Vision Therapy For Kaamil!
Donation protected
The Smith family need our help accessing a new vision therapy for Amblyopia for their middle son, Kaamil. This therapy is newly offered to southern Saskatchewan but not covered by Sask-health or insurance. The estimated cost is $4000 for 18-22 weeks of therapy.
In every corner of our community that Kim, Matt, and their children are involved, the Smith family put forward hours upon hours of volunteer time, support, and passion for making our city and province a better place for all of us. We are more than happy to help them access this care for Kaamil because we know that this family would be -and has been- first in line to help us when we need it.
Every dollar is extremely appreciated. If you would like more details about Amblyopia and the vision therapy he needs please read further:
Kaamil was diagnosed with Amblyopia as a young toddler. Amblyopia is a neuro-developmental disorder of binocular vision and is the most common form of reversible blindness. The condition of amblyopia results in a loss of visual function involving reduced eye sight in one eye, loss of depth perception, delays in visual information processing, visual-motor coordination and can have numerous quality of life consequences. Kaamil may never have the chance to be “anything he wants when he grows up” as we commonly tell children. He and his family also have to worry about injury to his good eye as that would render him blind. His family also worries about bullying and social exclusion; Kaamil is a sweet boy and a good friend to many, but there is always worry that he will be treated unfairly or left out because of his impaired vision.
In the past, amblyopia treatment has been limited to patching and Atropine eye drops. Kaamil has tried this all with no success. At his last appointment with the eye doctor, Kaamil's family was told that patching is no longer an option because of the kind and severity of Amblyopia. Kaamil's brain has suppressed the bad eye to the point that the eye is shut of from the brain, leading to stereo blindness and deficient depth perception. This leaves Kaamil accident prone and with poor eye hand coordination making daily things we all take for granted a unique challenge for him.
Occlusion therapy is an outdated and largely ineffective approach to a complex and serious vision disorder that Kaamil has. BUT there is a new research-based advanced amblyopia vision therapy available to children. This is new to our area and was therefore not an option for Kaamil at an earlier age.
Vision therapy emphasizes binocular vision and visual information processing development. This therapy takes place in the office with a doctor trained in vision therapy along with supporting at-home activities. Vision therapy patients gain significantly faster and better results, including restoration of sight, depth perception, visual processing abilities and eye hand coordination. Research shows that there is neuroplasticity in the brain and by using vision therapy we can turn the brain/eye communication back on and Amblyopia can be successfully treated.
Again, this therapy is not currently covered under Saskatchewan health or insurance coverage, leaving an estimated cost of $4000 for 18-22 weeks of therapy.
In every corner of our community that Kim, Matt, and their children are involved, the Smith family put forward hours upon hours of volunteer time, support, and passion for making our city and province a better place for all of us. We are more than happy to help them access this care for Kaamil because we know that this family would be -and has been- first in line to help us when we need it.
Every dollar is extremely appreciated. If you would like more details about Amblyopia and the vision therapy he needs please read further:
Kaamil was diagnosed with Amblyopia as a young toddler. Amblyopia is a neuro-developmental disorder of binocular vision and is the most common form of reversible blindness. The condition of amblyopia results in a loss of visual function involving reduced eye sight in one eye, loss of depth perception, delays in visual information processing, visual-motor coordination and can have numerous quality of life consequences. Kaamil may never have the chance to be “anything he wants when he grows up” as we commonly tell children. He and his family also have to worry about injury to his good eye as that would render him blind. His family also worries about bullying and social exclusion; Kaamil is a sweet boy and a good friend to many, but there is always worry that he will be treated unfairly or left out because of his impaired vision.
In the past, amblyopia treatment has been limited to patching and Atropine eye drops. Kaamil has tried this all with no success. At his last appointment with the eye doctor, Kaamil's family was told that patching is no longer an option because of the kind and severity of Amblyopia. Kaamil's brain has suppressed the bad eye to the point that the eye is shut of from the brain, leading to stereo blindness and deficient depth perception. This leaves Kaamil accident prone and with poor eye hand coordination making daily things we all take for granted a unique challenge for him.
Occlusion therapy is an outdated and largely ineffective approach to a complex and serious vision disorder that Kaamil has. BUT there is a new research-based advanced amblyopia vision therapy available to children. This is new to our area and was therefore not an option for Kaamil at an earlier age.
Vision therapy emphasizes binocular vision and visual information processing development. This therapy takes place in the office with a doctor trained in vision therapy along with supporting at-home activities. Vision therapy patients gain significantly faster and better results, including restoration of sight, depth perception, visual processing abilities and eye hand coordination. Research shows that there is neuroplasticity in the brain and by using vision therapy we can turn the brain/eye communication back on and Amblyopia can be successfully treated.
Again, this therapy is not currently covered under Saskatchewan health or insurance coverage, leaving an estimated cost of $4000 for 18-22 weeks of therapy.
Organizer and beneficiary
Julian Wotherspoon
Organizer
Regina, SK
Kimberly Smith
Beneficiary
