Iverson's Game Improved by Vision Therapy 
Dear Lori S. Nishida-Eugenio, O.D.,

The Bemidji Pioneer recently reported "Seeing clearly: Vision therapy helps Iverson overcome effects of ADHD" on  Division 2 college football player Seth Iverson.

Iverson lived with the effects of ADHD since grade school. When he was younger, he was given Ritalin to help him concentrate, but discontinued its use due to the side effects.

The difficulty concentrating followed Iverson to college, and onto the football field. "His concentration just wasn't there and he would start drifting" said Bemidji State head coach Jeff Tesch.  Iverson's coach noticed that he was having trouble keeping focused during instructional periods at practices.

That was when Tesch's wife, Dr. Susan Tesch at Whelan Eye Care in Bemidji, MN, got involved. After six months of vision therapy, Iverson said he "didn't have to worry about grades the way that I used to."

When Iverson returned to the football field for fall practices last year, his coach immediately noticed a difference in his work ethic. "He had better focus, more concentration; he worked harder, and became a more dedicated player," Tesch said. "He's turned into one heck of a football player."

Back-to-school exams in Canada

According to recommendations by the Canadian Association of Optometrists, school-aged children should visit an optometrist for an eye exam at least once per year. Almost 25% of children have undetected vision problems, says the CAO.  That was true for Charlotte Black.

Susan Black's 11-year-old daughter Charlotte had 20/20 vision when tested, but was diagnosed with convergence insufficiency (CI), resulting in double vision when reading, eyestrain, and headaches.

Now Charlotte undergoes vision therapy under the guidance of Dr. Altaz Shajani at Lynn Valley Optometry Clinic.  Charlotte is only three-quarters of the way through the program, and the difference has been "phenomenal," according to her mother.

"Reading, oh my goodness, I find her reading everywhere!" says Black. "She used to only read a few pages, now she reads 33 pages at a time." Black sees a difference in her mood and behaviour, too. "I'm absolutely elated at what therapy has done."