About

RESIDENCY-TRAINED NEURO-OPTOMETRIST

Ryan Johnson OD, FAAO is the clinical director of Advanced Vision Therapy Center. Dr. Johnson is Idaho's first optometrist with residency-training in neuro-optometry, binocular vision and vision therapy. His post-graduate training at the University of California, Berkeley was dedicated to the management of patients with vision conditions requiring vision therapy, including patients with acquired brain injury and neuro-visual conditions.

Dr. Johnson is the first optometrist in Idaho with this advanced training in the sub-specialty of vision therapy. An evaluation with Dr. Johnson is the first step to determine if vision therapy is right for you. His knowledge and expertise in the area of vision therapy allow for the proper diagnosis of your vision conditions. The information gathered during the Binocular Vision Assessment is used to develop your plan of care, whether that include vision therapy, glasses or other treatments. An accurate diagnosis and comprehensive plan of care is essential for timely improvement and ultimate success for the patient.

Dr. Johnson serves as the clinical director for Advanced Vision Therapy Center. As clinical director, he oversees every treatment plan. He works with our team of vision therapists to ensure that visual skills are improving and the patient's goals are being met.
 

EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENTS

Another important factor in determining the success of a vision therapy program is the approach to therapy. Vision therapy has been practiced for over 100 years and has been researched extensively. This allows for an evidence-based approach to vision therapy that provides predictable and successful outcomes. We know which vision conditions respond to vision therapy and how to structure a program to provide the best results possible in an efficient amount of time.

Understanding the visual system and how it responds to therapy allows our vision therapy team to provide long-lasting improvements in visual function without the need for extended vision therapy programs or so-called 'booster programs'. Many of our patients are excited to see the lifelong changes in visual skills without the need for a maintenance program.
 

ONE-ON-ONE THERAPY SESSIONS WITH QUALIFIED THERAPISTS

Every vision therapy treatment session at Advanced Vision Therapy Center is performed one-on-one with a skilled vision therapist. This is important for several reasons.

Vision therapy is used to treat a wide range of vision conditions. The specific vision condition (or combination of conditions), the severity of the conditions and the individuality of the patient all need to be considered when performing vision therapy. The environment of Advanced Vision Therapy Center allows for each session to be tailored to the individual needs of the patient. This allows each patient to progress at the rate appropriate for their visual system, which maximizes the success of every vision therapy patient.

The vision therapist also ensures that visual skills are being properly developed. If not constantly monitored during treatment, the visual system can struggle to make the necessary improvements. The one-on-one structure at Advanced Vision Therapy Center ensures that every session and every minute are dedicated to the treatment goals and the patient's success.

At Advanced Vision Therapy Center patients are not positioned in front of a computer for therapy. Research has shown that in-office, active therapy (not on a computer) is far more successful in delivering results. While technology and advancements in the field of vision science is embraced at Advanced Vision Therapy Center, ineffective computer therapy is not a part of our program. Instead, our therapists, under the direction of Dr. Ryan Johnson, customize each vision therapy session for every patient – using current research and proven treatment methods to meet treatment goals and deliver results. That's the Advanced Vision Therapy Center difference.