Professional Politics

Abstract

The article does not mention that reading and writing are by necessity associated with vision, especially binocular vision, and will not be possible when these important functions are impaired. The retina is anatomically and historically the only part of the brain that is mobile and positioned in front of the top of the skull. We receive 80% of all information via the visual system, which uses up 50% of the brain's entire energy requirement. Vision is a motor activity consisting of pupil movement, accommodation, convergence, and fusion, all in the space of milliseconds. The idea that impairment in this area would not result in reading difficulties seems absurd. The usual tests for acuity of vision and stereo vision with the rapid diagnosis “eagle eyes” are not sufficient. What is needed is an analysis of associated heterophoria—”Winkelfehlsichtigkeit”—including the measurement of fixation disparity with polarized test images according to the measuring and correction method devised by Hasse. Deviations from the norm will then be corrected by using individually adjusted prism spectacles, more rarely with surgery to the ocular muscle. Unfortunately, owing to professional considerations, this procedure is used only by very few highly specialized optometrists and ophthalmologists. On the basis of my positive experiences with many adolescents with learning difficulties, I think that this procedure is more helpful than permanent extra tuition or psychotherapy, since reading ability and thus overall performance will usually improve only once the visual function has been improved.