Vision Development Institute, P.C.
Your Pittsburgh Eye Doctor
1789 S. Braddock Ave., Suite 130, Pittsburgh, PA
About Us
The Vision Development Institute has a long standing tradition of specializing in the study and treatment of binocular and developmental vision disorders for all ages, dating back to 1948.
Beyond routine eye care, we emphasize caring individual non-invasive Vision Therapy.
Our therapy includes sport vision enhancement, binocular development, and developmental therapy for associated conditions such as ADD, dyslexia, LD, motion sickness, and other mental and physical challenges. You are welcome to call with your specific concerns.
Our Team
Dr. Hans F. Lessmann O. D., FOVDR
Dr. Hans F. Lessmann, Executive Director of VDI, is a Board Certified Fellow in both Vision and Light therapy by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (www.covd.org) and the College of Syntonic Optometry (www.csovision.org). He has won numerous awards,... Show More
Dr. Hans F. Lessmann, Executive Director of VDI, is a Board Certified Fellow in both Vision and Light therapy by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (www.covd.org) and the College of Syntonic Optometry (www.csovision.org). He has won numerous awards, including being named Pennsylvania’s Optometrist of the Year in 2003 and the Charlie Butts Award in 2019.
He enjoys solving complex vision and developmental problems for all ages from infancy to late adulthood. Dr. Lessmann is the father of a daughter with Down syndrome and understands the concerns of children with special needs and their parents.
Dr. Lessman and our vision therapist Maria are both incredible. With the use of syntonics and vision therapy we saw massive improvement in self regulation, body control, behavior and mood.... Show More
Dr. Lessman and our vision therapist Maria are both incredible. With the use of syntonics and vision therapy we saw massive improvement in self regulation, body control, behavior and mood. This team knows what they are doing and they care for the patient's well being. Highly recommend.
- Crystal Robinson 7 months ago
My child struggled with school for years... reading was so painful for her and math always brought tears. Dr Lessman and Maria were incredibly helpful to us both - my... Show More
My child struggled with school for years... reading was so painful for her and math always brought tears. Dr Lessman and Maria were incredibly helpful to us both - my child made dramatic progress and I, as a homeschool mom, learned at least as much. This week, my child WON the prize in the summer reading program at the local library for most hours read. I still can't believe it when I find her with her nose in a book. Thank you!!!
- Elisabeth Gray 10 months ago
I'm writing this review to highly recommend the Vision Development Institute as a whole, all their brilliant vision therapists, and Dr. Lessmann. 2 words can sum up my entire experience:... Show More
I'm writing this review to highly recommend the Vision Development Institute as a whole, all their brilliant vision therapists, and Dr. Lessmann. 2 words can sum up my entire experience: Life Changing. I found the VDI serendipitously when searching for answers for my "mystery condition" of ~2 months that no doctor could diagnose or treat. I was dealing with dizziness and disequilibrium, feeling intense anxiety while driving, in the grocery store, or in any environment that was crowded, bright, or loud, had debilitating headaches, facial pain, and neck pain, had an inability to read properly or work on the computer at all, and was suffering from panic attacks multiple times daily. I was suddenly completely unable to work at my job as a software developer. Essentially, I was on a downward spiral both physically and mentally. After finding the Vision Development Institute, I instantly knew that I was not only in good hands, but I had the strongest feeling that my life was going to be changed so much for the better. Well, I was right! After undergoing Vision Therapy and Syntonic Light Therapy at the Vision Development Institute, my downward spiral as flipped into an upward trajectory. My vision has improved dramatically: my prescription decreased in strength, reading is SO much easier, I can now work full days on the computer coding with more ability to concentrate and pay attention, and I can suddenly parallel park my car for the first time since I've had my license due to massive improvements in my depth perception. Aside from just my vision, my dizziness, head/neck/facial pain, and all of my other concerning physical symptoms have disappeared. Additionally, my mental health has never been better. What I mean by that is, I just have never felt better, period! People close to me have told me that my personality has even changed and that I'm coming out of my shell- I feel more inclined to talk to others and seem and feel more easy-going and content. My anxiety in stores and while driving is gone, and I no longer have any panic attacks. The fact of the matter is I have made vast improvements in all areas of my life- socially, emotionally, physically, and even financially (I can work again!) from working with Dr. Lessmann and his team. Finding the Vision Development Institute, Dr. Lessmann, and the wonderful vision therapists who've worked with me there have turned my story, which was previously one of fear and anxiety, into one of hope and excitement. I consider everyone at the VDI to be my friends, and I'll never forget how this place transformed my life.
Photo: Me using my Brock String. If you know, you know!!
- Nikki Czachowski 1 year ago
I cannot express my gratitude enough for Dr. Lessman and his staff! I'm so grateful to have found him online after a Google search of my BVD vision symptoms and... Show More
I cannot express my gratitude enough for Dr. Lessman and his staff! I'm so grateful to have found him online after a Google search of my BVD vision symptoms and thank God for his help with my eye issues. Because of him, I feel comfortable driving again and appreciate his approach to eye care.
- Sonya Ford 1 year ago
Words cannot express the gratitude I have for Dr. Lessmann and the staff at Vision Development Institute. After years of struggling with headaches, neck pain, and what doctors believed to... Show More
Words cannot express the gratitude I have for Dr. Lessmann and the staff at Vision Development Institute. After years of struggling with headaches, neck pain, and what doctors believed to be anything from anxiety, sinus issues, or TMJ; the treatment I received for has drastically improved my quality of life. From the very first visit I have felt the impacts, making me finally feel as if a fog has lifted and I am back to my old self again. I highly recommend anyone who is struggling to get answers and feels like they just have to learn to live with it, that they make an appointment with Dr. Lessmann.
- J Hallman 2 years ago
Dr. Lessman was a God-send to our son. Everyone at the Vision Development Institute is so caring and Dr. Lessman is the top in his field. His knowledge,... Show More
Dr. Lessman was a God-send to our son. Everyone at the Vision Development Institute is so caring and Dr. Lessman is the top in his field. His knowledge, wisdom, experience and care for our son who has had strabismus and amblyopia since the age of 2 has been absolutely amazing. Dr. Lessman and his staff, especially Maria the vision therapist, have transformed our son’s vision and, in turn, his life. He is now 11 years old and his strabismus is no longer a hinderance or an issue at all. He has grown in so many ways from increasing his balance, developing his hand and eye coordination for playing sports, overcoming so many fears caused by the vision disability and cosmetically, his strabismus has nearly disappeared for good. Over time, his eye muscles were trained through vision therapy, and now he has complete control in holding a steady and aligned gaze. It has been amazing to watch him doing the work with the Vision Development Institute taking him every step of the way. Dr. Lessman and his staff are truly amazing. We are so grateful for the work they did with our son. They have transformed his life and we, without a doubt, highly recommend them.
- Carla Bianco 3 years ago