone can do easily, unless they have a vision problem. In that case a new way of using the eyes must be learned. For children the Magic eyes program is ideally suited for this. We do not rely on equipment to do the exercise so you can easily do them at home with your children.

At about four months the baby has learned to fuse the images from the two eyes into one three dimentional image. Eye-coordination continues to develop as the child learn to play progressively more and more demanding games.

If a child have not quite developed propoer eye-coordination then reading becomes very difficult. For example, if the eyes has a tendency to deviate outwards, the medical term for this is exophoria. In order to read, even with minor diversion, massive energy and effort is needed to keep the eyes pointing at the book. If the eyes fuse the image beyond the page the child will experience eye strain and fatigue very quickly. Research show that the greater the amount of effort invo lved in the reading process, the lower the comprehension and thus lower performance.

Eye movement photography show that when the saccadic shifting eye movements that are made during reading, each fixation is broken as the child moves from word to word. A divergent eye will move outward and then move in to regain fixation. Often the yes will regain binocular fixation two or theree words further along the line. Sometimes the child will guess or make up words to make sense of the sentence. They will substitute small words and therefore don't understand what they are reading.

Understandably, the child would rather not read since it is so difficult. We therfore obsewrve avoidance behaviours like looking out the window or talking to his neighbour. The child will often attempt to compensate the break in fixation using a finger while reading. Many teachers do not allow this, while it is in fact a sign that this child may have an eye-coordination problem.

Children with eye-coordination problmes also distort their posture in an attemot to favour one eye during reading. Many even cover one eye with their hand, or they will put their head down on their arm so one eye is covered. Others will rotate their head so the bridge of their nose will shield one eye from the page. Observing any of these behaviours are a sing that the child may have eye-coordiantion problems and need a comprehensive vision test and subsequent vision traing.

Children are often labeled as having a short attention span, "not trying,"having behavioural problems, or being plain dumb. These childred then develops a strong dislike for school. In fact it is possible that this is all due to undetected vision problems.

Efficacy of vision training for eye-coordination problems is about 90% success rate.

Babies are born very near sighted (20/200). However, they quickly learn how to use their eyes as they continue to develop. Vision skills are learned and mastered one after another. If one skill is underdeveloped then subsequent vision problems may arrise later. Especially when the child goes to school where the demands on vision skills are much higher than childhood games in the park.

Parents can watch their child learn how to roll over, lift his head, sit up, crawl, stand, walk, etc. However, learning to see is a process that generally goes on without assistance and usually without anyone being aware of this miracolous process that enables us to see and interact with the world around us.

The child must learn about his own center and learn to coordinate to two hals of his oer her body. Later they learn where they are in relation to other people and objects. A child must also learn how to move and operate in a gravitationally controlled environment.

From a developmental viewpoint, a child must first learn how to coordinate the two halfs of his body before he can coordinate his two eyes. Also a child must first learn how to control hislarge gross muscles before he can control the smaller muscles of his eyes. Therefore such activities like walking on a balance board, walk rails, jump boards and such activities as crawling and creeping is an integreal part of developing normal visual skills.