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Tracking Issues (Sports) and More!
 

"Playing sports often requires many visual skills. These skills are essential for helping us guide our arms/hands where they need to be, tracking a ball to perform at a high level, focus and fixate on an object to see it clear, and many more! If the visual system is not functioning at 100%, then it may be difficult to play at the highest potential."   
 

There are approximately 17 visual skills to assess functional vision. These skills also help us establish balance (visual, vestibular, and proprioception). Our visual system has two processing streams: central (“what”) and peripheral (“where”). The latter communicates with both the vestibular and proprioceptive systems to visually tell our brain where we are in space. If peripheral awareness or fusion (eye teaming) are not functioning at top levels, then the maximal potential is not provided. 
 

In sports, athletes want to have the best visual system possible. Vision plays a major role in sports, and if there are deficits, then it is possible the athlete may be performing at a lower level. Many athletes perform vision therapy or similar types of exercises to give them a competitive edge. 
 

Larry Fitzgerald, a legendary Arizona Cardinals wide receiver, performed vision therapy. He credits vision therapy as a part of his professional success. Another example of an athlete who went viral for his videos performing vision exercises (eye-hand coordination) is NFL running back, Alvin Kamara!  
 

IF YOU ARE AN ATHLETE OR PARENT OF AN ATHLETE AND ARE EXPERIENCING OR OBSERVING DIFFICULTIES DUE TO THE VISUAL SYSTEM, CALL GLVR TODAY! 
 

Motion Sickness and Dizziness: 
 

“To be in balance our sensory systems need to be working in harmony. The systems that provide balance and communicate together are vision, vestibular, and proprioceptive. If you experience motion sickness or dizziness, it is time to determine if your visual system is part of the problem.” 
 

Our vision, a dominant sense, is instrumental in determining our spatial location. Our visual system operates through two processing streams: central (identifying 'what') and peripheral (locating 'where'). The latter, crucially, interacts with the vestibular and proprioceptive systems to visually guide our brain about our spatial location. When we're in motion, our peripheral system is actively processing both movement and the visual environment we're moving through.  

Vision can contribute to motion sickness, especially when in a car. Motion sickness can occur as the driver or even as the passenger. If the problem is not vestibular, then vision may be the culprit. Treatment options range from active (I.e., vision therapy and optometric phototherapy) to passive (e.g., occlusions or prism). In addition, vision helps provide information about where the body is in space. Abnormal vision processing can result in dizziness and balance issues. 
 

Motion sickness in the car can occur in patients with traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative disorders, or visual dysfunctions. 
 

IF YOU EXPERIENCE MOTION SICKNESS, AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOLD NOTHING ELSE IS WRONG, THEN CONTACT EXCEL TODAY TO GET A THOROUGH EVALUATION AND DETERMINE IF VISION TREATMENT CAN HELP! 

 

Primitive Reflexes:

 

At GLVR, we screen for some of the primitive reflexes. PRs are essential early in development; retained reflexes contribute to developmental delays. These can affect many areas, including reading and other visual skills. Please click the following links to read more about vision and retained reflexes:

 

And more... 
 

At GLVR, our doctors and therapists have treated many patients. We have worked with patients with rare diseases, patients with neurodegenerative diseases, and more! Even if you do not see your specific diagnosis above or symptoms, please call our clinic. Our doctors and team have many referrals in the area, and even if our clinic cannot help you with your vision or goals, we may be able to refer or connect to someone who can help.

 

We work with a large network of providers and facilities and practice in a multi-disciplinary approach to help our patients to the best of our ability. 

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