11/03/2025
Congratulations, Ava!
Before vision therapy Ava was struggling with frustration and fatigue with schoolwork.
Ava: "When I started vision therapy it was hard to concentrate and do my schoolwork. I had a lot of late assignments because I would get so frustrated while doing my schoolwork. It was hard. At home I would have headaches and be tired. My favorite thing about therapy was when things started to get easier for me. I was motivated by the prize box. I liked it when I would have games for an activity and could play with my family. After vision therapy I like to read more. My favorite is the ‘I survived’ books. I have passing grades. I don't skip lines when writing and reading like I used to. I don't get headaches anymore and I'm not so tired. I can concentrate, I write better, and things make more sense."
Ava’s parents: “In 2022, we began noticing signs that our daughter, Ava, might be struggling with learning delays. She was bright and eager, but schoolwork came with anxiety and frustration. We started play therapy to help with her school anxiety, which led us to Children's Rehab for further evaluation.
“During those evaluations, we discovered challenges with reflex integration and visual-motor skills. Through occupational therapy, we began to see real progress–not just in the clinic, but at school, too. However, about a year in, her therapist noticed something new: Ava's eyes were having difficulty converging. Over several sessions, the issue worsened.
“As parents, we didn't understand what we were seeing until one day her therapist guided us through an exercise. As objects were moved nearer and farther, Ava's eyes began to shake and flutter–she simply couldn't focus. It was alarming. That experience led us to an eye doctor familiar with pediatric exams and vision therapy concepts. We learned Ava was farsighted and needed bifocal glasses. Her new ‘fancy lenses,’ as she called them, became part of her daily life.
“Fast forward to 2024: a new town, a new school, no home base yet, and lots of emotions. Her one-year eye check came back all clear, and we thought we were in good shape. But as the school year went on, the struggles returned–this time without the eye convergence issues, but with mounting frustration at school. Despite all the effort, it felt like we had taken several steps backward, and as parents, we were heartbroken and unsure of what to do next.
“We reached out to her previous occupational therapist, who recommended a sister clinic in Lincoln. We resumed OT, which helped, but something was still missing. Then, through a conversation with a close friend, we were introduced to Dr. Betka at Insight Vision. His son had experienced remarkable success through vision therapy, so we decided to reach out.
“From our very first appointment, I felt seen and heard. Dr. Betka understood our journey–the frustration, the confusion, and the hope. Soon after, Ava began her 10-month vision therapy journey, and it has truly been life-changing.
“Not only did Insight Vision address her visual processing and tracking challenges, but they also worked closely with us to ensure Ava was supported in the classroom. Over time, we watched her confidence rebuild. The frustrated, discouraged, distracted student we once knew transformed into a focused, motivated learner.
“Today, Ava completes her work at school, tackles homework without tears, and–best of all–has found a new love for reading.
“This journey was long and at times overwhelming, but it has been nothing short of transformative. We are endlessly grateful for the care, expertise, and encouragement from the entire team at Insight Vision.”
