We’re excited to share success stories written by patients and parents explaining their experiences in Optometric Neurorehabilitative Therapy.
Read through our patient success stories to find vision problems that are similar you experience. The stories are divided into 2 major headings: Signs and Symptoms of Visual Problems (what you or your child are experiencing) and Medical Terms. If a particular patient had both Headaches and Reading Problems, you will find that patient under both categories.
Enjoy reading these real-life stories, look at their triumphant faces, envision yourself taking control of your future, and let’s get started on this journey together!
Contact us for more about our vision therapy services and how we can help you or your child achieve comfortable vision.
Susan B., MiboFlow treatment helped improve tear production and dry eye symptoms.
“I have been having trouble with my eyes for years, and I have always received very good care from Heartland Eye Care.
When I started experiencing clogged eye ducts, Dr. Holly suggested that I try the MiboFlow treatment. I agreed to give it a try.
The treatment is completed over three sessions. My first treatment was an experience I will never forget. Bella took me to a beautiful spa room that was quiet and filled with soft furnishings. She helped me get comfortable in a reclining chair and explained everything she was going to do.
During the procedure, Bella used a warm instrument that looked like a tiny iron. I closed my eyes while she applied cream to my eyelids and gently massaged them. It was so relaxing that I almost fell asleep.
After completing the treatment on both eyes, and after my third session, I watched a sad movie and had tears running down my cheeks. I was so surprised because I had not been able to truly cry for several years. My eyes are now able to produce tears again.
The treatment has also helped reduce puffiness under my eyes. I definitely recommend it.”
Joy O., Dry Eye
Completion Date:10/15/2025
My dry eye symptoms started about three years ago. It was a daily struggle with drops that did not work and was just frankly exhausting! I had already been seeing Dr. Ternus for annual exams, and she thought that radiofrequency treatments would help. I can’t thank Dr. Ternus enough along with Felicia Wessel, APRN. My life has been much easier without the Dry Eye symptoms.
Bryce P., Reading/Learning Problems, Headaches
Graduation Date: 09/04/2025
Bryce: “I can focus on what I am doing. I do not get headaches anymore. Eye therapy helped me in my sports; I am better at sports than before.”
Mom: “It is not easy, it takes time, dedication and money, but in the end it’s worth it.
It’s worth it when your child’s reading teacher notices the difference.
It’s worth it when your child comes home from school without headaches.
It’s worth it when you see the positive changes: more confidence, less frustration with homework and even genuine enjoyment of reading.
Your schedule will be busy, and the nightly exercises aren’t always fun, but if you stick with it, you will see a difference. For me, keeping the long-term benefits in mind helped us push through. Yes, vision therapy relieved his headaches and gave him the tools to succeed as a third grader, but I truly believe the impact will carry him well beyond this stage.
As he moves through middle school, high school, college and into the real world, I hip this foundation makes each step a little easier. IF vision therapy spares him future struggles, helps him study and read with confidence and gives him a more level playing flied with his peers, then I am deeply grateful we made this choice.”
Marjorie C, Double Vision, Adult
Graduation Date: 05/13/2025
“When the neuro ophthalmologist, Dr. Richard Legge from the Truhlsen Eye Institute @University of Nebraska Medical Center, explained what was wrong with my vision and that I would benefit from vision therapy, I was skeptical. He said that he was referring me to Dr. Will Ferguson because he had seen vision therapy work with his former patients.
My therapy plan was specifically created to meet my visual needs. Through weeks and months of visual exercise, along with expert guidance and encouragement from my therapist, Hailee, I began to see improvement. My double vision is now slight. My depth perception has improved, and on the rare occasion that I do have an episode of double vision, I know the technique to improve it. I am grateful to Dr. Will, Hailee and to the entire staff for making my vision therapy journey a success!”
Krista G, Dry Eye
Krista: “In 2022, I started experiencing signs of neurotropic keratitis. I had no idea what my symptoms of dry eye, redness, and blurriness were all caused by until I went to see Dr. Delaney Kent. My journey with neurotrophic keratitis was persistent with visual changes and discomfort in my right eye. It wasn’t easy by any means. I learned so much about my diagnosis by going through the ups and downs with it. After trying different medications to help tame my eye, I finally was prescribed Oxervate. After my first couple of dosages of Oxervate, I started noticing improvements with my vision. I focused on my support system, medical team, and celebrated the small victories. Over time, I started seeing more clearly and felt more like me again. Today, my cornea is stable. I still care for my eyes everyday with caution, but I no longer live in fear. If you experience an eye condition, just know that you are not alone. Healing is possible. Your story is still being written, and it can end with hope.”
Emma C, Reading/Learning Problems, Convergence Insufficiency
Graduation Date: 5/19/25
Emma: “My Success story about eye therapy is that I can read now without losing my place and my eyes don’t get tired. Before eye therapy it was hard to remember what I was reading and hard to keep my place in my book. I improved my MAP reading score by 12 points and my fluency improved from 80 to 112 words per minute. I really liked working with Mrs. Debbonie, Mrs. Mollie, and Mrs. Kari. They made eye therapy really fun and helped my vision improve a lot.”
Mom: “At the beginning of 3rd grade Emma started to complain that her eyes were very tired and blurry when reading and she required her teacher to make the font bigger on her computer. We had her eyes checked and after failing a few of the pre-screening tests we were referred by Dr. Kelly Robertson at ProEye Vision Center to Dr. Will Ferguson at Heartland Eye Consultants.
Immediately, I knew we were in the right place. She was diagnosed with Convergence Insufficiency and started “eye therapy”. We had the pleasure of working with Ms. Debonnie, Ms. Mollie, and Ms. Kari. Each of them was wonderful! They were very knowledgeable and thorough. They each met Emma where she was and challenged her appropriately. They made therapy fun and encouraging.
Eye Therapy was a lot of hard work and required a lot of dedication, but her improvements were amazing! At our first follow-up with Dr. Will, she exceeded all his goals for her and was able to use the techniques and apply them when needed. She increased her MAP reading score by 12 points. Her reading fluency went from 80 to 112 words per minute. She was comprehending so much more while reading and she no longer complained about her eyes getting tired.
Eye Therapy is 100 % worth the time, effort, and money. My daughter now has a much stronger foundation for her education and future because her eyes allow her to read with ease. We enjoyed our experience and would highly recommend Dr. Will and his team!”
Jorge V., Scleral Lens, Adult
Scleral Lens, Adult
Charles W., Reading/Learning Problems
Graduation Date: 04/30/25
Charles: “I think vision therapy helped me learn to read and how to catch a ball better. I like Ms. Kari but I don’t like vision therapy.”
Mom: “Vision therapy helped Charles learn to read. He went from being in an intensive reading program to reading just above grade level. Additionally, Charles coordination has improved significantly.”
Niam: “Eye Therapy helped me to be able to read chapter books. It helped me to write better. I also can catch a ball and play basketball. I am so happy I did work each night.” 😊 🎇
Mom: “We are so happy we were able to complete therapy when we did. We avoided any setbacks with school. He now has the skills needed to succeed. Vision therapy has helped to improve his ability to see and learn classroom material. It has also helped to improve his writing. Most importantly, he is now able to read the chapter books he loves without getting lost or having headaches and eye strain. This has increased his self-confidence, which is invaluable to us as parents! His teacher has been excited for him and noted significant improvements. It has been fun for us to watch his steady gains. With each book, journal entry, score made, and hit completed, his smile said it all. It is hard to see your child struggle without knowing why.
Dr. Will and Lauren worked hard to help us find the answers and come up with solutions that worked. We have recommended Developmental Vision Associates to others who have similar needs, and we will continue to do so. Thank you for everything you do!”
Keeley K., Reading/Learning Problems, Motion Sickness
Graduation Date: 04/14/2025
Mom: “Just do it, I know it sounds like a lot of money and time, but it’s worth it! Our 7-year-old was suffering from car sickness her entire life until vision therapy, now no more car sickness, 😊 after she learned to use her side vision. Also, she is enjoying reading more now that it’s easier. She can follow from one line to the other and even read ahead. We have also noticed a big improvement in her coordination.”
RynLeigh M., Category: Reading/Learning Problems, Exotropia
Graduation Date: 3/28/25
RynLeigh: “At the beginning of vision therapy I felt nervous. Today, I feel good about vision therapy. I enjoyed my time at vision therapy with Lauren C. because she made it fun. Vision therapy has helped me achieve my goals, which included learning to tie my shoes, reading, and writing better because I can see clearer.”
Parents: “Our daughter RynLeigh struggled in pre-school and kindergarten with reading, writing, and speech. Last year, RynLeigh was unable to finish her sight-word list. The assistance of vision therapy has helped her tremendously. This year in first grade our daughter was the third student out of her class to complete their sight-word lists. RynLeigh’s reading has become fluent, while her speech has become clearer. Before vision therapy, she struggled with self-confidence because other kids would stare at or inquire why her eyes would go out. As her parents, this was difficult to witness. Starting vision therapy has helped our daughter in so many different areas, including strengthening her eye muscles by working on techniques to help her control her eye movement. She has been able to focus on a task for longer periods of time without having to be redirected.
Vision therapy is something that we would recommend. So many positives with the best outcome. Our daughter has enjoyed her experience with vision therapy due to all of the hardworking and caring staff. As her parents, we are pleased with the outcome.”
Lylah B., Category: Reading/Learning Problems
Graduation Date: 3/20/25
Dad: “After discussing the potential benefits of vision therapy for our daughter, my wife and I committed to Heartland Eye Consultants, and we couldn’t be happier that we did! Before vision therapy, our daughter was having difficulty tracking left to right when reading. Naturally, this put her behind in her class. Once therapy began, small, incremental changes for the better began to set in. Overall, Lylah’s reading grade improved from a “C” to an “A” and this happened in four months. My wife and I feel that this therapy was a huge success in Lylah’s improvement. The hours dedicated to the therapy definitely showed. The staff at Heartland were super helpful and we have nothing but great things to say. My wife and I highly recommend this treatment and this service from Heartland Eye Consultants.”
Keelie R., Category: Reading/Learning Problems, Sports Vision
Graduation Date: 03/04/2025
Keelie: “Vision therapy helped me so much. I improved on lots of things. I soared on math, reading, spelling, and handwriting. All the therapists are so nice, and so were the doctors. I got along with them so well.
My goal for myself was to get better grades. I have reached my goal by holding a 3.7 to 3.9 GPA. Without therapy I don’t think this would be possible.”
Mom & Dad: “Keelie was really struggling with coordination and was unable to ride a bike. We tried to get her on a bike a few times and she wouldn’t go very far before giving up. There were other things like acting scared of the volleyball when playing in the backyard with her sister.
Reading and handwriting were a huge problem for Keelie as well. We mentioned some of this to her Grandma who was talking to a friend about Keelie’s struggle. It just happened to turn out that the friend had a son with almost the same issues. She recommended we call and see if vision therapy was something Keelie may need.
We reached out to Heartland Eye Consultants, and it was the best thing we ever did for Keelie. She was only in vision therapy for a month and showed signs of huge improvement. She was riding a bike and was doing much better with all the daily activities that take hand and eye coordination. She wasn’t struggling with tying her shoes, and she seemed to have more interest in ball activities while outside.
Today, she has improved in school and doesn’t fight with going like she used to. Grades were not terrible before, but they have made a HUGE improvement because of therapy. Keelie has held a 3.7 to 3.9 GPA since she started therapy. Watching her light up when she tells us she has 1’s (A’s) in all her classes really makes us proud and happy to see how proud she is of herself. Without vision therapy we definitely wouldn’t be where we are today. The time and money were worth it to see Keelie have her big smile back and to see her be proud and realize that school isn’t hard anymore. It isn’t a fight to go to school. Testing isn’t hard as it used to be.
Thank you, Heartland Eye Consultants, for bringing light to our daughter again!!”
Zahra R., Reading/Learning Problems
Graduation Date: 03/04/2025
Zahra: “I love eye therapy. It is AWESOME because I have the best eye therapist! Also, I don’t have lots of headaches anymore. I can see better and that makes me feel confident.”
Mom & Dad: “We completely understand how overwhelming it can feel to hear that your child needs vision therapy. Not long ago, we were in the same position, wondering if it would truly help and whether it was worth the time and effort. Before therapy, she struggled with reading, focus, coordination, and balance. We could see how it was affecting her confidence. She became hesitant to try new activities, and we initially thought it was a learning issue. However, we soon discovered that her eyes weren’t working together properly.
When Zahra started therapy, we weren’t sure what to expect, but looking back, I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions we ever made. Through vision therapy we saw significant improvements in all these areas. As a result, Zahra grew more confident in her abilities, her overall attitude toward learning improved and she became more open to new experiences.
It warms my heart to see her effortlessly read subtitles while watching movies or recognize billboards and signs as we drive down the highway. If you’re on the fence about vision therapy, I encourage you to give it a try. The results can be life-changing and the impact on your child’s future is work every step of the journey.”
Tyler Y., Headaches/Migraine
Tyler: “I think vision therapy helped with my headaches, my eye strain, and my reading comprehension. I know this because I have way less headaches and I can control my eyes more.”
Mom: “We are so happy we heard about vision therapy and chose to move forward with it for Tyler. He has suffered from migraines and his left eye turned out. He had done pencil-pushups exercises to strengthen his eye muscles for 6 years with no improvement. As he got older, and his schoolwork required more reading. He struggled with eye strain, reading comprehension, and had more migraines.
Vision therapy has been life changing for us. Tyler learned how to use his eyes effectively, knowing whether he needs to relax his eyes or make them work depending on the task he is completing. This has helped reduce his eye strain, strengthen his eye muscles, and decrease the number of migraines he has.
Overall, we found vision therapy worth the effort and the expense! The skills vision therapy taught will help him throughout his life.”
Leightyn M., Reading/Learning Problems, Headaches, Sports Vision
Graduation Date: 02/14/25
Father: “With the help of vision therapy, Leightyn’s headaches have disappeared. She has begun to read more and is actually enjoying reading for pleasure more than she ever has.
Athletically, her hand-eye coordination has improved. This has helped her in her skill development within basketball and softball.”
Katherine (Kate) W., Headaches, Motion Sickness, Convergence Insufficiency
Graduation Date: 01/20/2025
Kate: “Vision therapy has been incredible for me. Before I started therapy, I had headaches, eye fatigue, car sickness, and double vision. All these symptoms have gone away or lessened. I very much enjoyed my time at vision therapy, everyone that I dealt with, and loved getting to come every week. School has gotten better, and I feel ready every day for taking notes and reading.
All the staff are so sweet and helpful. They brought so much happiness to my life. The weekly exercises have been very helpful, and all the in-office activities are too. Thank you so much for all the help that everyone has given me.”
Mom: “Kate was experiencing very frequent headaches. Pretty much every day she needed Tylenol and was getting frustrated with being in pain so often. We went to Dr. Linsey Behrendt at Exclusively Eye Care who did a few tests and changed contacts. After that didn’t help, she suggested we try vision therapy. It was overwhelming realizing it was another thing to add to the schedule, and that homework would be involved, but I cannot tell you how much it has helped.
From day one the staff were so nice and kind and very welcoming that my daughter didn’t mind coming each week. She clicked with her therapist and was made to feel okay that it might seem boring at first and that she needed to be patient to see results. One she started being able to tell her headaches were not as frequent it was a relief to her. She also would experience care and motion sickness which has let up a lot except apparently when I drive 😊
She is not experiencing double vision and looking at the board at school to copy notes has been easier. Things she didn’t even realize were hard improved. Dr. Will and Hailee (her therapist) were both good at explaining how things would work to help her eyes. They also were both great at explaining and showing them to me so that I had a better understanding of what Kate was doing.
I never thought I would see my daughter so excited to cross her eyes, but it’s made a world of difference! Thank you!”
Lily B., Reading/Learning Problems
Graduation Date: 01/20/2025
Lily: “The first day I started eye therapy I was scared, but after a few days I wasn’t scared anymore, and it was actually really fun. Then after a long time it started to get really hard, but I pushed through and made it to the end. That’s my story ❤❤”
Mom: “Therapy has helped my daughter not only with reading skills, but also eye control without her glasses. I would recommend doing all the at home activities. Doing those activities made the biggest difference.”
Skylar R., Double Vision
Graduation Date: 1/20/25
Mom: “I am so thankful that we were referred to this office, it was one of the best decisions I have made as a parent. When my daughter began complaining of double vision, I thought she was just simply needing glasses. At the time, I had no idea what vision therapy was, but Dr. Will was so kind in explaining the process, answering all questions, and was very clear about what to expect.
It was many months of hard work and sacrifices of time, but at each progress exam it was obvious that the hard work was paying off! Not only did she learn how to work/strengthen her eyes, but it was also a great lesson for her about the value of hard work, sacrifices, and delayed gratification in seeing results. I now have a kid who is no longer seeing double vision and is continuing to excel in school. It was worth every penny, and I couldn’t recommend it enough!”
Jessica W., Headaches, TBI
Graduation Date: 1/13/25
Jessica: “I sustained a concussion in April 2023 due to a motor vehicle accident when we were hit by a drunk driver. I spent five months at Madonna for outpatient care, physical and occupational therapy. But I was still having issues with dizziness and frequent headaches. My mom recommended Heartland Eye Consultants because she’s been a longtime patient of Dr. Robert Vandervort.
My care at Heartland and with Dr. Will and the vision therapy team have been life changing. My migraine frequency has gone down. I began the program with twenty or more headaches a month and now I have an average of four. I was able to begin graduate school classes again for my Master’s in Library Science and was able to complete last semester with a 4.0 GPA. I have also been able to enjoy hobbies again like reading and writing. I can go places without visual vertigo.
Honestly, I didn’t think that life would be normal again without chronic dizziness and headaches. I am incredibly grateful for Dr. Will and the vision therapy team!”
Rhett Y., Amblyopia
Graduation Date: 1/15/25
Rhett: “Vision Therapy helped me to play sports and improve my handwriting and reading. I see better now too. Thank you for everything.”
Mom: “We are so proud of Rhett and how hard he has worked these last several months. He has shown improvement in reading and hand-eye coordination. Not only has his vision improved as indicated by vision testing, but we can also tell that he can keep his place when reading much better. He loves to read, loves school and loves to play sports. So, we are very grateful for vison therapy at his young age. Had we not undertaken this process, it is fair to say we may have encountered issues down the road for him both academically and athletically.”
Ruby J., Visual Problems- Motion Sickness
Graduation Date: 12/27/24
Mom: “When our daughter first started complaining of blurry vision, I figured it was time for glasses. Her eye doctor, Dr. Catherin Weeder @Elite Eye Care, recommended a visit with Dr. Will. I was a little unsure but wanted to give it a shot before settling on special lenses.
It was a tough decision because of the big time, and financial commitment, but we are beyond pleased with the results. Not only has she improved consistently on the weekly activities, but she has also made big improvements in coordination and motion sickness. The staff here are friendly and engaged and were all rooting for her success. All of this has really improved her confidence in all aspects of her life. It’s been really remarkable to watch it all work!”
Piper M., R/L/SV
Graduation Date: 12/16/2024
Mom: “After the first consultation, I knew this was exactly what Piper needed. It was a long road and sometimes very hard to fit homework in, but it was all so worth it.
We have seen so much improvement in her coordination and schoolwork. Piper loves sports and we have noticed huge improvement in hand-eye coordination. Her penmanship has gotten so much better as well. We have noticed schoolwork, like math problems, have become easier for her. She stays focused more when doing homework at home.
Her teachers have also noticed which was very exciting to hear. I am just so thankful we found Vision Therapy and excited to see what the future holds!
Jerrod K., Amblyopia
Graduation Date: 12/12/2024
Jerrod: “My whole life I have had trouble seeing screens, detailed items, or even passing physical tests because of my eyesight. I wanted to go into aviation, and I needed 2/0/20 vision for that to happen. Everyone I went to told me to give up and that it would never happen.
However, Heartland Eye Consultants told me they would make my dream come true and help me reach beyond 20/20 vision. I was able to get first-class medical care and see perfectly clear and fine now.
Everyone is so nice and supportive at Heartland, and they will always follow up with you and to make sure you achieve what you want to do achieve. They also make everything enjoyable for everyone. I would recommend you take the leap and at least try it out as I am still progressing farther than what my goal was!”
Clara R., Convergence Insufficiency
Graduation Date: 12/5/24
Mom: “At first, we were a little overwhelmed at the idea of weekly vision therapy and adding homework to our busy schedule, but like everything else that’s important, you must make it work. It becomes the new normal and we found ways to make it fun.
Seeing Clara’s work pay off at the progress exams with Dr. Will was really amazing. It was encouraging for us as parents and for Clara to know her work was worth it. We chose to do vision therapy at this time to help correct the issues now and allow Clara to grow without side effects or issues related to her vision. We’re glad we addressed the problem at her young age and now she can hopefully move forward without those issues potentially getting worse over time.
Thank you to Dr. Will, Hailee, Jessie, Daphne, and everyone on staff! You all made it a great experience for us, and we appreciate all you did to help Clara reach her goal for vision therapy.”
Kaydence A., Reading/Learning Problems, Sports Vision, Esotropia
Kaydence A.
Cameron H., Headaches, Strabismus, Exotropia
Graduation Date: 11/20/2024
Cameron: “It fixed my eyes and got rid of my headaches.”
Mom: “Cameron started having headaches almost daily especially after school. I started noticing one of his eyes starting to turn out. This started usually at the end of the day but began to get worse.
Dr. Ryan Palmer (our optometrist) @Blair Eye Associates referred us to Dr. Will and spoke very highly of him. Cameron started vision therapy and even with the eye turning out progressing, we saw improvement with headaches and being able to keep control of his eyes while reading. During his eye therapy treatment Cameron had to have eye correction surgery elsewhere then continued vision therapy afterwards at Heartland. We saw even more improvements with no headaches and no eye turnouts.
Therapy has improved Cameron’s overall mood especially after school with fewer headaches and fatigue. Dr. Will and Kari are amazing and were so great with Cameron. The entire Heartland Eye Consultants staff are so nice. Shout out to Jessie and Daphne for scheduling as they are also amazing. Thank you, Dr. Palmer, Dr. Will, and Kari for Cameron’s success! We are lucky to have a great team!”
Brooks H., Sports Vision
Graduation Date: 11/13/2024
Brooks: “I think vision therapy helped me a lot with hockey and my schoolwork. It helped me with hockey because I can focus on the puck more and I can see the puck from far away. It helped with school because I am getting better grades than last year. My math scores are going up because I am focused and mentally locked in. I feel like my reading comprehension has improved because I am focusing more on the passage. Thank you to Miss Lauren and Dr. Will for helping me improve my vision!”
Mom: “Our son, has shown great progress after working with Dr. Will and Miss Lauren for the last 26 weeks. We have seen a significant improvement in his test scores, schoolwork, and overall focus. We attribute these changes to the tools that he has been given by the staff at Heartland Eye Consultants.
There is a big-time commitment, not only for the weekly sessions, but also for the at home activities. However, those 30 minutes of homework a few times per week can make a huge impact on your child’s everyday life. In the end, we are so proud of the hard work our son put in. We know vision therapy has been invaluable to his success in the future, and we are so thankful he went through this program.”
Cade F., Headaches
Graduation Date: 10/24/24
Mom: “We are so happy we decided to do vision therapy for our son Cade. Cade was struggling with 3-4 headaches a week during the school year. He always looked exhausted when he got home from school. After working with Kari, we have had two months with NO headaches!! He comes home from school and seems happier and less tired.
Cade is athletic but always had trouble hitting a baseball. He would also miss the first few throws in football as well (he was QB). We have not had a baseball season yet, but football seemed a little easier this year.
We love the honesty and care we received from Dr. Will, Kari, and all the staff and we would 100% make the decision to do vision therapy again.”
Oliver P., Reading/Learning Problems, Double Vision, Headaches
Graduation Date: 10/01/24
Oliver: “I’m better at soccer than before because I don’t see four balls. I do not have double vision. I do not have blurry vision anymore and I do not get headaches anymore. At school I can see the board.
Dad: “Vision Therapy was a lot of work. Mostly for Oliver, but also for my wife and me. It was worth it. My son no longer gets headaches every day. It is now so rare I could not tell you when his last headache was. Oliver’s reading ability has increased dramatically as well as his ability to see the board in class.
Sometimes, when doing the at-home therapy there was a fight, but Oliver put in the work, and it paid off. Hailee was so great with my son that he normally enjoyed his therapy visits. Thank you all for helping correct my son’s eyesight.”
Claire G., Motion Sickness
Graduation Date: 9/30/24
Claire: “Vision therapy helped me with my motion sickness. It also helped me with spotting for dancers. I recommend it. This was one of the most fun things to do. I wish I could do it again. I hope the person reading this likes it too. Miss Kari was my favorite. Thank you, Heartland Eye Consultants.”
Cayla B., Adult, TBI
Graduation Date: 9/27/24
Cayla: “I came in after a traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). I had struggles with work, data, and driving, what felt like every important day to day aspect. After starting Vision Therapy, the first thing that I noticed was decreased headaches and improvement in driving during dusk. Then my data working became easier.
So many aspects I thought I would never get back after my TBI, came back. I am so thankful I stuck through the process and did the work to feel the relief I feel now.
Dr. Will, Hailee, Daphne, Jessie and every face in the office made the process an easy, fun and safe environment to heal in. I wouldn’t want to take on the journey anywhere else!”
Aubrey, Double Vision, Motion Sickness
Graduation Date: 9/19/24
Aubrey: “Eye therapy helped me be able to turn without getting dizzy and dancing without getting a headache. I can also read without the words seeming to go off the page and without getting sleepy. Also, eye therapy helped me stop skipping lines. No more motion sickness and no more headaches!”
Raylan A., Reading/Learning Problems
Graduation Date: 8/14/24
Raylan: “Before vision therapy I was having trouble reading. Then mom signed me up for this and I did it way better. I showed improvement after they found out that my eyes don’t work together. So, we did this therapy and now I’m a lot better. My eyes work together. I have glasses and I’m graduating from this program.”
Mom: “Raylan struggled with school. He was a compliant sweet boy who tried hard, but he just couldn’t grasp the concepts. He repeated first grade but continued to struggle. Raylan’s coordination was not where he wanted it to be. Catching basketballs or baseballs was difficult.
Through eye therapy we have seen a huge improvement in his skills, both cognitive and physical. The exercises helped Raylan, and he improved as he practiced each week. Raylan was taught skills to improve his learning in the classroom and is looking forward to starting school this Fall. I think the skills plus the persistence and dedication it took for Raylan to do this will benefit him for life.”
Sophie F., Double Vision, Headaches, Convergence Insufficiency
Age: 13
Graduation Date: 6/19/24
Sofie: “Before vision therapy I always struggled copying down notes, reading and remembering long passages in my school textbooks. Double and blurry vision were always the cause of it. In addition, I often got headaches because of my eyes.
Vision therapy fixed all of that. My therapist was so understanding and kind about my struggles, which helped me stay persistent when my doing exercises. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to fix my diplopia (double vison).”
Keira: “Before therapy I would have severe headaches daily, motion sickness in about 10 minutes of driving or swinging and eye strain. In school I would have trouble reading for long periods with the class. I feel like I am more enjoyable to hang out with because I’m having less headaches.
Now, after completing eye therapy I only have headaches once or twice a month, motion sickness never, and eye strain little to none. In school I can keep up with the class while they’re reading, and I also communicate better in school.”
Mom: “Before eye therapy, Keira reported headaches daily. She was very down and in emotional therapy for depression. Naturally, this was multifactorial, but the headaches were a contributing factor.
A few (two or three) weeks after starting eye therapy the headaches had decreased in frequency. Over the course of therapy Keira reported improvement in her peripheral vision and noticed an improvement in her reaction time when playing games with her sibling.
Currently, Keira reports headaches maybe once a week or less. Her mood and engagement in activities are significantly better. I attribute this to both the emotional therapy she received and the eye therapy.
Eye therapy is a big commitment both in time and money. I would absolutely make the same choice again.”
Addison K., Reading/Learning Problems, Headaches, Confidence Gained
Graduation Date: 9/26/24
Addison: “Before I started vision therapy, I had blurry and double vision. My vision is clear now, and I do not have any trouble seeing the board at school. I now enjoy reading and I am working on my reading speed. I have read ten books and have completed the Eerie Elementary series, and I have not complained once! The headaches I used to have are now gone, which makes doing homework easier. School is easier and now more fun!”
Mom: “As we began this journey of vision therapy, we were at a total loss of what else we could do to help our child. We had tried reading specialists, tutors, summer school, speech therapy and the list goes on and on. We were given this opportunity and jumped in with two feet and fully embraced the program. I’m not going to lie; we were a little apprehensive and questioning if this was “going to work.” After completing the program, I can say this was the best decision we made for our child. She is still working on grade level reading/speed, but there is no longer the daily argument over getting her to read and her desire to read has grown immensely. Her comprehension and word recall has grown also. Our daughter no longer has eye strain and fatigue which made reading very difficult. She is willing to do her homework with less frustration and on her own whereas before we would have to sit with her to complete. She no longer has the daily headaches and blurry vision that made reading challenging, which make learning and school more enjoyable and fun!”
Ann W., Double Vision, Headaches, Adult, Sports
Age: 70
Graduation Date: 7/2/24
Ann: “I was experiencing double vision when driving, attending concerts, and reading presentations at work meetings. My Optometrist referred me to Developmental Vision Associates at Heartland Eye Consultants. I enrolled in vision therapy, but I was somewhat skeptical at first and decided to try half the sessions. By then I was improving but not enough, so I kept it up. There was significant improvement, so I went ahead with all the sessions. I had an illness about 6 weeks before the last session and my vision suddenly got worse. My therapist gave me some recovery exercises and within two weeks I was much improved.
I now feel confident driving, attending concerts and reading at a distance without images doubling. After a day with lots of computer work my eyes are tired but much better than before the therapy. I will keep up the exercises to retain my improved vision.”
Adalynn Z., Double Vision, Headaches
Graduation Date: 07/18/24
Adalynn: “My problem started with headaches and double vision. I went to ‘eye therapy’, and it helped. I also got glasses, and they helped me with my double vision. Now, I’m able to read faster, see farther, and I don’t get any more headaches.”
Edele K., Reading/Learning Problems
Graduation Date: 6/27/24
Edele: “Heartland Eye has kind people who will help you. When I started, I had trouble reading, and writing. It was hard the first three weeks. Now I graduated!”
Mom: “As Edele started learning to read, her father and I noticed instances of her skipping letters or words, rushing along, and mixing up letters and sounds. Her first year of school she was below grade level in reading and began private tutoring. She worked up to advanced but then she dropped in testing from high 90’s to 25th percentile. We couldn’t explain it until her optometrist caught a possible problem and referred us to Heartland Eye. After 10 months of therapy, Edele is back to high 90’s in testing, enjoying reading with confidence, and exceeding milestones.
The road was not an easy one for her as it was filled with a lot of tears, self-doubt, frustration, and feelings of inadequacy. But Edele pushed through and worked her tail off, so she no longer feels those things. She also had a lot of support from her teacher and school counselor to find ways to aid her success in the classroom. I recommend including them in the process so they can help cheer your child on. This school year was very hard on Edele, but she finished stronger and more confident. The cherry on top in all of this for her was winning ‘Student of the Year’ for her class. Thank you, Heartland Eye and Lauren C., for helping our child set herself up for success!”
Brady F., Sports Vision
Brady: “Baseball is my favorite sport! Before therapy it was hard to use my side vision to see the ball. Now, it is easy to see the ball when I am at bat and in the field.”
Mom: “Deciding to start vision therapy is a tough decision to make. Not just the expense, but the time commitment is something else to consider. Still all things considered, I do not regret one minute of Brady’s vision therapy journey. From where he started to where he is today is absolutely amazing! He is more confident in school and on the ball field. Working with Ms. Lauren and Dr. Will has been nothing short of incredible. Thank you does not even begin to cover our experience with Lauren, Dr. Will, and everyone at Heartland Eye!”
Brody M., Strabismus
Mom: “As parents, we noticed our son’s eye turning out when he was on electronic devices or watching tv. I asked our eye doctor, Ginny Ahrens at Radiant Family Eyecare, to check it out. Dr. Ahrens referred us to Dr. Will Ferguson for a vision therapy consultation appointment.
Dr. Will and Brody’s therapist, Lauren, were great at working through our son’s vision therapy goals. The biggest goal we set was for him to overcome car sickness and improve his vision. Meeting these goals has been very helpful for him and for us!
The vision improvements have helped in school and sports noticeably. Thank you, Heartland Eye Consultants!”
Vision therapy is an effective, non-surgical, doctor-supervised treatment that retrains the brain and eyes to work together more efficiently. Rather than compensate for vision problems, vision therapy aims to treat and correct the visual system itself.
Discover how we can help you or your child overcome vision problems such as strabismus and amblyopia, and build a greater sense of confidence. Take our vision therapy quiz today!
What do you want for Christmas? Too soon a question? Not for Aeric, he already knows he wants BOOKS! Thank you, Dr. Annette Astuto, for your referral that allowed us to help Aeric succeed.
Aeric P.
Rowan is playing ball at the top of his game thanks to his work in vision therapy. Dr. Toelle, we thank you for your referral! His parents are now believers that vision therapy works!
Rowan U.
He got his Scleral Contact Lenses! Have you been told you can never wear contact lenses? James found out that is not always true, and he has a great story to tell you about his journey into scleral contact lenses.
Abigail F., Reading/Learning Problems Success Story
06/25/2025
Abigail, Age 9: “Vision therapy helped me learn to cross my eyes. It helped me get my balance perfected too. I enjoyed working with my therapist! Every week I got a sticker and every month I would get a prize!”
Mom: “Vision therapy helped our child in small and big ways. The small ways included things she struggled with for a long time like riding a bike, hitting a volleyball, putting her shoes on the correct feet, being able to brush and wash her hair, and much more. The big ways were things like her confidence in reading and being able to slow down when reading. We can’t believe all of the small life skills she’s been able to master in a short 39 weeks! We thought she may have been dyslexic based on her confusion with letters and reading, but it was actually her eyes not being able to focus properly.”
Aeric P. , Reading/Learning Problems Success Story
What do you want for Christmas? Too soon a question? Not for Aeric, he already knows he wants BOOKS! Thank you, Dr. Annette Astuto, for your referral that allowed us to help Aeric succeed.
“Before COVID, Aeric disliked school but could not explain why. WHen I homeschooled him, we discovered many issues & really, deeply struggled with learning. We sought help in many ways & landed at Heartland Eye Consultants. Here we found real answers, a solid game plan, and caring/dedicated support. Dr. Will made a good connection with Aeric right away. Lauren was patient and supportive. The road was long & there were struggles with staying on track, but the benefits were… amazing.
Aeric went from hating to even try to read, to asking for books for Christmas! He finally understood why he had such vision issues and was able to see clearer, better, and experience the world more fully. I won’t forget the day he said “I can see the leaves, not just green blur” & “there’s a pattern – its texture” as he looked around. And the day he got another set of glasses & could see depth better – he was astounded & could barely explain, but it was so profound for him. Realizing what he’d missed… and that he was not “different” or “broken” or “dumb”… Learning how to make his eyes listen to him better & all the homework changed him. He likes school now. He likes to read. He is able to play more video games now that he can read better.
I am so proud of his progress… and so very thankful we found Heartland Eye Consultants. Our lives were blessed & grew. Thank you so so much!”
James S., Scleral Lens Success Story
6/14/2021
He got his Scleral Contact Lenses! Have you been told you can never wear contact lenses? James found out that is not always true, and he has a great story to tell you about his journey into scleral contact lenses.
“I no longer have to wear very thick glasses. I had always been told that I could not have contacts because I have astigmatism. Recently, I was told that since my astigmatism was so severe, that no one would be able to give the proper prescription for a lens for my left eye.
I was referred to Heartland Eye Consultants because they might be able to help. Dr. Holly Ternus was not only able to fit me with contact lenses that were comfortable, but I was able to see 20/20 in both eyes, even the left eye that had previously had a cornea transplant. My vision is the best it has ever been.
I would recommend this doctor and clinic to everyone with astigmatism or who has been told they cannot wear contacts.”
Rowan U. , Headache Success Story
15/11/2021
Rowan is playing ball at the top of his game thanks to his work in vision therapy. Dr. Toelle, we thank you for your referral! His parents are now believers that vision therapy works!
“Initially, my husband and I were very skeptical and hesitant to start this “Vision Therapy” that my son’s optometrist had recommended. We continued to think that he would “grow out” of this so called condition that was causing him to cross his eyes. We finally took a leap of faith and went to his consultation appt. From the moment we first arrived, my son was treated like a VIP! The positivity and welcoming personality already set us at ease. Once we started to visit with Dr. Will, he knew how to “sell” his program by talking sports. This made Rowan motivated to do well. Our therapist, Kari, made out son feel good, keep a positive attitude and engage in it with full effort. Looking back, we are onl regretful for not having started the journey sooner. It was a significant financial commitment for us, however. With hardwork, investing our time and effort made every penny well worth it. My sons headaches, reading skills, and sports have all improved significantly and for that we/I am eternally grateful.” – Sally
