A Struggling College Student’s Breakthrough
Laura Jennings, a 21-year-old student at Transylvania University, found herself in a dire situation during her freshman year. With her academic future hanging in the balance, she struggled with a heavy reading load that caused frequent headaches and left her exhausted. Despite her best efforts, Laura found herself falling asleep over her textbooks, her dream of pursuing a career in medicine seeming farther away than ever.
What made things worse? She had amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, a condition she had lived with since childhood. While she had always relied on her right eye to compensate, it was clear that her vision problems were holding her back.
How Vision Issues Affected Laura’s Studies
Laura had worn glasses since elementary school, but it wasn’t until college that her vision challenges really began to affect her life. High school was manageable, but the demanding reading load in college was an entirely different story.
“I wanted to get into medicine,” Laura recalls, “but the reading in my chemistry class was so hard, I was ready to pack it in.”
It wasn’t just about the headaches or the difficulty focusing—her eyes simply couldn’t handle the academic workload. The frustration continued to grow, and her future in college seemed uncertain.
A Vision Specialist Offers Hope
That’s when Laura’s path crossed with Dr. Rick Graebe, a Versailles-based specialist in pediatric eye care and neuro-optometric rehabilitation. After hearing Dr. Graebe speak about vision-related issues in education, Laura approached him after class, hoping for a solution.
Dr. Graebe reassured her, saying, “Our Vision Therapy program can help you. There’s nothing wrong with your eye; we just need to train your brain to start seeing with it.”
Vision Therapy is not just about correcting eyesight; it focuses on cognitive brain training. In Laura’s case, the therapy helped her brain connect with her weaker eye, allowing her to use both eyes effectively—a process much like rehabilitating an underused muscle.
Laura’s Transformation
Over the summer, Laura committed to Dr. Graebe’s Vision Therapy program. Her results were nothing short of transformative. By the time the new semester started, she was back in her chemistry class with renewed confidence, better grades, and far fewer headaches. She no longer found herself falling asleep over her books, and her overall reading and productivity had improved.
Her success was reflected in her academic performance—straight A’s for the semester—and she felt more empowered than ever.
“I had great success and gained more confidence in myself,” Laura said.
Not only did her academic life improve, but the benefits extended into her daily activities. Laura’s depth perception improved, making tasks like driving less stressful. She noticed that even clouds looked different—what once seemed like flat images now appeared in three-dimensional layers.
A Career Path Inspired by Her Success
Laura’s experience with Vision Therapy has been so impactful that she now plans to pursue a career in the field. Seeing firsthand how her brain and eyes were retrained to work together has sparked a passion in her to help others overcome similar challenges.
Her story is just one example of how Vision Therapy can change lives, which is exactly what fuels Dr. Graebe’s dedication to his work. “I’ve had students tell me that before Vision Therapy, they hated reading and didn’t think they’d go to college. Now, they can see a future for themselves,” Dr. Graebe said. “This is why I do what I do. Helping people reach their potential makes it all worthwhile.”
Vision Therapy Can Change Your Life
If you or someone you know is struggling with reading, headaches, or focus-related issues, Vision Therapy could be the solution. Don’t let undiagnosed vision problems hold you back from reaching your potential. Whether you’re a student like Laura, a parent concerned about your child’s learning, or an adult experiencing vision challenges, Dr. Graebe’s Vision Therapy program may provide the breakthrough you need.
Schedule an Eye Exam Today
At the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, located in Versailles and Somerset, we offer specialized Vision Therapy programs designed to help individuals of all ages. Call us today at 859-879-0089 to schedule an appointment and learn more about how we can help you improve your vision and quality of life.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.