Syntonics – Light Therapy Through Your Eyes

Syntonics, also known as optometric phototherapy, is a form of ocular science where different colors (frequencies of visible light) are projected by an optometrist into a patient’s eyes in order to enhance the focus and ability to move of the eye (efficiency), as well as the eye’s capability to process information it takes in, that is, processing what the eye is seeing.

Syntonic Phototherapy is considered to be a process for achieving balance. It is a type of therapy that is used to balance the visual system. It may be applied as a treatment by itself, or a compliment to a full vision therapy program.

A Sytonics treatment will typically include a full assessment from a professional optometrist in order to evaluate the vision health and needs of the patient. After the initial examination, if it is recommended, then further assessment is made to find out if Sytonic Phototherapy is the right solution for benefiting the patient.

These examinations include checking the visual fields of the patient; which is the area of vision in which we are able to detect light and movement around us. This is measured in Syntonic Phototherapy by using a special instrument called the Stereo Campimeter, which can calculate not only the ability of a person to perceive movement, but different colors as well.

Frequently, in situations when there is visual stress or a learning difficulty related to vision, an individual’s perceptual field may be temporarily restricted. This means that when an excess of visual stimulus is presented to the eyes – more than a person is capable of processing at one time – then the field of vision may shrink. This has an impact on the amount of visual information that a person is capable of understanding at any given time, and affects a person’s ability to see in a binocular way.

Furthermore, when perceptual visual fields are reduced, the visual-spatial awareness of the individual is affected, along with the person’s facility for judging and perceiving where objects are in relation to themselves or to other objects within a special field.

If the optometrist decides that Syntonics will benefit the patient’s vision, then a custom-designed program is created. The Syntonic therapy will either include an in-office or an at-home therapy, or it may include both. Usually, such therapy requires that a Syntonic Phototherapy unit (also known as a Syntonics Home Unit or a Syntonizer) be rented from the optometrist, along with all of the specifically prescribed color filters that will be needed to properly accomplish the therapy.

Conditions that frequently benefit from Syntonics include:

· Difficulties with eye movement and focus
· Learning issues related to vision problems
· Difficulties with binocular vision
· Headaches
· Photophobia (sensitivity to light and glare)
· Sports vision
· Acquired brain injury

For more information about Syntonics, refer to the following websites:

· http://www.syntonicphototherapy.com/online
· http://www.causeof.org/topics__nz.htm#Syntonics
· http://www.syntonicphototherapy.com