Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Optometry is very interested in demonstrating that the therapies it prescribes are efficacious. Vision therapy is one of the traditional therapies of optometry, but it has not been as well accepted as other therapies. One of the reasons for this lack of acceptance has been the lack of studies that demonstrate quality of life improvement in the patient who has undergone a course of optometric vision therapy. The College of Optometrists in Vision Development Quality of Life checklist (COVD-QOL) was designed as a tool to assist in the documentation of these improvements. The COVD-QOL has been demonstrated to have good test-retest reliability and has shown that ADD/ADHD children have significantly higher scores on this instrument than non-ADD/ADHD children. This pilot study was designed to study if vision therapy would have a significant positive impact on 7- to 18-year-old children.

METHODS:

A prospective, five-office study was designed. A total of 62 consecutive children (whose parents agreed to participation) completed a course of optometric in-office vision therapy. Pre- and post-COVD-QOL's were completed at the end of therapy or at the end of 20 hours of in-office optometric vision therapy, whichever was shorter. The pre- and post-symptoms data were analyzed, collectively and by individual symptoms.

RESULTS:

The mean total scores, as well as each individual item score on the COVD-QOL, were significantly better on post-test than on pre-test.

CONCLUSIONS:

The COVD-QOL can be used to measure changes in symptoms, and to objectively demonstrate quality of life changes that are achieved through optometric vision therapy.