Seeing the Future

Local optometrist practices alternative therapy for Children

By Lindsey Smith, Staff Writer
West Of — West Ashley's Newspaper

First Published February 2006; Reprinted with Permission

For 30 years Dr. Neil Draisin has been working in the Charleston area as an optometrist specializing in vision therapy.

Vision therapy is a program of vision exercises or procedures that fit the individual needs of each patient. The therapy uses different types of programs that incorporate prisms, patches, therapeutic lenses, and electronic targets with timing mechanisms.

According to the College of Optometrists in Vision and Development (COVD), “The ability to learn in school, achieve on the job, and enjoy sports and recreation depends upon efficient vision. Optometric vision therapy assists individuals in developing visual abilities and efficiency most suited to their needs and enables those individuals to achieve maximal levels of visual performance.”

Dr. Draisin decided to specialize in vision therapy when he heard about the therapy in a seminar he attended during his senior year of school. He also does this work because he likes helping children function better. “It’s very gratifying work. If I had to do typical eye exams and contacts every day I am not sure I would still be doing this. Every day is a new day with vision therapy,” he says. He became certified in Vision Development from the College of Optometrists and established his practice, The Draisin Vision Group, in 1972.

The people who work with Dr. Draisin are also committed to making children’s lives better. For instance, Diann Geisert, a vision therapist, says she decided to join Dr. Draisin’s team because of the significant difference vision therapy made in her daughter’s life. Her daughter had been diagnosed with a learning disability, so Geisert took her in for vision therapy and she says, “The changes in her were phenomenal”. Shortly following, Geisert received her certification in the field from the COVD and joined Dr. Draisin’s team.

According to Draisin, the Draisin Vision Group is the only office performing vision therapy in the Tri-county area. There are only a few offices in South Carolina who do the therapy, but it is becoming more popular. Dr. Draisin says the reason for its recent popularity is that parents are no longer willing to accept the medical doctor’s diagnosis as the last word.

According to COVD some physical signs of learning-related vision problems are: one eye turning in or out, blurred or double vision, squinting, eye rubbing, or excessive blinking, or headaches or dizziness after reading. Some performance signs include: frequent loss of place when reading, omits, inserts, or re-reads letters or words, poor reading comprehension, or difficulty copying the chalkboard. According to COVD often these symptoms are labeled as being lazy, having dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder, or a behavioral problem.

Dr. Draisin says parents should pay attention to their child’s development and get their vision checked often. “The most important thing is to make sure parents understand the importance to screen their children by bringing them to an eye doctor. It’s important to bring children in at early age. If a child doesn’t crawl and go through other milestones, then they should get their vision checked,” Draisin says. Technology today has put much strain on the student because there’s so much up close work on a computer screen or in a book. Looking up close makes the eyes restrict.

Dr. Draisin says the eyes aren’t meant to be restricted most of the day. Thus the need for vision therapy increases due to today’s lifestyle.

Vision therapy at The Draisin Vision Group usually takes about six months. The child comes in for treatment twice a week for about 45 minutes each session. Every two months the child has an evaluation to monitor his progress.