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Why Your Doctor May Not Know About Vision Misalignment
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Why Your Doctor May Not Know About Vision Misalignment

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Why Your Doctor May Not Know About Vision Misalignment

The history of Vertical Heterophoria (VH)

While Vertical Heterophoria (or VH, a vertical image misalignment and a form of binocular vision dysfunction), isn’t exactly new, it certainly isn’t widely known. That’s because in the 1880s, Dr. George T. Stevens (who first described VH) attempted to correct it using prism that was too strong, and the result was not resoundingly successful. The next person to make significant contributions to the field of VH didn’t come along until the 1950s. Dr. Raymond Roy, an optometrist from Portland, Oregon, would cover one eye of a patient for 6 days, and then the other eye for 6 days to determine if VH was present. As you can imagine, this wasn’t popular with his patients or other medical professionals, and the field once again became buried. VH has been mentioned fleetingly in optometry and ophthalmology texts over the years, but very little work had been done in the field because the results of treatment were so inconsistent. Until Dr. Debby Feinberg, intrigued by the small bits of research from these two doctors, began her own testing.

Vision Specialists of Michigan’s own doctors, including Dr. Debby Feinberg, have worked tirelessly over the last 20 years to develop accurate treatments through their own research (at the Vision Specialists Institute), which includes very small increments of prism. These small increments have proven to reduce patients’ symptoms (ranging from chronic headaches, nausea, and dizziness to neck aches, balance problems, anxiety, and even “learning disabilities”) up to 80%.

So why don’t more doctors and patients know about VH?

It usually takes many years and many articles to communicate new information to doctors. Beginning in 2010, Vision Specialist Institute began releasing its research findings in medical journals, which is helping to spread the information, but it will take time (and more published research) for other medical professionals to hear about it, consider it, and then finally act upon the knowledge.

When a doctor currently sees a patient who is suffering from symptoms of VH (like headaches and a constant neck ache) they may order a scan or some tests, or try the patient on some medications or therapies. However, it is rare that the patient’s vision is considered as a possible cause. When the results all show a clean bill of health and the medicines and treatments don’t help, the doctor’s next step is to send the patient to a specialist (like a neurologist).

This specialist has several courses of action to consider, but because they haven’t come across the research of Vision Specialists and vertical heterophoria (understandably because it is a new field), it never occurs to them that vision is the culprit. And so the cycle continues; more tests, more “clean” bills of health, more treatments that don’t help and more frustration for the patient. More experimental treatments are assigned to the patient and little to no improvements ensue.

So, how is Vision Specialists spreading the word? By performing and publishing research; community outreach; and online outreach. A list of published research can be found on our website. Our Community Outreach Coordinator and doctors deliver presentations at schools, organizations, and conferences around the world. And our patients’ amazing stories are shared right here on our website and our social media profiles—we even have our own Humans of Vision Specialists series to highlight the most miraculous transformations of our patients, such as Pastor Jim’s story.

How can you help spread the word? Take the 10-minute screening questionnaire to find out if you might have a vision misalignment or share the questionnaire with your family and friends. Talk to your doctor about it to keep them in the loop of your own research. And because Vision Specialists Institute trains optometrists from around the country, ask your own eye doctor if they have heard about binocular vision dysfunction. They may be interested in learning more and, even better, may have a colleague that wants to undergo the training to become a NeuroVisual specialist.

Visit IsItMyEyes.com to take the questionnaire or share it with your friends and family. Together we can help others learn about VH.

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Dr. Sandy DiPonio earned her optometry degree from Illinois College of Optometry in 1996. She is a highly skilled and experienced eye care professional dedicated to giving her patients of all ages excellent and compassionate care. She has a wide variety of experience in binocular vision, pediatric and adult eye care, ocular disease and contact lens fitting. She strives to provide each of her patients the best quality of life they can achieve with their vision through knowledge and education of treatment options.

Dr. DiPonio is a member of the American Optometric Society and Michigan Optometric Society.

Dr. Sally Hoey has been practicing optometry since graduating from Michigan College of Optometry in 2001. During her time in optometry school, she developed an interest in binocular vision, culminating in a senior thesis involving binocular vision.

Prior to joining Vision Specialists of Michigan, Dr. Hoey specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of vision-related learning problems as well as other binocular vision disorders. Her other areas of interest include specialty contact lens fittings and treating dry eye. Dr. Hoey strives to provide her patients with clear, comfortable vision while meeting their individual needs at the same time.

Dr. Hoey had the opportunity to provide eye care on an optometric mission trip to Guyana, South America and vision screenings at a local medical clinic. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, Michigan Optometric Association, Metropolitan Detroit Optometric Society and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.

Dr. Jennifer Place graduated with honors from Michigan College of Optometry in 2001.

Before joining Vision Specialists of Michigan, she specialized in treating pediatric and adult patients with binocular vision disorders and vision-related learning problems, as well as fitting specialty contact lenses and managing various types of ocular disease. She enjoys working with patients with unique visual needs, and she takes great pride in providing all patients with highly customized care.

Dr. Place has volunteered for Opening Eyes, a program that provides eye exams to the athletes of the Michigan Special Olympics, and she participated in an international mission to St. Lucia to provide eye care to those in need. Dr. Place is a member of the Detroit Optometric Society, the Michigan Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, the College of Vision Development, and the Optometric Extension Program Foundation.

Dr. Mary Jo Ference has been practicing optometry since 1990 upon graduating from Ferris State University- Michigan College of Optometry, and is certified in Low Vision Rehabilitation. She has worked at Sinai-Grace Hospital systems for over 20 years before joining Vision Specialists of Michigan in 2013 to work with binocular vision disorders. Her clinical areas of expertise include visual rehabilitation of pediatric and adult patients who have suffered from brain trauma, injury or disease. She has taught both optometry and ophthalmology residents at Sinai Grace Hospital. Dr. Ference has sat on numerous boards, including Sinai Grace Hospital, Berry Out-Patient Surgical Center, and Seedlings Braille Books for the Blind. She is actively involved in area school districts to provide education, training and access for students, teachers, OT’s and PT’s to eye care service rehabilitation information. Dr. Ference has lectured extensively nationally and internationally.

Dr. Debby Feinberg began practicing Optometry in Oakland County in 1983, upon graduating from Illinois College of Optometry. She joined her father, Dr. Paul C. Feinberg, at Mall Optical Center, which was located in Summit Place Mall.

Since 1995 Dr. Feinberg has been developing the field of NeuroVisual Medicine which is the optometric subspecialty that identifies and treats neurological / medical symptoms that originate directly or indirectly in the visual system.

Dr. Feinberg has been performing pioneering work with Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD), a condition where a vision misalignment (frequently subtle) creates difficulties with the two eyes working together to create a single 3-dimensional image, and difficulties with the two eyes following that image as it moves.

The symptoms caused by BVD are not usually associated with problems with the visual system, and include headache, dizziness, anxiety and panic, persistent post-concussive symptoms, gait instability and balance problems, frequent falls, neck pain, motion sickness, nausea, and reading and learning problems.

In 2004. Dr. Feinberg established Vision Specialists of Birmingham, specifically designing the practice to accommodate the needs of the NeuroVisual Medicine patient.

In 2011, the office moved to its current location in Bloomfield Hills and updated its name to Vision Specialists of Michigan.