Introduction

Geoff Shayler BSc FBCO MCSO qualified as an Ophthalmic Optician (Optometrist) from the City University in 1973 and has since undergone specialist training with Optometrists from the USA, Australia, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark and the UK in order to better understand how our visual system can be inefficient despite the ability of the eyes to read the letter chart.

Bill Hay BSc FBCO MCSO qualified from Caledonian University in 1973. His practice was established in 1923 and is the oldest privately owned practice in Aberdeen. Interested in difficulties encountered by his "dyslexic" patients, he was one of the first Optometrists in Scotland to invest in the Colorimeter, an instrument designed to assess whether coloured lenses can be beneficial to individuals with dyslexia or migraine. Like Geoff, Bill has trained with leading developmental Optometrists from the US and Australia

Geoff and Bill presently feel that though coloured lenses may help relieve some of the symptoms of dyslexia, their supply is not getting to the bottom of the problem. A greater understanding of visual problems can be ascertained through the investigation of Functional Visual Fields. Integrating intensive vision therapy with the use of syntonic phototherapy can significantly remediate visual and learning difficulties in a very short period of time

Both practices are now researching the visual aspects of retained primitive reflexes, those survival reflexes we are all born with which should disappear within 1 year of birth. When still present beyond this time they can have significant effects on the visual system and may be one of the major causes of dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD, ADHD etc

Both practices have set up in-house and home therapy routines and are among the first 3 UK practices to include the use of Syntonic Phototherapy in their premises

Eyesight and Vision are vastly different
20/20 eyesight only means you can read something 20 feet away. Vision in the brains integration, processing and understanding of what the eyes are "seeing".

Of the five senses, vision accounts for 80% of learning. The visual system itself is estimated to connect to 80% of the brain.

Changing how the visual system functions is changing the way the brain processes information. The visual system sets many of the biological rhythms of the brain. This in turn has an effect on the nervous system, endocrine glands and the overall well being and health of the individual.

6 years of research at Shaylers Vision Centre dealing with children with educational difficulties has indicated that as many as 1 in 5 children (not an insignificant number!!) have severe visual processing (not spectacle!) problems which can be greatly helped by vision therapy in as little as 2 weeks.