Scientists now feel age may not be a limiting factor to developing better vision

Jul 10 2006

Imagine going through life seeing the world in two dimensions.

You are told by some of the finest doctors that nothing can be done and yet after undertaking optometric vision therapy when you are almost 50 years old you can suddenly see 3D! You sit down in your car, fascinated that the steering wheel and the rear view mirror are popping out at you in their own space. A whole new world is opening up right in front of your eyes.

That's what happened to Dr. Susan Barry, associate professor of biological sciences at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. Crossed-eyed since infancy despite three surgeries between the ages of 2 and 7 to straighten her eyes, she adapted to a life without stereoscopic vision. But as she approached 50 she began to experience new vision problems.

Despite being told by doctors that nothing could be done, she was treated by Dr. Theresa Ruggiero, a developmental optometrist and Board Certified Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Dr. Ruggiero prescribed special glasses and a program of optometric vision therapy which allowed Dr. Barry to use her two eyes together and for the first time in her life see in depth. She gained stereoscopic vision.

Barry's case has achieved some notoriety with a major article written by Oliver Sacks, M.D. in the New Yorker and she has been interviewed with Dr. Sacks and Nobel Prize winning neurobiologist, David Hubel, M.D., on National Public Radio. The prevailing theory that there are critical periods in early visual experiences and brain development beyond which normal two-eyed vision will not develop may not always apply. The conclusion of the show points out that it may be possible to regain stereoscopic vision, if you see the right doctor.

Thousands of other adults and children have benefited from the development of better vision through a program of optometric vision therapy. Vision is a complex process that involves over 20 visual abilities and more than 65% of all the pathways to the brain.

"Many vision problems that affect eye coordination, eye focusing and eye movement abilities which often interfere with stereoscopic vision, reading, learning and many activities of daily life can be treated successfully with vision therapy," reports Dr. Drusilla Grant, President of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.