Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the enhancing effects of vision therapy on eye-hand coordination skills in students with visual impairments. METHODS: Thirty-five visually impaired patients who underwent vision therapy comprised the treatment group, and 35 patients with impaired vision who received no treatment comprised the control group. Full ophthalmic examinations were performed, including biomicroscopy, retinoscopy, and assessments of subjective refraction and visual acuity. Eye-hand coordination was evaluated using the Frostig test. Vision therapy in the treatment group was performed using the Bernell-Marsden ball, perceptual-motor pen, random blink test, and random shape assessment. RESULTS: Data were analyzed for the 35 visually impaired patients and 35 control participants. The mean age was 11.51 ± 3.5 and 11.09 ± 3.1 years in the treatment and control groups, respectively. Female participants comprised 80% of the treatment group and 57% of the control group. Before treatment, the mean scores on the Frostig test were 22.74 ± 4.32 and 21.60 ± 4.10 in the treatment and control groups, respectively, and after treatment, the mean Frostig test scores were 24.69 ± 3.99 and 21.89 ± 3.92, respectively. Statistically significant intergroup differences were found in eye-hand coordination (P < 0.05). No significant intergroup differences were noted in the distance and near visual acuity values. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that vision therapy could significantly improve eye-hand coordination, but no enhancement was found in near or distance visual acuity.