81st Middle Atlantic Optometric Congress

​

Establishing the VISUAL in Rehabilitation and Trainings

 

Featuring:
Marsha Benshir, OD
Owen Leigh, OD
Gregory Kitchener, OD
Steve Gallop, OD
 

​

​

​

Under the Auspices of OEPF

 

 

​
 

 

Sponsored by: Bernell and Vivid Vision

​

​

​

​

​

​

Congress Schedule

​

​

Friday – October 22

​

SESSION 1: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (US ET) 

​

Behavioral Vision Project
VT Demonstration & Discussion: Cheiroscope.

 

This workshop will provide a brief review of the testing sequence and a discussion of sample results Testing Procedure and example results.  The Cheiroscope is more than the VanOrden Star.
 

 

SESSION 2: 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM (US ET)

​

Marsha Benshir, OD

Part 1: Vision Therapy or Vision Rehabilitation?

Optometrists offering diagnosis and treatment for disorders of vision development are likely to see neurologically impaired children. Prescribing vision therapy based on the diagnosis of the vision disorder, such as convergence insufficiency, amblyopia or strabismus, can extend the time in treatment often with unsatisfactory results. Determining the cause of the vision disorder is important to direct more effective interventions with faster responses to treatment and better outcomes.

Part 1 of this program will address symptoms of vision disorders that are often seen in neurologically impaired patients, and direct the optometrist’s thinking to potential causes. We will show how this approach directs vision rehabilitation, and how basic principles of neuroplasticity can be used to improve therapeutic efficacy. 

 

​

Saturday – October 23

​

SESSION 1: 9:00 AM – 10:45 AM US ET  

​

Owen Leigh, Optometrist

Part 1: Learning Related Vision Difficulties - Processes to Emphasize When Working

With Students of All Ages and Abilities
 
1. Directionality & coding – Vision to verbal and verbal to visual
2. Attention to spatial – less analysis and more feeling
3. Visualization - start where they are and take them on a journey
4. Integration – can they bring it all together (yet)?

Owen will explain how to observe and assess visualization and adapt your vision therapy to widen progress for each student. He will demonstrate some new approaches to familiar activities and several novel activities that have become core components in his vision therapy practice.

 
This presentation is suitable for vision therapists as well as experienced optometrists.

Each section will include rationale, assessment insight, and vision therapy examples.

​

 

SESSION 2: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (US ET)

​

Steve Gallop, OD

Thoughts on a Behavioral Model of Vision Care
 
Description Pending

​

​

SESSION 3: 1:30 PM – 3:15 PM (US ET)

​

Marsha Benshir, OD

Part 2: Vision Therapy or Vision Rehabilitation?

Optometrists offering diagnosis and treatment for disorders of vision development are likely to see neurologically impaired children. Prescribing vision therapy based on the diagnosis of the vision disorder, such as convergence insufficiency, amblyopia or strabismus, can extend the time in treatment often with unsatisfactory results. Determining the cause of the vision disorder is important to direct more effective interventions with faster responses to treatment and better outcomes.

Part 2 of this program will describe specific types of neurological syndromes with case reports to illustrate how this approach can enhance long term patient outcomes.

​

​

SESSION 4: 3:30 PM – 5:15 PM (US ET)

​

Owen Leigh, Optometrist

​

Part 2: Learning Related Vision Difficulties - Processes to Emphasize When Working

With Students of All Ages and Abilities

​

1. Directionality & coding – Vision to verbal and verbal to visual
2. Attention to spatial – less analysis and more feeling
3. Visualization - start where they are and take them on a journey
4. Integration – can they bring it all together (yet)?

Owen will explain how to observe and assess visualization and adapt your vision therapy to widen progress for each student. He will demonstrate some new approaches to familiar activities and several novel activities that have become core components in his vision therapy practice. 

This presentation is suitable for vision therapists as well as experienced optometrists.

Each section will include rationale, assessment insight, and vision therapy examples.

​

 

SESSION 5: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (US ET)

​

Ben Backus, PhD - Chief Science Officer, Vivid Vision

​

Visual Field Testing in Virtual Reality: Vivid Vision Perimetry

​

Visual field testing has changed very little since 1980. New tests use inexpensive tablets, computer displays, and virtual reality headsets, so they can provide much wider access to testing. How useful are these new tests to clinicians? How do they really differ from conventional tests such as HVA and Octopus? What is the patient experience like? 
 

​

SESSION 6: 7:15 PM (US ET)

​

Bull Session

Join in for informal sharing, questions/answers, observations related to Cheiroscopic testing.

​

​

Sunday – October 24

​

SESSION 1: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (US ET)

​

Owen Leigh, Optometrist

Part 3: Learning Related Vision Difficulties - Processes to Emphasize When Working

With Students of All Ages and Abilities
 
1. Directionality & coding – Vision to verbal and verbal to visual
2. Attention to spatial – less analysis and more feeling
3. Visualization - start where they are and take them on a journey
4. Integration – can they bring it all together (yet)?

Owen will explain how to observe and assess visualization and adapt your vision therapy to widen progress for each student. He will demonstrate some new approaches to familiar activities and several novel activities that have become core components in his vision therapy practice. 

This presentation is suitable for vision therapists as well as experienced optometrists.

Each section will include rationale, assessment insight, and vision therapy examples.

​

 

SESSION 2: 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM (US ET)

​

Marsha Benshir, OD

​

Part 3: Vision Therapy or Vision Rehabilitation?

​

Part 3 will be a continuation to Part 2 presented on Saturday
 

 

SESSION 3: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM (US ET)

​

Marsha Benshir, OD 

Part 4: Vision Therapy or Vision Rehabilitation?

​

Part 4 will be a continuation to Part 3 presented this morning.
 

 

SESSION 4: 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM (US ET)

​

Greg Kitchener, OD

​

The Ecology of Visual Training

 

​

 

​

Congress Details

​

Pricing:

​

Single day - Friday only*: $55 USD

Single day - Saturday only: $120 USD

Single day - Sunday only: $100 USD

Full Congress - $250 USD

Optometry students: No charge - Registration required

​

 * FRIDAY IS VIRTUAL FOR ALL ATTENDEES! 

 

• Payment can be made by Credit Card, Debit Card, or PayPal Account

• Refunds will not be available once the Congress begins. 

• Registration includes attendance certificate for live hours attended, attendance hours submitted to ARBO, access to the live Congress sessions, and access to the Congress recordings for 30 days.

 

• This event is appropriate for Optometrists, Optometry Residents & Students, and Vision Therapists.

• This seminar is presented in English

• Open to participants around the world

• This year’s Congress is a hybrid event with limited registration available for in-person attendance. All registration, in-person or virtual, must go through this registration page.

 

Technical requirements for virtual attendance:

​

• Stable internet connection

• Zoom account

 

Once you complete the registration and payment process you will receive a PayPal receipt confirming your payment as well as a confirmation email from I HEART VT with instructions on how to access the connection links for the Congress sessions. You do not need an I HEART VT subscription to participate, but you will need to create an account on the I HEART VT website. There is no additional cost in setting up your I HEART VT account.

In-Person attendance information:

Springhill Suites
2950 South Water Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203  
Phone: 412-488-8003
 

Mention Middle Atlantic Congress Room Block: $129/night + tax

​

• Saturday and Sunday only

• Limited space

• Social distancing and vaccination guidelines in place

• All meals are on your own

• In-Person attendees will also receive online access

• Registration includes attendance certificate for live hours attended, attendance hours submitted to ARBO, access to the live and online Congress sessions, and access to the Congress recordings for 30 days through I HEART VT.