At Marston Optometry, your vision is our primary concern. We offer a variety of treatment options including glasses, contact lenses (including Orthokertology and Corneal Refractive Therapy), Laser Vision Correction (LASIK). We also offer specialty services in the areas of Low Vision Rehabilitation, Children's Vision and Learning, and Vision Therapy. We are happy to provide you about these services. Please select from the following list to learn more. For more information, please call or email our office.
Childrens Vision & Learning
Did you know that 80% of everything a child learns, understands, and remembers is acquired through his or her visual system?
Vision is very important in the learning process. Concerned about the impact of undetected vision problems, the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) issued a statement urging schools to recognize that "early diagnosis and treatment of children's vision problems is a necessary component to school readiness and academic learning," and that a vision screening is "not a substitute" for a complete eye and vision exam. Just because your child may not have noticed a change in his or her vision doesn't mean that an exam is not necessary.
It is important to know, that according to the American Public Health Assocation 25 percent, or one in four children in grades K-6 have undiagnosed vision problems that affect their learning. Sixty percent of children with learning disabilities hae undiagnosed vision problems, according to the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Sometimes the problem is misdiagnosed as ADD (attention deficit disorder), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), or dyslexia.
Signs of learning-related vision problems include:
- struggles with reading
- grows tired or frustrated with reading
- can't sit still or stay at a task for any length of time
- reverses words, numbers, or letters has difficulty remembering the spelling of words
- frequently loses their place, skips words, or skips lines of text while reading
- has poor reading comprehension
- has shown no improvement from medication or tutoring
In addition to checking for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, eye health conditions and binocular and focusing skills, a development eye examination evaluates additional areas that can contribute to these symptoms. Dr. Joyce Takahashi specializes in Pediatric Development Vision, and the remediation of these problems.
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Low Vision Rehabilitation Services
What is Low Vision?
 A person may have low vision if ordinary glasses or contact lenses cannot correct their vision problems. People who have low vision are not completely blind; they do have useful vision and may be described as "visually impaired" or "legally blind."
How many people are affected?
It is estimated that nearly one out of twenty Americans are affected by low vision. Most new cases of vision loss occur in people 65 years of age and older.
How can we help?
Low vision care is not treatment which will produce "normal" sight. It does involve the use of optical and non-optical devices to help maximize the use of remaining vision. Low vision practitioners use special examination techniques to determine remaining sight. Based upon their knowledge and the patient's visual condition, recommendations may include: Microscopic lenses Telescopic devices Stand or hand-held magnifiers Glare controls and filters Illumination systems Closed-circuit television systems, or video magnifiers Orientation and mobility training Personalized training and/or counseling.
Can some people with Low Vision drive?
 With the use of special telescopic devices mounted in glasses, some visually impaired patients are able to drive. If a person has quick reflexes, and is comfortable with their judgement of depth, speed, lane position, stopping distances, oncoming traffic and other concerns, but has difficulty seeing road signs and signals quickly they may be a candidate for a "bioptic" telescope to drive. In Michigan such cases are considered for licensing on an individual basis. Drive must have 20/50 or better vision using the telescope, an adequate peripheral visual field, and they must demostrate the ability to drive safely with the telescope in an on-road evaluation. Driver's training for telescopic drivers is available locally by specially certified instructors. Dr. Carol Marston-Foucher received an award for her work in Low Vision Rehabilitation as a student at teh Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University. She was certified as a Low Vision Specialist by the Michigan Optometric Association in 1986, and has been actively involved in providing Low Vision Rehabilitative care to patients since entering practice.
Is it hard to adapt to a low vision program?
At first it may seem slow and difficult to adjust to using the optical devices and low vision therapy prescribed. With time, patience and perseverance, patients are often able to do many of the things that they want to do.
Are Low Vision services covered by insurance?
Most often, only partial coverage is provided by insurance plans. We will be happy to discuss your particular insurance when you call to schedule an appointment.
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Laser Vision Correction
What is Laser Vision Correction?
Laser Vision Correction changes the shape of the cornea, the front surface of the eye, to improve vision. Though there are several types of refractive procedures, the most popular is known as LASIK (laser assisted in situ keratomileusis). LASIK involves reshaping the cornea using incisions and lasers. An incision creates a flap which is folded back. Lasers are then used to reshape the middle layer of the cornea and correct the vision. The flap is folded back and allowed to heal, resulting in much clearer vision.
Is LASIK For Me?
Not everyone should consider a LASIK procedure. Candidates should be over 21 years of age. If you are pregnant, nursing, or suffering from a number of diseases, you probably are not eligible for LASIK. You are also not eligible if your prescription has changed significantly over the past year. Ask us about LASIK. Our doctors will assess your eligibility, the risks you may encounter, and they can recommend how to move forward.
Is the Procedure Safe?
In rare cases, there have been complications that have arisen after the procedure, including glare at night, dry eyes or the inability to wear contact lenses. In even rarer cases, there have been complications during the procedure. However, as technology improves, there will likely be a decrease in these instances.
Recommended Links
→ TLC Vision
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Sports Vision
Sports Vision "Keep your eye on the ball!" "Focus on the finish line!" "Don't lose sight of the green!" If there's one thing that seems to be a key to success in sports, it's vision. But did you know you can improve your performance by improving some aspects of your vision? It's easy to recognize problems, and even easier to solve them. The following are some aspects of vision which can be the difference between victory and defeat, and some exercises to improve performance.
- Dynamic visual acuity is your ability to see objects when they are moving fast. This is important in sports like hockey, racquetball, and tennis. To improve dynamic visual acuity, cut out letters, stick them to a record turntable, and try to identify the letters at different speeds.
- Visual concentration is your ability to ignore distractions happening around you. Your eyes naturally react to movement in the field of vision from spectators, other participants or the playing environment. To improve your visual concentration, have a friend stand nearby and wave their hands erratically while you practice.
- Eye tracking is following an object with your eyes without much head motion. It is important with any sport that involves a fast-moving ball. Good eye tracking will improve balance and reaction time. You can improve your eye tracking by watching the flight of a ball while keeping a book balanced on your head.
- Eye-hand-body coordination is how your muscles and limbs react to the information gathered by your eyes. It affects timing and body control. To improve your eye-hand-body coordination, jump up and down on an old mattress while a friend tosses you a tennis ball from a variety of angles. Catch the ball and toss it back.
- Visual memory is the ability to process and remember a fast moving, complex picture of people and things. It is very important in basketball, hockey, and soccer, where the game quickly moves up the field. Visual memory helps you know where your teammates and opponents are positioned. To improve visual memory, look at a magazine page for a second, then turn the page. Try to reconstruct the images you just saw. When you've mastered the exercise, allow 5 seconds between seeing the image and reconstructing it.
- Peripheral vision is the ability to see what is not directly in front of you, out of the corner of your eye. This allows you to see your teammate to your left or right while focusing on the goal in front of you. To make your peripheral vision more useful, try watching television with your head turned to one side or the other.
- Visual reaction time is what allows a batter to hit the ball, or a tennis player to return a serve. It is the speed with which your brain interprets and reacts. To improve your visual reaction time, stand with your back to a friend. Have them toss a ball to you and yell, "Now!" When you hear the yell, turn around and try to catch the ball. By repeating this exercise, you can teach your brain to react more quickly.
- Focus flexibility allows a quarterback to quickly focus on his receivers even though they are at varying distances. To improve focus flexibility, post a magazine page on a wall about 15 feet away at eye level in front of you. Hold a similar page in your hand out in front of you, so that it is slightly to one side of your view of the page on the wall. Focus on an object or words on the page on the wall. Then quickly switch focus to the page in your hand. By switching focus back and forth, you will improve your focus flexibility.
- Depth perception lets you judge distance. This is especially important in basketball, golf, and other sports involving distance to the goal. To improve depth perception, have a friend point a straw at you, parallel to the ground, with the straw about two feet away from you. Practice quickly inserting a toothpick into the straw.
By improving aspects of your vision, you can improve your performance, no matter what sport you're involved in.
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Vision Therapy
Though some vision problems can be treated using corrective lenses, many require a different kind of treatment. Vision therapy is a series of activities or exercises prescribed and monitored by an optometrist to treat problems with visual skill and processing. After a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor may determine that vision therapy is the best option for treatment. Vision therapy programs are based on the results of standardized tests, and the needs of the patient.
Vision therapy is administered under the guidance of your doctor. Sometimes a number of office visits are required over a period ranging from several weeks to several months. Usually the patient performs several exercises, then the doctor teaches the patient techniques to be practiced at home to reinforce the developing visual skills.
Vision therapy can effectively treat eye movement disorders, inefficient eye teaming, misaligned eyes, poorly developed vision, focusing problems, and other visual information processing disorders.
Ask your doctor for more information.
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