Can Vision Therapy Really Improve Reading, Focus, and Coordination?

For many children and adults, struggles with reading, attention, or hand-eye coordination aren’t rooted in motivation or intelligence - they can often be traced back to how the visual system functions. At Firestone Family Eyecare, Dr. Natalie Hansen works with patients who experience these challenges, helping them build stronger, more efficient visual skills through customized vision therapy programs.
 

How Vision Problems Impact Reading and Focus

Reading isn’t just about recognizing letters. It requires precise eye movements, accurate focusing, and seamless communication between the eyes and brain. When any of these systems fall behind, a patient may experience:

• Losing their place while reading

• Skipping lines or words

• Slow reading speed

• Trouble maintaining attention

• Headaches or eye strain

• Avoiding reading altogether

Many of these symptoms mirror those seen in attention-related difficulties, which is why underlying visual inefficiencies are often overlooked.

Vision therapy helps retrain these visual skills, allowing the eyes to move, focus, and work together more effectively - creating a stronger foundation for confident reading and sustained focus.
 

How Vision Therapy Supports Better Coordination

Strong visual processing plays a major role in coordination. Whether it’s sports, handwriting, catching a ball, or navigating through daily activities, the brain must accurately interpret spatial information.

When visual-motor integration is weak, patients may struggle with:

• Poor handwriting

• Difficulty with sports

• Clumsiness or bumping into objects

• Trouble with balance or depth perception

Vision therapy uses targeted, progressive exercises to strengthen the connection between the eyes, brain, and body. Over time, patients often see improvements not only in coordination but also in overall confidence.
 

What a Vision Therapy Program Looks Like

At Firestone Family Eyecare, Dr. Hansen tailors each therapy plan to match the patient's unique needs. A vision therapy program may include:

• Activities to improve eye tracking

• Exercises to strengthen focusing ability

• Tasks that enhance eye teaming and depth perception

• Visual-motor and hand-eye coordination training

• Specialized tools such as lenses, prisms, and digital therapy techniques

Therapy is typically completed through weekly in-office sessions along with guided activities at home, helping reinforce new visual skills and accelerate progress.
 

Find Out if Vision Therapy Is Right for You

Vision therapy provides a structured, research-supported approach to strengthening how the visual system functions. For many patients, this leads to meaningful improvements in reading, attention, coordination, and overall quality of life.

If you’re wondering whether vision therapy can help you or your child, Firestone Family Eyecare is here to guide you. Visit our office in Firestone, Colorado, or call (303) 532-1132 to schedule a consultation today.