Imagine a study that pushes back
The lyrics of John Lennon’s song “Imagine” include this:
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one
I don’t think the world will live as one soon, but the dreamer side of me gets inspired every time one of these review papers come through that tells the world of pediatricians that vision therapy doesn’t work, is expensive, gets in the way of real medical therapies, doesn’t have any research, etc, etc, and on into infinity.
But, I am a dreamer, and I can’t be the only one, and I think one way to approach some of this is to ask I hope…you’ll join us.
We’ve done a couple of research-y surveys you can read here and here. While they weren’t quoted in major journals, what we found did get some exposure in a secondary market. What if we used a similar technique for vision therapy results?
I’ve already suggested we approach intermittent exotropia first. While I think the statistics suggest general binocularity dysfunction problems such as intermittent central suppression are a larger numerical concern than strabismus, it is true that strabismus and amblyopia can be seen and diagnosed at the pediatrician level, as well as at the general optometrist/ophthalmologist level. That makes strabismus a good target for a similar survey study. Let’s call it a “crowd-study.”
If you see this and are interested in giving us survey-type information about an ixot patient, send me an email at spacegoggle@icloud.com or just add something to this blog. You might look at this for some background.
While thinking about this, it occurred to me that – justifiably – people want to share a spectacular cure. 3 weeks of therapy and the kid is perfect and he will get the major motion picture contract now that his eyes are straight. I’m thinking we want to portray the reality we and our patients live. Remember that the CI studies told the world that we could fix everything in 12 weeks. That meant anything visual could be cured in 12 weeks. Let’s be real on this and if it’s a year, then let’s say so. That’s the only way things like insurance pay any attention.
