Visual Disabilities: Gaining Depth Perception
and Stereo Vision -- No Longer Stereo-Blind

I was diagnosed with strabismus (alternating esotropia) as an infant and underwent three surgeries ... never used my eyes together until I did Vision Therapy at age 48 ...the world began to "pop out." ...It is impossible to describe how exciting this was. [written by Sue Barry, a.k.a. Stereo Sue from Oliver Sack's June 19 New Yorker article].[More]

I can detect distances and tell what an object looks like from a different angle without moving the object or my head. [More]

I noticed a real improvement in my peripheral vision. ... I was able to play catch with my sons. ... now I can throw and catch with confidence. ... coordinate wading and casting.[More]

... yoke prisms (which non-specialist optometrists don't even prescribe) ... improved depth perception ... Gregg went from bottom of the batting order in baseball to the top. Definite improvements in many ways: schoolwork, confidence, etc. [More]

He used to be afraid of the ball because he wasn't sure of where it was. Now he sees the ball and even has no trouble dribbling. His coordination is great. [More]

Our daughter Leyna came for Vision Therapy with no depth perception and blinking vision in one eye. Her other eye didn't have good vision either. ... she has no more problems in any of these areas. Her grades are excellent and she's on the Honor Roll now. [More]

Prior to Vision Therapy, J.R. was unable to follow any type of moving object. [More]

I have enhanced my depth perception, which has been a goal of mine from the beginning of the Vision Therapy sessions. ... the therapy has enabled me to pass the stringent requirements that the Air Force maintains for screening Undergraduate Pilot Candidates. I will begin flight and officer training this fall. [More]

After having Vision Therapy, I've begun entering a three-dimensional world. Experiencing space has been awesome. [More]

... my world was flat and dull. Before, I had sight, now I have depth and richness in my vision. [More]

Prior to therapy, Weston had depth perception problems, which affected his ability to play basketball and read. Now Weston wants to read everything! [More]

Misdiagnosed an untreatable lazy eye... when I first began to see the world pop out in 3D I felt a lot like a formerly paralyzed person jumping out of a wheelchair and doing a jig.[More]

Read more stories about children and adults gaining or improving depth perception and stereo vision at these pages:

• 20/20 Eyesight is Not Enough
• Convergence Insufficiency
• Double Vision
• Lazy Eye
• Strabismus
• Without Surgery

Stereo Sue Tells Her Story -- Gaining Stereo Vision at the Age of 48
I was diagnosed with strabismus (alternating esotropia) as an infant and underwent three surgeries at ages 2, 3, and 7 in years (1956, 1957, and 1961). I maintained good vision in both eyes, but I was stereo-blind. I did not have normal two-eyed depth perception (stereo vision).

I did not use my eyes together until I did Vision Therapy in 2002. In 2002, at the age of 48, I went to a developmental optometrist in Massachusetts for an eye exam. I complained to her that the world appeared to shimmer at a distance. She explained that the shimmering was due to binocular rivalry [the rivalry between the two eyes which did not work together]. She also discovered that my left eye saw five prism diopters above my right eye [hypertropia]. She placed a prism in my right eyeglass lens to correct this vertical misalignment. She then started me on Vision Therapy eye teaming and eye alignment exercises.

After only two therapy sessions, the world began to "pop out." It is impossible to describe how exciting this was. For the first time, at age 48, I saw the space between leaves and branches on trees. Light fixtures appeared to float, sink faucets stuck way out into space. Snowflakes drifted down from the sky in a beautiful three-dimensional dance.

Actually, my otometrist was not surprised when I experienced 3D vision. It was explained to me that this has happened to many other people when alignment of the two eyes is achieved through vision therapy. Through the internet, I have found other adults who have also gained stereo vision later in life with vision therapy. You can read other stories about older children and adults gaining stereo vision and seeing depth and space for the first time on this page and on the other pages listed above.

Several people have told me that three-dimensional vision (stereo vision) is no big deal, but these are people who have had good stereo vision all their lives.
Susan R. Barry, Ph.D.
Chair, Neuroscience and Behavior, Mount Holyoke College
Sue Barry is featured as Stereo Sue in Oliver Sacks' article on stereo vision, The New Yorker magazine, June 19, 2006.

I can detect distances and tell what an object looks like from a different angle without moving the object or my head [convergence, depth perception].

Vision Therapy has helped me more with my mental abilities than with my physical abilities. I think that many things relating to writing, reading, and comprehension have become better. My reading has gotten faster, more efficient, and I can read from a farther distance.

I believe that Vision Therapy could help many other people like me.
Alix J., teenage patient, 6/11/03

My 11 year old son, David, was identified as a candidate for Vision Therapy. It made a real difference to his reading and athletic abilities, and I recognized many of his symptoms in myself. I have never been good at ball sports. Even playing catch has been a frustration for me.

I took Vision Therapy for several months from winter to summer of last year, hoping to improve my abilities as David had done.

After the first few months, I noticed a real improvement in my peripheral vision. I was more aware of events in my periphery while driving. After completing the course of the therapy, I was able to play catch with my sons. I have never felt any competence at ball sports, but now I can throw and catch with confidence.

My favorite leisure time activity is fly fishing. Vision Therapy has been a big help in my ability to coordinate wading and casting. My ability to estimate distances and cast to those distances has improved. My balance while wading and casting has improved as well.

I am very happy that I learned about Vision Therapy and that I was able to overcome vision problems that have troubled me much of my life. I just wish I had learned about Vision Therapy earlier!
Adult patient, age 48

Gregg had been to a few optometrists. Each one told me something different, he needs glasses; he doesn't need glasses; stronger prescription, weaker prescription; too many different stories. Gregg did not wear the glasses and there was no change in his eyesight or abilities.

After being referred to Dr. X by an education specialist, I cannot say enough praise about the outcome of Gregg's visit with him. Testing showed problems, which required yoke prisms (which non'specialist optometrists don't even prescribe) which improved depth perception within only one month's time. Gregg went from bottom of the batting order in baseball to the top. Definite improvements in many ways: schoolwork, confidence, etc.

I am confident that a developmental optometrist could be the answer to your prayers. Too bad more people don't know the difference between an Optometrist and a Developmental Optometrist.
Donna Troyanowski, Gregg's parent

Brian is doing so much better since Vision Therapy. He now plays basketball. He used to be afraid of the ball because he wasn't sure of where it was. Now he sees the ball and even has no trouble dribbling. His coordination is great.

His headaches are gone and his teacher has remarked on how much progress Brian is making. His reading has improved.

I highly recommend Vision Therapy. I don't know how it works, but I know it works. I am a very happy mother.
D.S., Brian's parent

Our daughter Leyna came for Vision Therapy with no depth perception and blinking vision in one eye. Her other eye didn't have good vision either. After about two years of Vision Therapy, she has no more problems in any of these areas. Her grades are excellent and she's on the Honor Roll now. We are very happy we found Dr. X and Vision Therapy for our daughter Leyna. It truly changed her life! Thank you so much.
Dawn Owen, Leyna's parent

Prior to Vision Therapy, J.R. was unable to follow any type of moving object. With a great love for sports, this inability to follow an object such as a moving ball became very frustrating for him. Eventually, unknown to us, he covered his frustrations through bad behavior. Not only has his athletic ability improved with Vision Therapy, his self-esteem has also returned and he is taking pride in his accomplishments, be they large or small.
Ms. Hagans

I have noticed less eye strain and less fatigue while working at my computer since beginning Vision Therapy. Hopefully, I will be much more motivated to pick up a good book and dive right into it. More importantly, I have enhanced my depth perception, which has been a goal of mine from the beginning of the Vision Therapy sessions.

I would definitely recommend Vision Therapy to anyone that may benefit from it. I know that aside from the many benefits it has to offer, the therapy has enabled me to pass the stringent requirements that the Air Force maintains for screening Undergraduate Pilot Candidates. I will begin flight and officer training this fall to fly the C-17 Globemaster III.

Dr. X and his staff guided me in the right direction, which eliminated a major obstacle in my career path.
Thomas Kovalak, adult patient, 5/15/02

I am 48 years old and have lived almost entirely in a seemingly two-dimensional world. Although I was diagnosed in high school with amblyopia [lazy eye], and was told to do one exercise for one month, I could tell no difference afterward in my headaches and eyestrain. Glasses were prescribed, but I was told only to wear them "if they helped" (they didn't). Nevertheless, I was an avid reader up until 4 years ago, when I was thrown from a horse and hit my head. I basically quit reading (except when necessary) because my eyes felt like they "jumped off the page."

After having Vision Therapy, I've begun entering a three-dimensional world. Experiencing space has been awesome. My self-confidence in reading is back, minus the sore, red eyes and headaches. I'm grateful for being able to read for longer periods of time.

I'm also sensing that I'll experience the world differently. Previously, I felt like I was watching a movie on a screen, or looking at a picture book. Sometimes I had to think about doing simple things like "reaching into the picture" for a glass of water, for instance. I'm sure I'll have more and more energy as I continue improving.
Adult patient, age 48

Going into Vision Therapy, I did not expect much. I was 38 and I figured that maybe I could learn a few tricks to control my lazy eye. After a few sessions of Vision Therapy I now realize that my world was flat and dull. Before, I had sight, now I have depth and richness in my vision. Vision Therapy changed the way I experience life.
Elbert, Adult patient, age 38, 11/11/02

Weston was rubbing his eyes a lot; as a result he had chronic sties. Prior to therapy, Weston had depth perception problems, which affected his ability to play basketball and read. To catch the ball, he often used his chest then he would hold the ball against his torso. It was also quite a chore for him to stay focused when reading; he needed many breaks due to tired eyes.

Now Weston wants to read everything! He loves chapter books now (he is 7 years old). Before, it was a chore to get him to read for his homework. We notice he is a much more confident player in sports and seems focused now. Weston no longer rubs his eyes. I haven't treated a stye since Vision Therapy started being a part of our routine.
Karyn, mother of Weston, 7, 4/7/01