SYNTONIC PHOTOTHERAPY may be today’s most advanced clinical science in light therapy. Since the 1920’s it has been used effectively by optometrists to treat patients who have inefficient visual function.
Since eighty percent of learning occurs by way of the eyes, inefficient visual function can adversely affect all aspects of one’s life, including academic achievement, athletic performance, proficiency at work, and homemaker.
Light therapy is also commanding respect in the medical community as its benefits are investigated in the treatment of jet lag, PMS, sleep disorders and conditions related to the body’s daily rhythms. Exposure to certain colors has also been found to affect behavior, mood and physiological functions.
Patients are diagnosed by symptoms, vision evaluation, visual/motor performance and peripheral vision sensitivity. They may have blurred vision, a crossed or lazy eye, double vision or poor academic achievement. If appropriate, they are treated by way of their eyes with selected visible light seen as colors.
Not all retinal (light-sensitive) nerves in the eyes serve vision. Some connect the retina directly to non-visual brain centers such as the hypothalamus and pineal gland. These centers influence electrical, chemical and hormonal balances which affect all body functions including vision. Years of clinical application and research have demonstrated that certain selected light frequencies (colors), applied by way of the eyes to these centers, can produce beneficial results in the body.
Light therapy is prescribed by the doctor after a detailed case history, eye exam including certain visual skills, and a color visual field test. Often, light therapy is done prior to vision therapy or in conjunction with vision therapy.