Mom, the Board is Blurry!
School-aged kids getting glasses is pretty common. When they say they can’t see the board or start complaining about headaches, most parents know it’s time for an eye exam.
No biggie, right?
That’s exactly what I thought when my daughter came home from school and off-handedly mentioned that she needed to sit in the front of class now because it was getting hard to see the board. “Oh, and Mom, I’m getting a lot of headaches, too.”
Like any concerned parent, I scheduled an appointment with our optometrist. After the exam, she walked out with a new pair of glasses, and I thought we’d solved the puzzle.
But here’s where things got interesting.
Even after two visits to the eye doctor and those shiny new glasses, my daughter kept insisting the classroom board was blurry. Those persistent headaches? They weren’t going anywhere either.
I switched into what my kids call “research mode” (complete with late-night Google sessions and endless note-taking). That’s when I discovered something I’d never heard of before: vision therapy.
Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful we found this lesser-known option right here in Grand Rapids. Because sometimes, vision care goes beyond just getting a pair of glasses. And as a mom who watched her daughter struggle, I want other parents to know there might be more to the story.
Are you looking for the Main Event giveaway? You’re in the right place! Keep reading to find out how you can enter to win.
Vision Therapy: Helping your Brain and Eyes Communicate More Effectively
The term “vision therapy” might be new to you like it was for me. I had heard of “lazy eye” and “double vision”—I just didn’t know that vision therapy was one way these conditions can be treated.
In vision therapy, the therapists use exercises and tools to deliver treatment plans designed to help your eyes and brain team up and work together like they should be doing – but aren’t. Each person’s plan is personalized and based on the condition being treated.
Vision Therapy is what ultimately worked for my daughter.
Her therapy was a mix of eye exercises, funky glasses, and activities that looked more like game night than a doctor’s appointment. The exercises taught her eyes to work together.
After about nine months of making sure she did her eye homework, her follow-up eye exam revealed that her eyes were back on track and she did not need prescription glasses after all!
Signs Your Kid Might Need Vision Therapy
Sure, getting your child’s eyes checked is a normal part of a well-child visit with your pediatrician.
But I’d like to share that my daughter passed that pediatrician check with flying colors – and still had eye issues.
So what should a parent be on the lookout for? Here’s a list of “uh-oh” moments that might mean your kid could benefit from a vision assessment:
- They’re squinting at the board
- Headaches are becoming their new best friend, especially after reading or screen time
- Homework time turns into a battle of frustration and concentration issues
- They avoid reading, or you catch them covering one eye while reading
- Clumsiness or poor hand-eye coordination that makes you wonder
Sometimes spotting these signs is harder than hiding the good ice cream from your kids, though. Regular eye checkups just don’t look for this stuff.
So if your parental instincts are tingling, it might be time to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with a vision therapy specialist.
Since starting our journey, I’ve learned that vision therapy can address a wide range of issues you might not even realize are vision-related. While I don’t have personal experience using vision therapy for these other conditions, it has been known to help with things like focusing problems, eye coordination, lazy eye, and even some learning and reading difficulties.
Sign up for a Complimentary Developmental Vision Screening at Wow Vision Therapy
Wow Vision Therapy is where to go for vision therapy in Grand Rapids. With over 40 years of experience, they specialize in helping patients go beyond basic eye care. At Wow Vision Therapy, vision is about more than just clarity.
Vision Therapy begins with a developmental vision screening. During this 15 minute screening, they’ll check if vision issues (eye teaming, tracking, focusing, processing, or eyesight) might be affecting your child’s school performance.
You’ll get a vision report card with results same-day, plus recommendations from their doctors about any needed follow-up evaluation.
Bonus! Enter their giveaway and they’ll send you a coupon for a FREE developmental vision screening at their office!
Areas they treat include:
| Poor attention/concentration | Vision-related learning challenges |
| Visual processing delays | Eye-hand coordination |
| Concussion/brain injury | Amblyopia (lazy eye) |
| Strabismus (eye turn) | Sports vision training |
WIN! $200 Main Event Gift Card Up for Grabs
When headaches and processing delays are no longer a concern after vision therapy, play time is even more fun.
Wow Vision Therapy is giving one lucky reader the chance to WIN a $200 gift card to Main Event, Woodland Mall’s newest hangout.
Enter Here
Fill out the form below to be entered to WIN.
| FINE PRINT: This giveaway will close on December 11, 2024, at 11 PM and the winners will be notified via email. The winner will have 24 hours to respond by email accepting the prize. No purchase necessary to enter the contest. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to grkids.com and not to Facebook. Entrants will release Facebook from all liability. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age and reside in Michigan. Only one entry per household or IP address. Grand Rapids Kids’ liability is limited to the value of the prize. |
They’ve Got the Wow Factor: What People Are Saying
Are they legit? A quick Google search for Wow Vision Therapy in Grand Rapids reads a bit like a fan club meetup. We’re talking 4.9 stars out of 5, over 400+ reviews! People talk about life-changing results, often singing praises about the friendly staff.
The Ripple Effect of Better Vision
For us, it was like someone flipped a switch. My daughter’s headaches disappeared, her glasses were no longer needed, and suddenly, the classroom board was no longer her biggest challenge.
It makes sense that the benefits of vision therapy can reach beyond clearer vision. Improved grades, boosted confidence, and better sports performance are just some of them.
So, my unsolicited two cents: if your child is struggling in school, dealing with unexplained headaches, or just seems to be having a tough time with no clear cause, don’t rule out vision issues just because they passed an eye exam. Vision therapy could be a game-changer for you like it was for my daughter.
Wow Vision Therapy
3152 Peregrine Dr NE, Suite C205
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Website: wowvision.net
