Talk:Vision therapy

New archive

I've just archived a lot of material from 2010 onward. Lou Sander (talk) 19:42, 7 April 2015 (UTC)

Merger proposal

I propose that Behavioral optometry be merged with this article, Vision therapy. There is considerable overlap in the content of the two articles. Also, while some areas of Vision therapy are non-controversial, others are very controversial, particularly those that fall under the rubric of Behavioral optometry. Having all this material in one article would facilitate fair and encyclopedic descriptions of the controversy and its boundaries, as well as of the non-controversial areas. Those descriptions, IMHO, are not well-handled at the moment.

Full disclosure: While twice in my life I have been helped greatly by vision therapy, I am very aware of the extravagant claims sometimes made for it, and of the wide opposition to those claims. I would welcome the challenge of working to improve a merged article. Lou Sander (talk) 19:42, 7 April 2015 (UTC)

Comment: At first glance, a merger would seem to make sense. Ceannlann gorm (talk) 21:44, 7 April 2015 (UTC)

Comment: I support this for the time being. The contents of Behavioral optometry, as it stands, are a good summary of the topic and can easily fit into a less-rambling version of Vision therapy. But a lot more can be said about behavioral optometry than we presently do, so at some point per summary style a more detailed stand-alone article on behavioral optometry could/should be created. --Anthonyhcole (talk · contribs · email) 01:45, 8 April 2015 (UTC)

Comment: Good idea! There's a lot to be said about both these topics. If there is consensus, we could try to say it all, in a coordinated, encyclopedic, neutral way, in this article. Then, if it seems warranted, we could break off a separate article on Behavioral optometry. As it is, IMHO it would be a Herculean task to coordinate the two articles.

Support It seems like there is enough overlap that a merger would be a good idea. The Behavioral optometry article is rather muddy and even repetitive, it could use a rewrite. I like the structure of this article where it breaks down the vision therapies into various areas, where some of them have support from the medical community and some do not. Like acupuncture or chiropractics, there appear to be uses widely accepted as valid, others highly suspect, and both are supported by underlying theories that are not scientifically accepted. Brianyoumans (talk) 02:52, 8 April 2015 (UTC)

Comment: Lou has contacted me about this as I made some edits to this page sometime back. I work as an optometrist having qualified from Manchester Optometry School then having gained a qualification in Behavioural Optometry in Australia under the tutelage of Professor Ed Howell in 1992. Since then I have taught at three academic institutions in the UK, Manchester University, Aston University and Birmingham University as well as currently being involved in a pilot project regarding Brain Injury Rehabilitation at Derby Royal Infirmary based on behavioural optometry principles. I am also currently part of the way through NORA Fellowship (Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association). I am not used to working on Wikipedia pages so bear with me if I do not understand the protocols straightaway (hence having written text on an inappropriate page). Having exchanged some messages with Lou, I am going to email two colleagues in the US (Bob Sanet and Len Press) and a colleague in Australia (Paul Graham) about this and ask for their input though as Lou's request will not have them partaking in the editorial process. I can also get Brendan Barrett (Bradford University) involved though he has reservations about the veracity of Wikipedia pages. Think that covers most things. Let me know how you wish to proceed.Peaceful07 (talk) 20:19, 8 April 2015 (UTC) Having read through the current Behavioral Optometry and Vision therapy pages I feel that the two topics are mutually exclusive and merging the two articles would not be appropriate. I think that it is better to keep the articles separate. Looking back at my comments in 2012 I was looking forward to there being two more even handed articles. This has not happened, perhaps because I have not contributed as I have been busy with brain injury initiatives in the UK. Differentiating behavioral optometry and vision therapy, behavioral optometry is more a philosophy of practice whereas vision therapy describes a specific line of treatment. Like a particular orthopaedic aurgeon might favour using physiotherapy and occupational therapy interventions more than another surgeon might, similarly someone practicing behavioral optometry might favour using particular clinical techniques in their assessment of a patient more than another optometrist might. Similarly, certain techniques used in vision therapy are used by practitioners who do not describe themselves as Behavioral Optometrists. For instance Brendan Barrett uses near retinoscopy techniques in his teaching clinics and in practice though would not describe himself as a Behavioral optometrist. Similarly I have been spending a proportion of my time teaching vision therapy techniques to rehabilitation consultants, physiotherapists and occupational therapists at the Derby Hospital and Newcastle Hospital Brain Injury Units so they can help their patients. As Anthony points out (Hi again Anthony) the subject could be written about in far more detail and from my point of view going back to my 2012 comments, a more balanced manner.Peaceful07 (talk) 19:40, 9 April 2015 (UTC)

Comment. I find the current situation with the two articles, as they stand for the moment, to be rather confusing to the reader, and would tend to share Lou's hope that "Having all this material in one article would facilitate fair and encyclopedic descriptions of the controversy and its boundaries, as well as of the non-controversial areas." However, if Peaceful07 is optimistic that he/she can improve the articles such as to more clearly set out the two topics and their interrelations, I see no reason to hurry to a merge for the moment. --Chris Howard (talk) 20:18, 9 April 2015 (UTC)