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| Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2008): |
A critical evaluation of the evidence supporting the practice of behavioural vision therapy.
Full Abstract
In 2000, the UK's College of Optometrists commissioned a report to critically evaluate the theory and practice of behavioural optometry. The report which followed Jennings (2000; Behavioural optometry--a critical review. Optom. Pract. 1: 67) concluded that there was a lack of controlled clinical trials to support behavioural management strategies. The purpose of this report was to evaluate the evidence in support of behavioural approaches as it stands in 2008. The available evidence was reviewed under 10 headings, selected because they represent patient groups/conditions that behavioural optometrists are treating, or because they represent approaches to treatment that have been advocated in the behavioural literature. The headings selected were: (1) vision therapy for accommodation/vergence disorders; (2) the underachieving child; (3) prisms for near binocular disorders and for producing postural change; (4) near point stress and low-plus prescriptions; (5) use of low-plus lenses at near to slow the progression of myopia; (6) therapy to reduce myopia; (7) behavioural approaches to the treatment of strabismus and amblyopia; (8) training central and peripheral awareness and syntonics; (9) sports vision therapy; (10) neurological disorders and neuro-rehabilitation after trauma/stroke. There is a continued paucity of controlled trials in the literature to support behavioural optometry approaches. Although there are areas where the available evidence is consistent with claims made by behavioural optometrists (most notably in relation to the treatment of convergence insufficiency, the use of yoked prisms in neurological patients, and in vision rehabilitation after brain disease/injury), a large majority of behavioural management approaches are not evidence-based, and thus cannot be advocated.
Author information
Author/s: Barrett, Brendan T (BT);
Affiliation: School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK. b.t.barrett(-atsign-)bradford.ac.uk
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Review
Journal: Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) (Ophthalmic Physiol Opt), published in England. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Jan; vol 29 (issue 1) : pp 4-25
Dates: Created 2009/01/21; Completed 2009/06/18;
PMID: 19154276, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 6/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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