Timing: 9:00am to 5:00pm daily
Training for Vision Therapists and Optometrists
The Practical Vision Therapy program has been developed to meet the needs of Optometrists and Therapists as they look to diversify and meet the needs of more patients by providing gold-standard office-based vision therapy. The program gives Therapists relevant theory and provides an understanding of the development of vision problems and options for management. This is balanced with a strong practical experience, which focuses on delivering therapy techniques to maximise results.
Please note, that for a comprehensive understanding of the visual process and its treatment with vision therapy all three courses should be undertaken in order from Workshop 1 to Workshop 3.
Can Optometrists do the course?
Absolutely! In fact, we strongly recommend that Optometrists do the course alongside their Therapists for maximum benefit in your Vision Therapy practice. CPD points are available to all Optometrists doing this workshop. The Practical Vision Therapy curriculum is ideally suited to Optometrists looking to develop their interest in this area. It allows Optometrists to provide tailored solutions to more patients. For those who have an interest in making a real difference to their patient’s quality of life, this is a must-do course. Theory and practical information is balanced to give an understanding of diagnosis, prescribing and delivery of programs. Further reading resources are provided along with procedure write ups for patients to follow at home.
Register for Workshop 2 - Accommodation & Convergence
If you have completed Workshop 1, you may register for Workshop 2.
Please register for this event before booking airfares & accommodation! ACBO events have limited capacity that cannot be exceeded. ACBO will not be responsible if an event sells out and you have already booked non-refundable airfares or accommodation.
DAY 1 |
9–10.30am |
Visual Dysfunctions/Refractive Conditions 1.Understand development of vision in terms of schema acquisition 2.Define Visual Dysfunction 3.Identify a patient’s refractive contrasting optical and behavioural models 4.Understand types and properties of lenses and prisms available; their effects o spatial processing, accommodation, vergence and the visual process |
11-12.30pm |
Visual Dysfunctions/Refractive Conditions 1.Understand the use of lenses in optometric practice: Compensatory, Therapeutic, Training 2.Understand prisms and their use in optometric practice: Compensatory, Therapeutic & Yoke, Disruptive, Training 3.Experience and understand the relevance of SILO optical propertie |
1.30–3pm |
Accommodation & Convergence 1.Understand accommodation control in terms of accuracy, stamina & flexibility 2.Understand binocularity or vergence ability in terms of accuracy, stamina and flexibility 3.Identify & understand the salient features of a vision examination which are relevant in the therapy room including: Tropia versus phoria, Accommodation measurements |
3.30–5pm |
Models for Understanding Visual Dysfunction 1.Understand the role of stress on visual function & schema breakdown 2.Identify aspects of visual function which change as a result of stress or excessive demand 3.Understand factors that determine efficient visual function 4.Review examination data for results which are not expected 5.Understand the role of vision therapy in treating visual dysfunction |
DAY 2 |
9–10.30am |
Stress, Schema, Embeddedness / Impact and Incidence 1.Understand the importance of diagnosing & treating functional vision problems based on their incidence and impact 2.Identify symptoms & signs that may be related to functional vision problems 3.Broadly define dyslexia and understand how vision therapy may be able to assist a patient with dyslexia
4.Understand the relevance of attention, fixation & visualisation vision therapy when treating disorders of accommodation and convergence. 5. Acknowledge the significant supporting evidence for the use of office based vision therapy when treating disorders of accommodation and vergence.
|
11-12.30pm |
Stress, Schema, Embeddedness / Impact and Incidence 1.Understand the importance of including spatial awareness and proximal localisation during vision therapy for accommodation and vergence disorders. 2. Understand the role of the autonomic nervous system in accommodation and vergence dysfunction, and the associated role of stress and sympathetic nervous system arousal. 3.Identify how to appropriately load or alter each activity appropriate to the patient’s needs and goals/outcomes 4. Acknowledge the supporting evidence for the myopia epidemic. Discuss the role of accommodation and vergence dysfunction and the role of the hyperopic buffer. |
1.30–3pm |
Management Considerations 1.Demonstrate vision therapy procedural and tool knowledge including techniques using: Tranaglyphs, Disruptive (disassociated) prisms, SILO 2.Understand the relevance of vision therapy activities used to treat visual dysfunction including: Vertical Alignment, Eccentric circles, 3.Overlapping Pictures, Red/Green Circles , Bug on a String 4.Identify how to appropriately load or alter each activity appropriate to the patient’s needs and goals/outcomes |
3.30–5pm |
VT for Visual Dysfunction 1.Manage a patient in vision therapy by considering required outcomes based on clinical findings and prognosis, whilst also considering the age, development or special requirements of the patient 2.Manipulate the levels of demand of various activities by increasing or decreasing the load 3.Understand factors influencing the hierarchy of the design and implementation of Vision training program 4.Review relevant cases and identify clinical findings and suggest relevant vision therapy activities |
Speaker Info
Presented by Bev Roberts
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Teaching Positions: Clinical Supervisor QUT Optometry Clinic Visiting Lecturer UNSW Masters Course 1998 – present
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ACBO Therapist Courses 2000 – present
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Maitre d’ Stage Universite de Paris Sud 1993 - 2007
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Teaching basic refraction in Timor Leste for Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand
Eligibility / Prerequisites
- All registrants must be ACBO members (Optometrists or VTs)
- All workshops must be done in order by all participants. For example, do not register for Workshop 2, if you haven't completed Workshop 1.
- Vision Therapists seeking accreditation must complete the courses in order from Workshop 1 to 3
- Vision Therapists must have submitted the Assignment from Workshop 1 before attending Workshop 2
- Both VTs and Optometrists must have completed Online Modules 3 & 4 before attending Workshop 2.
Pre-Work
- Participants need to have completed Online Modules 3 & 4 before attending this workshop
- Vision Therapists must have completed the Assignment from Workshop 1
Workshop 2 - Accommodation & Convergence
- Accommodation/Convergence
- Refractive conditions
- Tests & overview of diagnoses
- Treatment of A/C disorders