Angela Roberts spent eight years working as a dedicated Montessori teacher in Versailles, Kentucky, where she found immense joy in nurturing young minds. “I’ve worked with kids my whole life,” Roberts reflects. “To have an impact on such young, absorbent minds was incredibly fulfilling.” Her career, however, took an unexpected turn when a friend mentioned that Dr. Rick Graebe, a local behavioral optometrist, was looking for summer help.
Roberts decided to take up the offer, initially unaware of the profound career transformation that awaited her.
Discovering a New Purpose Through Vision Therapy
At Dr. Graebe’s Neuro-Visual Performance Institute in Versailles, Roberts quickly became fascinated with Vision Therapy. “I was working alongside Vision Therapists and thought, ‘Wow, we’re retraining people’s brains and eyes to help them read better. This is amazing,’” she recalls.
Vision Therapy is a unique, non-invasive treatment designed to improve the visual system by building new neural pathways. The therapy offers lasting benefits for conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), convergence insufficiency, and more. Therapy often involves fun, hands-on activities, especially for children, who engage with puzzles, games, and balance exercises while wearing specialized lenses.
Students struggling in school often see remarkable progress after undergoing Vision Therapy, sometimes improving by as much as three grade levels in reading comprehension within a 30-week period. “The program’s hands-on approach and Dr. Graebe’s depth of knowledge helped me grasp the importance of what we were doing,” Roberts shares.
A Personal Connection Fuels Compassion for Patients
As the summer job transitioned into a potential career, Dr. Graebe offered Roberts a full-time position. This opportunity became even more meaningful considering Roberts’ past experiences with severe vision issues. Several years earlier, a batch of defective contact lenses had left her legally blind and terrified. Thankfully, an experimental medication restored her vision, which now fuels her empathy for patients—many of whom struggle with severe visual challenges due to strokes or brain injuries.
Now, six years into her new role as a Vision Therapist, Roberts marvels at the transformations she sees in her patients, who range in age from four to eighty. “We’re teaching people how to use their vision again, and it’s incredibly rewarding,” she explains.
The Impact of Vision Therapy on the Community
Dr. Graebe’s Neuro-Visual Performance Institute is a trusted center for vision therapy, serving the greater Lexington and Central Kentucky areas from its location in Versailles, as well as Southern Kentucky from its Somerset office. Dr. Graebe takes pride in his team’s dedication to helping patients improve their visual health. He values Roberts’ contributions, especially her ability to empathize with and connect to patients of all ages. “Angela meets patients where they are, which is so important in this field,” he says. “She truly has a servant’s heart.”
Vision Therapy, under the guidance of experts like Dr. Graebe and committed therapists like Roberts, is a valuable resource for anyone struggling with visual challenges. From children with learning difficulties to adults recovering from brain injuries, patients benefit from a holistic approach that strengthens both the eyes and the brain, ultimately enhancing their overall quality of life.
Schedule a Vision Therapy Consultation Today
If you or someone you know could benefit from Vision Therapy, consider scheduling a consultation at the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute. With locations in Versailles and Somerset, Dr. Rick Graebe and his team are dedicated to helping patients throughout Central and Southern Kentucky achieve better visual health. To book an appointment, call us today at 859-879-0089.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.