Southwestern Congress of Optometry 2027

Under the auspices of OEPF, we welcome you to the Southwestern Congress of Optometry:

January 29th – 31st, 2027

Presenter: JENNIFER SIMONSON, OD, FOVDR, FAAO

Topic:  I Spy with my Little Eye: Vision Therapy for Young Children

COURSE SUMMARY: Vision therapy for preschool-aged children requires a strong foundation in early visual development and age-appropriate clinical care. This course provides optometrists, students, and vision therapists with practical strategies to assess and treat visual dysfunction in children ages 3–6. Participants will review normal and abnormal visual development and learn how to select and implement developmentally appropriate vision therapy procedures. Emphasis will be placed on building foundational visual skills, including oculomotor control, accommodation, and binocularity, through play-based and structured activities. Through interactive, workshop-style learning, attendees will practice techniques to improve visually-guided gross and fine motor coordination. The course will specifically address optometric vision therapy approaches for amblyopia and strabismus, with a focus on perceptual learning, reducing suppression, improving eye alignment, and developing sensory fusion. Additionally, participants will learn how to modify and sequence therapy procedures to match a young child’s developmental level, attention span, and engagement, supporting more effective clinical outcomes.