Course Descriptions – Introduction to Behavioral Vision Care

Course Description

Introduction to Behavioral Optometry Dr. Paul Harris will introduce the participants to behavioral optometry in his own unique way. The Skeffington 4 circles will be used as the vehicle through which Dr. Harris will share his understanding of the behavioral concept of vision. An introduction to the neurology of vision will demonstrate the scientific basis on which the behavioral principals are based. In addition, the relationship to vision and reading and learning problems as well as visualization, visual imagery, and spelling will be introduced. Dr. Harris has woven together three different curricula of vision therapy one for general binocular dysfunctions, one for learning related visual problems, and the third for strabismus and amblyopia. Two sample vision therapy activities from each of these curricula will be demonstrated so the participants can understand the common sense approach to vision therapy that is behavioral optometry. The seven hour course will conclude with descriptions of each of the BABO/OEPF courses as well as a discussion of the benefits of OEPF and COVD membership. All participants who attend will be given priority when making reservations for future BABO/OEPF courses anywhere the courses are offered, in Europe or in the USA.

Course Outline
First Hour: What is Vision? Vision is the deriving of meaning and direction of action as triggered by light. The Skeffington 4 circles will be used to make this definition come to life for the participants. 

Second Hour: The neurological basis for behavioral vision care will be introduced. Information from “Wet Mind” and Dr. Harris’ COVD article “Current Thoughts on the Neurology of Vision” will form the basis of this hour of the course. 

Third Hour: The relationship between vision and learning will be presented. The Grapheme-Phoneme-Object Concepts triangle will provide the basis for this hour of dialogue. The reading and spelling processes will be explained. The relationships between behavioral optometry and education will be made clear. 

Fourth Hour: The neurology of the vision for reading will be discussed including Dr. Harris’ understanding of the parvo and magno cellular channels of information flow will be discussed including their implications for successful vision therapy. 

Fifth Hour: Dr. Harris will present his rationale for the development of the three different levels of VT curricula that he has developed. The short comings of the symptom curing approaches will be discussed and the emergence of his 3 levels will be made clear. 

Sixth Hour: Flashlight Pointing (Ninja Training) and the Squinchel procedure from the VT-1 Curriculum will be presented. Slap-Tap and The Visualization Probe will be presented from VT-2. 

Seventh Hour: Prism Opposites and Mirror Overlap Self Generated from VT-3 will be presented. The OEPF/BABO course series will be presented as well as membership benefits of OEPF and COVD will be shared.