TrainYourEyes vision training is deeply rooted in research
Ongoing research is being conducted in the field of binocular vision training, of which TrainYourEyes is also an active participant in collaboration with Copenhagen University.
The core of TrainYourEyes training is based on evidence. It primarily involves training of eye movements, convergence ability and accommodation ability.
Core research behind the training
Eye movements
Training shows improvements in both reading fluency, reading comprehension and reading speed. Training of eye movements is an important part of TrainYourEyes training.
- The Effect of Saccadic Training on Early Reading Fluency — opens in a new tab
- The effect of visual therapy on the ocular motor control of children with DCD — opens in a new tab
- Efficacy of vision therapy in children with learning disability — opens in a new tab
- The Effect of the King-Devick Reading Acceleration Program on Reading Fluency — opens in a new tab
Convergence - the ability to turn the eyes inward
Training shows improvements in eye irritation, headaches, blurred vision, double vision, fatigue, concentration problems, jumping text, loss of reading comprehension after short reading periods.
Accommodation - the ability to focus
Training shows improvements in blurred vision at reading distance, headaches, running or burning eyes, tired eyes, loss of concentration, and avoidance of near-work activities.
Long-term effect of training
Since binocular vision training is not just training of the individual eye muscles, but rather training of the brain's control of the individual binocular vision functions, the effect of binocular vision training has been shown to be long-lasting.
Prevalence - general population
At least 20% of all children and adults have binocular vision problems (BVD: Binocular vision dysfunction). Depending on study, age, method, selection: 15-51%.
Recognized diagnoses
Convergence insufficiency (CI)
When reading, it is necessary to turn the eyes inward so that both eyes hit the same spot in the book. This is called converging. If the eyes cannot converge correctly, it is called convergence insufficiency.
Symptoms:
- Double vision/shadows on text
- Tired, irritated and strained eyes
- Headaches
- Difficult to read – words flow together
- Loses reading position
- Reduced reading speed
- Reduced visual endurance
Prevalence:
- 15% / 34% - Non-dyslexic vs dyslexic children (Raghuram, 2018) — opens in a new tab
- 5% - All age groups (Cooper, 2012) — opens in a new tab
- 13% - 4th and 5th graders (Rouse, 1999) — opens in a new tab
- 7.7% - University students (Porcar, 1997) — opens in a new tab
- 6.2% - Age 11.67 +/- 1.81 years (Davis, 2016) — opens in a new tab
- 14% - Ages 8-12 with reading problems (Muzaliha, 2012) — opens in a new tab
- 3.7% / 31.5% - Mainstream vs special education children (Abu Bakar, 2012) — opens in a new tab
Accommodation insufficiency (AI)
When reading, it is necessary to be able to focus on the text in the book and quickly switch vision from one distance to another. If the eyes cannot accommodate correctly, it is called accommodation insufficiency.
Symptoms:
- Difficulty switching vision from short to long distances
- Text jumps and/or changes sharpness
- Takes time before text becomes sharp
- Blurred vision after prolonged reading
- Double vision/shadows
- Irritated eyes and headaches
Prevalence:
- 9% / 55% - Non-dyslexic vs dyslexic children (Raghuram, 2018) — opens in a new tab
- 6.2% - University students (a further 10.8% with accommodative excess) (Porcar, 1997) — opens in a new tab
- 23.3% - Special education children (Abu Bakar, 2012) — opens in a new tab
- 18.2% - Grades 3-8 (Davis, 2016) — opens in a new tab
- 26% - Ages 8-12 with learning problems (Muzaliha, 2012) — opens in a new tab
Eye movement deficiency
When reading, it is important to be able to move the eyes from letter/word to the next quickly and accurately, and to be able to change lines correctly. Eye movements can be divided into smooth pursuit and saccade movements.
Symptoms:
- Reduced reading speed
- Reduced reading comprehension
- Difficulty reading fluently
- Re-reads/skips lines
- Swaps letters e.g. 'b' and 'd' / 'p' and 'q'
- Fatigue in/around eyes throughout day
Prevalence:
- 62% - Dyslexic children (Raghuram, 2018) — opens in a new tab
- 15% - Non-dyslexic children (Raghuram, 2018) — opens in a new tab
Research on acquired brain injury
Vision training creates neuroplastic changes — opens in a new tab
Vision training creates neuroplastic changes in the brain and restores visual function after concussion. 96% improved, 76% fully normalized after 12-16 training sessions.
Stroke
- Prevalence of Visual Symptoms and Deficits Among Inpatients with Acquired Brain Injury — opens in a new tab
- Concurrent Vision Dysfunctions in Convergence Insufficiency with Traumatic Brain Injury — opens in a new tab
- Vergence Dysfunction in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI): A Review — opens in a new tab
- Disorders of ocular motility following head trauma — opens in a new tab
- Incidence and treatment of visual dysfunction in traumatic brain injury — opens in a new tab
- Occurrence of oculomotor dysfunctions in acquired brain injury — opens in a new tab
Concussion
- Vision Diagnoses Are Common After Concussion in Adolescents — opens in a new tab
- Vision and Vestibular System Dysfunction Predicts Prolonged Concussion Recovery in Children — opens in a new tab
- Vision Therapy for Post-Concussion Vision Disorders — opens in a new tab
- Vergence, accommodation and visual tracking in a multidisciplinary concussion clinic — opens in a new tab
- Vision symptoms after concussion: review of diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment — opens in a new tab
Vision training can help - also after a brain injury
- National Klinisk Retningslinje for non-farmakologisk behandling af laengerevarende symptomer efter hjernerystelse — opens in a new tab
- Vision therapy improves binocular visual dysfunction in patients with mild traumatic brain injury — opens in a new tab
- Therapist-assisted vision therapy improves outcome for stroke patients with homonymous hemianopia — opens in a new tab
- Vision related symptoms after acquired brain injury and the association with mental fatigue, anxiety and depression — opens in a new tab
- Vision therapy as part of neurorehabilitation after acquired brain injury - a clinical study — opens in a new tab
- Vision Therapy for Post-Concussion Vision Disorders — opens in a new tab
Binocular vision, ADHD and dyslexia
Both conditions frequently occur together with binocular vision problems. Vision training addresses the visual barrier - not the diagnosis itself.
Dyslexia
Up to 79% have binocular vision dysfunction when dyslexia is diagnosed
Dyslexia is not caused by binocular vision dysfunction, but they frequently coexist. Treating the vision problem removes an exhausting visual barrier and makes reading significantly more comfortable - it does not cure the dyslexia itself.
- Up to 79% with binocular vision dysfunction when dyslexia is diagnosed — opens in a new tab
- Individuals with dyslexia are 4 times more likely to need optometric intervention — opens in a new tab
- Many dyslexic children have binocular vision dysfunction — opens in a new tab
- Around 80% of people with learning disabilities have dyslexia - the most common learning disability — opens in a new tab
ADHD
Three-fold greater incidence of binocular vision dysfunction in the ADHD population
Research links ADHD with binocular vision dysfunction, which often worsens attention difficulties. Targeted vision training relieves eye strain and reading problems - it does not treat the ADHD itself.
- Three-fold greater incidence of convergence insufficiency in the ADHD population — opens in a new tab
- Eye-movement deficits in ADHD — opens in a new tab
- Vision training may reduce ADHD-related symptoms — opens in a new tab
- Children with ADHD exhibited higher lags of accommodation — opens in a new tab
- ADHD is linked to impaired accommodation — opens in a new tab
- Children with ADHD are less precise in performing eye movements — opens in a new tab
- A pattern of oculomotor anomalies exists in children with ADHD — opens in a new tab
Effect of targeted vision training in sports
Cricket
Significant improvements in reaction time, depth vision, accommodation, saccadic eye movements and batting performance.
Table tennis
Significant visual and eye-motor improvements after vision training - far better than the control and placebo groups.
Baseball
After vision training, players had better vision, fewer strike-outs, created more runs - leading to 4-5 extra team wins.
Source:Deveau, 2014 — opens in a new tabClark, 2012 — opens in a new tabLaby, 1996 — opens in a new tabUchida, 2013 — opens in a new tab
Shooting
Significant improvements in visual performance and pistol shooting scores after vision training course.
Softball
Significant improvement after vision training on three measures: near-distance speed, target capture and go/no-go.
Hockey
All three groups that received vision training achieved a considerable increase in passing speed. Players who also trained visual skills increased their passing accuracy markedly.