WE GO BEYOND 20/20


To understand how our approach to vision care is unique, it must first be understood that VISION goes far beyond eyesight, or 20/20.

Vision is a complex combination of learned skills including eye movement coordination, eye teaming, eye focus and visual perception processing.


Myth of 20/20 Eyesight

A common misconception is that 20/20 eyesight means you have perfect vision. Not only is that untrue, but it’s harmful to assume that looking at an eye chart from 20 feet for a few seconds is going to provide enough information on the functioning of one’s visual system.

A school vision screen or one done at a pediatrician’s office is insufficient to diagnose the cause of symptoms related to a functional vision problem.

Seeing clearly is important, however, vision is more than seeing clearly and as a result you can have 20/20 eyesight and still have a “vision problem.”

Vision’s Impact

It’s estimated over 80% of the information we take in involves the eyes and the visual pathways of the brain. A significant portion of learning is done visually.

When visual function improves, children are better able to benefit from classroom instruction and specialized resources, and adults can handle the visual demands at work.

Vision therapy has been proven to be successful by improving a patient’s ability to process visual information that’s needed for efficient learning and performance at work and sports.

WHAT WE DO


Nebraska Visual Integration Center is a specialized vision care practice with a dedicated team focused on Vision Therapy / Rehabilitation.

We treat patients with vision problems that interfere with learning and reading, resulting in poor classroom and work performance. Our office provides non-surgical treatment for strabismus (eye turn) and advanced ‘no patching’ amblyopia (lazy eye) treatment. We rehabilitate visual issues following concussion/brain injury and stroke.

We help put the pieces together for individuals with inefficient visual skills and visual processing due to neurodevelopment delay  

Located in Omaha, Nebraska, our office provides the highest level of specialty vision care.


CONVERGENCE

INSUFFICIENCY

#1 visual issue linked to eyestrain, blurred vision, double vision and headaches.

VISION AND

LEARNING

1 in 5 children have a vision problem that affects their ability to learn in the classroom

STRABISMUS

‘eye turn’

A misalignment of the eyes where one eye deviates and turns in, out, up or down

AMBLYOPIA

‘lazy eye’

One eye sees poorly even with the use of glasses which then interferes with 3D-Vision

BRAIN

INJURY

~70-80% of brain injury patients suffer from some type of vision problem

SPECIAL

NEEDS

Those with developmental delays often have trouble using their visual system effectively

SPORTS

VISION

Visual skills are learned and can be trained to function at a higher, more optimal level

PERFORMANCE

LENSES

Specially designed lenses to improve the focusing and teaming of the eyes

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS


Because we understand the complexity of vision, our evaluation process consists of specialty in-depth vision testing that focuses on the functional aspects of vision for development & rehabilitation. Our evaluations will often last 60 minutes or longer to assess visual functioning for an accurate diagnosis and determine if Vision Therapy is needed.


IN-DEPTH EVALUATION

An evaluation of functional visual skills including eye teaming, depth perception, eye focusing, eye movement coordination (often by the use of an infrared-based eye tracking analysis), and visual sensory-motor integration will be performed so as to determine an accurate diagnosis.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

A comprehensive report will be prepared at the completion of testing in addition to a conference scheduled with the doctor to review the findings and discuss treatment recommendations. The implications of the visual issues on performance in academics and daily activities will be discussed.

THERAPY / TREATMENT

If Vision Therapy is recommended, the details of how treatment is structured and what to expect will be discussed. Additionally, if Vision Therapy is performed along with other therapeutic interventions, a collaboration of care between providers is incorporated ensuring the most successful outcomes.

Learn More About Common Functional Vision Issues

And Their Impact in School, Work & Life

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Summary of "Vision and Learning" by Heike Schuhmacher M.D.

Do you remember how you first learned about Vision Therapy? It probably doesn’t surprise you that most people don’t know it exists until they or someone they know is participating in it themselves. So, what about all of the children who…
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Dyslexia or Undiagnosed Functional Vision Problem?

The term “learning disability” is expressed frequently between concerned parents, educators, and anyone who feels they have one. You may know of a relative, a friend’s child, or even your own child who has been diagnosed during their school…
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A Teacher's View on Vision Therapy Conclusion

  Conclusion: More to School than Meets the Eye There is more to school than reading a book, writing a paragraph, or solving a math equation. What about all those sometimes forgotten skills that help us to be successful as we take notes,…
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A Teacher's View on Vision Therapy: Math

Part 4: Math is More than just Numbers Math is usually one of those subjects you absolutely love or totally despise. Although math was never one of my favorite subjects when I was a student, as a teacher I grew to appreciate the various processes,…
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A Teacher's View on Vision Therapy: Writing

Part 3: Writing as Communication Once learning has taken place, how do you show what you know? My students demonstrated their learning in the classroom through speaking, teaching another student, acting, drawing, using response cards and…
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A Teacher's View on Vision Therapy: Reading

Part 2: Why Reading is so Important If there is one area of education that often concerns parents and teachers the most it is reading. We live in a world where being able to read the words on a page clearly and understand what we read is…
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A Teacher’s View on Vision Therapy Introduction

Part 1: My Road to Vision Therapy It is still a shock to me that if I had the knowledge I do now about the visual system and how the brain takes in information, I could have spared some of my students' continuing struggles. Before 2 months…
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What is Binocular Vision Dysfunction?

What is Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD)? Before discussing BVD, it is important to understand what binocular vision is. Bi- means both and -ocular means eyes, so binocular vision  means seeing with both eyes. In their post about binocular…
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Vision Therapy 101: Commonly Asked Questions About Vision Therapy

What is Vision Therapy? Vision Therapy is a specialized field of optometry that works on developing and enhancing basic visual skills, therefore allowing vision to become more comfortable and efficient. Furthermore, vision therapy positively…
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How Do You Learn Best?

What is Your Learning Style? Did you know that there are different ways of learning? There are 3 main learning styles. Everyone is going to learn slightly differently. Knowing how you or your child learns best gives you the tools to…
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Irlen Colored Lenses or a Functional Visual Issue?

Irlen / Colored Lenses What are Irlen Lenses? The term Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS), also known as Irlen Syndrome, was introduced by Helen Irlen, M.A., to describe a perceptual dysfunction related to "subjective difficulties with…
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Vision Therapy Is Not Just For Kids

We all can benefit from more efficient vision.   Certain individuals will especially benefit from this type of care such as: Those who use their near vision a great deal at work or school such as those that spend many…
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Hidden Eye Problems Can Block Learning

This article is adapted from Learning Magazine Written By: Mitchell Scheiman, OD, FCOVD Richard, a 12-year old in your 7th grade class, is a verbal child. From what you've seen early in the year, you expect him to be an above average…
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Concussion / Brain Injury & Hidden Visual Problems

WHAT IS A BRAIN INJURY? An Acquired Brain Injury is an insult to the brain. It can result from trauma to the head, stroke, or neurological dysfunction. This may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness and may result in impairment…

ADHD & Vision

Attention Problems: Are They Due to Vision, ADHD, or Both? At Nebraska Visual Integration Center, many of the children and adults we see in Vision Therapy suffer from attention problems. It is very important to understand that if your…
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School Vision Screenings Are Failing Our Kids

How Accurate are Vision Screenings? If you have a child in school they have probably had a vision screening. These are generally performed by a pediatrician, or a nurse if done at school. It's important to note that these are rarely performed…
What is Vision Therapy
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5 Visual Skills for the Classroom

Vision is more than seeing clearly! It's the ability to obtain meaning and understanding from what we see with our eyes. Vision is a complex combination of learned skills including eye movement coordination, binocular fusion (eye teaming), accommodation…

What to Do if Insurance Won't Cover Vision Therapy?

What About Insurance? Individuals and families come to us seeking professional help with vision therapy, but may find medical insurance will not readily help cover the out of pocket costs. We've learned ways of working with medical insurance…

Retained Primitive Motor Reflexes

Primitive Motor Reflexes and their Role in Vision Development Most people are familiar with retained motor reflexes, they just may not know it. They can be witnessed when: a baby’s head is turned to one side and the arm and leg on that…

Learning-related Vision Problem, Dyslexia, or ADD/ADHD?

Learning-related Vision Problem, Dyslexia, or ADD/ADHD? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hugQkdKX5Rs Many of the observable traits that a child with ADD/ADHD and Dyslexia display are also seen in children with learning-related vision problems.…

What our patients are saying

Testimonials

Vision therapy has opened a whole new world for our son!  He did not like going to school and would visit the school nurse daily attempting to get sent home. My husband and I had him tested by the school system twice but he didn’t qualify for assistance even though he struggled with reading and english. We were all frustrated. I did not know how to help him. A co-worker’s son had a similar issue and I was introduced to vision therapy. I did not know it at the time, but vision therapy was the answer for our son.  He now enjoys going to school. He has been reading books on his own and participating well in school and sports. Home work time doesn’t take hours and school projects are now fun for him.  My son’s confidence and eagerness to learn has opened many doors of opportunity for him. We could not have done any of this without vision therapy!

Ann S.Mother

Dr. Gates is a great asset to the medical community here in Nebraska.  He developed a plan, made sure we as parents knew what to expect and our part in it.  The results were amazing. I highly recommend.

Rich J.Parent

Our daughter was complaining of headaches. She has always been an avid reader and no longer enjoyed it. With vision therapy she again can enjoy reading pain- free. Her school has even moved her into an advanced class due to her ability to read at a high level now.

Kandy K.Mother

Our optometrist recommended Dr. Tanner Gates after I expressed our frustration to teach our 7 year old son to read. We knew something was wrong, but couldn’t figure out what. We tried the summer program at Phoenix Academy, even after that, he still only knew 6-7 letters. What a relief to finally have answers and a solution. After 9 months of vision therapy our son is now reading on grade level, has gained self confidence and is set for future academic success. It was so worth the time and effort.

Dave + Jynell B.Parents

Our son began Vision Therapy after we discovered his right eye acuity was significantly decreased. He went through a few sessions of VT locally for 1 1/2 years. We found Dr. Gates later and found his program to be more comprehensive. He integrated multiple systems to help our son achieve maximum function of both eyes working together. Our son was a reluctant reader and now reads extensively for pleasure. He plays sports and is demonstrating improved coordination and reaction time.  His overall confidence academically and athletically has improved dramatically. So glad we found Dr. Gates and feel the trips to Omaha were well worth the effort.

Jennifer K.Mother

Our son had problems with eye hand coordination and with near/far vision. We have seen tremendous changes in his coordination and his eyes no longer “wiggle” when viewing something far away. He is able to use his vision to help him do a better job in all daily activities.

Rachel LMother

We began vision therapy when our kindergarten son was having issues in school with staying on task and processing information. He was also having fine and gross motor skill issues. After his meeting with teachers and specialists (IEP) we realized he needed more help than the school could provide us. After meeting with Dr. Gates, we began therapy which included not only brain processing and visual issues, but also incorporated fine and gross motor skills. After 1 year of therapy, our son is doing very well in school and his teachers now see no issues. This is a huge improvement from where he was in kindergarten. The skills he has from the program have helped him become a confident and successful child.

KrisH.

My son has had vision difficulties since he was born. The extent was not known until meeting Dr. Gates. My son was not processing information from his left eye very well which hindered depth perception, reading, writing and classroom learning. With the sessions at Dr. Gates’ office, my son has greatly improved in all areas. My son is more active and now wishes to be outside playing for longer periods of time. Reading and writing are catching up to grade level. Classroom learning is not as difficult as he is more engaged. The results of therapy at Dr. Gates’s office have greatly improved my son’s life.

Robin

We first noticed that Graham with having issues with his vision around the age of 4.
He was extra cautious walking up-and-down the stairs. He would grasp the handrail and take his time step-by-step. We were puzzled as to why he did this.

Another thing we noticed was his hesitation when he attempted to ride his bike. He wanted to learn how to ride it. He was willing and eager, but every time he attempted it he would have to stop. Ut was almost like something was in the way for him to continue trying.

After almost a year of Vision Therapy with Dr. Gates and staff, Graham started showing signs of improvement. He suddenly was able to run up-and-down stairs with zero hesitation. He was enjoying not only throwing, but aiming and catching balls for various sports. His confidence improved and we watched him explore his world once again with his natural curiosity and greater ease.

He learned how to ride his two wheeler bike within 5 days. This was an amazing accomplishment considering the numerous unsuccessful attempts in the past. We’ve also noticed the his school test scores have gone up significantly since his vision has improved.

Vision Therapy has helped Graham not only see better, but has enabled him to do the things that most young boys do naturally with greater confidence. He flies along in life now. We don’t see hesitations any more. Vision Therapy has made a tremendous positive changing impact on Graham’s vision. We highly recommend dedicating the time and patience for vision therapy to anyone who needs it.

Jeff + Kristin

“We began vision therapy because Andrew was having difficulty reading. Even though he had 20/20 vision, the words would spread out on the page and reading gave him headaches. Reading was not enjoyable nor did he remember much of what he read. Although his reading scores were still average, we wanted to give him the best foundation we could before starting middle school. Since he struggled to stay focused while reading he would take 2-3 times as long to complete homework. After therapy Andrew has increased his reading comprehension. He doesn’t complain about reading and stays more focused, His headaches are almost completely gone and the words on the page aren’t fuzzy anymore.”

Monica

Visit Nebraska Visual Integration Center

Vision Therapy in Omaha
No Better Place to Get Your Vision Back on Track

Nebraska Visual Integration Center
11316 P St
Omaha, NE 68137

Phone: (402) 502-0043
Fax: (402) 932-0216

Business Hours
Monday: 1pm – 6:30pm
Tuesday: 1pm – 6:00pm
Wednesday: 8:30am – 6:30pm
Thursday: 8:30am – 6pm
Friday: 8:30am – 6:30pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

We look forward to hearing from you and answering your questions

Dr. Gates Bio


Dr. Gates bio information here

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