An investigation of optometris [sic] findings as related to reading and/or learning problems

Includes bibliographical references (pages 46-49)In the interest of examining the claim by functional optometry that poor binocular visual function adversely affects learning in general, and particularly the process of learning to read, 520 case records of a leading functional optometrist were analysed. The records were divided into two groups of 260 each, one group, designated the Experimental group, made up entirely of school age children who were reported by parents and teachers to have reading and/or reversal problems.\ud All subjects had had vision training, the Control group for visual difficulties other than reading or reversal problems.\ud Demographic data for the two groups included age, sex, and handedness. Clinical judgements were eye dominance at near point and the habitual phoria at near point.\ud Hypotheses were (1) that refractive findings greater than 6 exo would correlate with reading problems, (2) that refractive findings of less than 6 exo, or of any eso, would correlate with reading problems, and (3) that correlation of such refractive findings with reading or learning problems would be increased by left hand preference. Of these hypotheses, number 1 and number 3 were not proved.\ud Number 2 hypothesis showed phorias at near-point reaching a statistically significant peak at 2 exo for the Experimental group. No comparable peak was seen in the Control group, which showed, however, some elevation in the area of 6 to 8 exo.\ud The conclusion that a phoria at near-point below the expected of 6 exo correlates with reading and/or reversal problems should be subject to further research, using a better matched Control group, since the Control group in this study, as also the Experimental group, were vision care patients