Eyes for Learning: About Vision, Sports & School
Poor vision development (including the important skills of converging, tracking, focusing, fixating, and eye-hand coordination) if unnoticed and untreated, is correlated with poor achievement in school and sports. Sometimes just mild farsightedness without special "learning glasses" can diminish a child's chances to learn reading and math well.

Eyes for Learning: About Vision and Learning Disabilities
Research has shown that as many as 25% to 45% of children tested for specific functional vision problems fail the tests. The majority of children with learning disabilities -- those on the autism spectrum, and those considered "at risk" -- have a visual component to their problem. Solid visual-motor skills that underlie brain learning are developed through a variety of activities that have become less and less a part of our modern lives...thanks to TV, computers, and video games.

Eyes for Learning: For Parents
Orfield's book also explains how visual systems can be developed best in the infant, toddler, and early childhood years depending on the kinds of things parents can include in their children's lifestyle.

Eyes for Learning: For Teachers
Eyes for Learning has a chapter for teachers, too. This chapter explains how teachers can spot learning related vision problems in their students and help by making useful referrals and slightly altering classroom setups. These steps can facilitate the successful teaching of reading and math to those children who have come to school visually unready to learn.

Eyes for Learning: Prevent and Control Nearsightedness
Eyes for Learning also has a chapter on preventing and controlling myopia. This chapter describes Orfield's own myopia cure.

"The information that parents need to help prevent and reverse vision problems and the undesirable conditions that accompany them is presented in both an easily readable and a practical form. Every parent should have this book." -- Amiel Francke, OD., FAAO, FCOVD, FCSOM

"This book will be invaluable to parents and educators who have always wondered why no matter what services are provided, their children still struggle. Dr. Orfield's book explains what is getting in the way and how you can help the underachieving child." -- Jeffrey H. Getzell, O.D., F.C.O.V.D., F.C.S.O., midwest regional O.E.P. chairman, and chairman, Great Lakes Optometric Congress

"What an eye opener! Dr. Orfield's insight and suggestions are a true gift to those of us with learning and vision challenges. [This book] is brimming with positive, practical guidance for parents and teachers." -- Bonnie Hershey, M.EEd., international faculty member, Brain Gym International, Ventura, CA

"A truly holistic 'look' at vision through the eyes of an optometrist, who guides us to see the whole picture. This volume is a valuable resource for parents, teachers, and therapists of all types. It will be a bridge connecting the understanding of vision development and learning for the next generation." -- Patricia S. Lemer, executive director, Developmental Delay Resources (DDR)g

"Finally, a comprehensive and well written text for both parents and educators about children's vision and learning, AND, what can be done to help our children. This is a welcome addition!" -- Carl F. Gruning, O.D., FAAO,FCOVD, board certified in Vision Development/Therapy, clinical professor, SUNY State College of Optometry(Pediatrics/Infants) and past president, College of Optometrists in Vision Development

"A must read for educators and parents alike. Dr. Orfield's highly readable guide on vision development presents ground-breaking solutions to common learning problems and is supported by substantial data. This holistic common sense--that most people don't know--is not just about vision but also how vision is interrelated with learning. It teaches us how to care for a child's vision as well as our own." -- Lara Polsky Gillease, certified Pilates and Feldenkrais teacher

"In my thirty year practice of alternative medicine (Homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine), I enjoyed helping countless children with the most severe problems, physical as well as mental-emotional. I am always eager to read another route into correcting children's problems, so it was with great expectation that I read Eyes for Learning, from Dr. Antonia Orfield, who once was a student of mine. The book did not disappoint me. Until I read this [book], I had no idea how many of the school learning disabilities I encountered in my practice resulted from vision related learning problems that should be distinguished from [other] learning problems. As usual, in order to correct a problem, one needs to be able to identify it... [but] I learned in this book that routine eye examinations are not the answer.

There is a need for behavioral optometrists and Dr. Orfield draws from her own experience and her children's, as well as the countless clinical examples from her practice, to show how vision related learning problems can effect the well-being and self worth of a young child. [Dr. Orfield's] teacher and parent checklist leads to early recognition of these vision related learning problems...I applaud Dr. Orfield for introducing the reader to other alternative modalities that can help vision problems, not only in children but also adults. It might raise eyebrows among her colleagues but it will earn her the eternal gratitude from her patients. No doubt, upgrading children's vision is ultimately upgrading the quality of their lives!" -- Luc De Schepper, M.D., Ph.D., Lic. Ac., D.I. Hom., founder, Renaissance Institute of Classical Homeopathy, www.drluc.com

"I diligently vision trained with Dr. Antonia Orfield for many months back in 1989 and 1990 when she worked in Chicago. With her sound and practical vision training protocols, I cleared up all my nearsightedness. I have not needed distance glasses since. I now know how much we take our vision for granted. Regularly training our eyes like exercise is essential for our personal success and quality of life. I use her vision procedures in my own daily exercise, and as an athletic trainer. Clear distance vision without glasses is not the only benefit of vision training. The unseen benefits are many: 1) better memory retention, 2) clarity of thought, 3) improved multi-tasking skills, 4) personal confidence / self esteem builder, and a better sense of time and space. Vision training is terrific for all sports development programs [beginner to pro], publics peaking, academic achievement, improving job performance, and martial arts. It should made available to all athletes and military personnel. Most important, it should be an integral part of every child's development, available in each and every school.

Dr. Orfield has put together the latest critical information on 1) how to raise visually competent children; 2) how to identify those children who have learning related vision problems; 3) how to fix functional vision problems with glasses and vision exercises with a behavioral optometrist; and 4) how to find appropriate referrals for health issues that impact vision. I am definitely recommending this book to all my clients, especially it is a 'must' for those who teach or who have children or grandchildren." -- Bruce J. Moran, consultant, Sifu in Tai Chi Tao, Advisor University of Chicago, NCCAOM diplomate in Asian Bodywork, and AOBTA certified instructor/athletic trainer.

"Dr Orfield's innovative text contains many new ideas and ways of understanding children's learning and social difficulties. The text provides insight into the role of impaired vision in cognitive and social functioning. By focusing on the impact of the role of impaired vision in the physical and psychological functioning of the child she gives hope to many children, whose only recourse for understanding their learning difficulties has been self blame and the assumption of personal inadequacy. Dr Orfield writes and works from within a deep well of knowledge and sense of humanitarian love and concern for those in her care. Some ten years ago, I could not see to drive, attend cinema or theatre without glasses for nearsightedness. Under her care and with a personalized set of exercises, the nearsightedness disappeared in less than a year and I have not worn glasses for distance vision since." -- Gail M. Price, RN, Ph.D., editor, Newsletter of the Boston Institute for the Development of Infants and Parents (B.I.D.I.P)