PRI Vision Program Triage Form
PRI Vision Referral Recommendations
Pre-requisites Needed for Successful PRI Vision Intervention
Q. What is the PRI Vision Program?
A. The PRI Vision Program is an interdisciplinary approach to achieving changes in body posture and patterns. Vision has a tremendous influence in body posture and patterns; over 70% of all the connections in our brains relate to our vision, but only a small portion of these connections are concerned with how clearly we see. A significant portion of nerve fibers that leave the retina go to the part of the brain that sends signals to the posturing muscles in our back. The PRI Vision Program looks at this interaction and addresses how this can influence your PRI Physical Therapy Program both positively and negatively. Just as a physical therapy program requires intermittent changes in activities to continue progress, the Vision Program is a part of the overall process and may require changes and adjustments to your treatment plan as progress is either made or not made at a satisfactory rate.
Q. How is a prescription from a PRI Vision Optometrist different than one from another eye doctor?
A. First, you will have your prescription checked while you are standing and with a trial frame on instead of having you look through two small holes in a machine while sitting. This allows us to evaluate you in a more natural and dynamic position. Secondly, we have found that in many cases the lens that the patient subjectively states makes their vision the most clear is not only different in a standing position than in a seated one, but also that it further “locks” their body into its usual posture or pattern. This is what we are trying to change. Only a PRI Physical Therapist working with a PRI Vision Optometrist can assess what prescription will help or hinder your PRI treatment program.
Q. Why is my vision more clear with my old glasses or contacts?
A. Although how clearly you see is important, the purpose of your new prescription is primarily to force your brain to “use” your vision differently. This often requires a change in your prescription that will not allow you to see the same as you did before. During your evaluation, we frequently ask how you feel about how you are seeing; this is to gauge how easily you will adjust to your new Rx. Some adjustment is necessary although each patient is different in how long that process will take.
Q. How long will it take for me to “get used to” my new glasses?
A. Everyone is different. Several factors will increase the time for adjustment, including an aggressive change in prescription from your current glasses, contact lens wear, lack of previous or prolonged time without eyeglass wear, poor compliance with prescribed wearing schedule, and bifocal lenses (either lined or unlined). Keep in mind the PRI Vision Program is focused on facilitating changes for your long term overall well-being; although changing how you see may not be an easy adjustment, your physical therapist has assessed this to be a necessary process to achieve your physical goals.
Q. What if the glasses stop working?
A. Just as you have likely experienced with your PRI program, PRI Vision is also a process. In some cases, the effect you first experience with your glasses may seem to “wear off”. This is due to a very natural process, called adaptation. As humans, we try to avoid discomfort. Changing to a new body posture or pattern isn’t comfortable, and your brain may learn to stop reacting to the new prescription in the desired way. Often, your PRI physical therapist may have noted your ability to adapt as they have worked with you. If so, this will be considered as changes in your eyewear prescription are trialed during your evaluation and the treatment plan is developed. Ultimately, there is no way to know for sure which patients will experience this or how quickly it may happen. If adaptation occurs, you will be re-evaluated to determine if eyewear is still needed as part of the treatment program.
Q. Will I always need glasses to continue feeling better?
A. In most cases, no. As you continue working through your PRI program, the physical activities are reinforcing your new body posture or pattern, as well as your brain’s ability to adopt and maintain these changes. The longer the incorrect posture or patterns have been present, the longer it will likely take to achieve and maintain the desired changes. Our goal is to keep help patients learn and maintain their new pattern so well that it no longer matters if they have on a particular prescription.
Q. What if I don’t feel as good with my new glasses as I felt in the office during my evaluation?
A. Many factors influence the effect your glasses will have. The accuracy of the prescription, including the lens material and frame size, is the main one. Additionally, a bifocal lens, whether lined or unlined, may also change how you feel and there is no way assess this prior to receiving your new eyewear. Keeping your frame properly adjusted, especially the straightness of the frame as it sits on your face, is very important; a frame that sits crooked changes the prescription you are looking through and may hamper or even reverse your progress. If you suspect there is a problem, you need to first have your prescription verified for accuracy. Once your prescription has been verified, schedule an appointment with your PRI physical therapist so they may evaluate you with your new eyewear to determine whether re-evaluation by the PRI Vision Optometrist is needed.
Q. Why do I need to be seen again by the PRI Vision Optometrist?
A. There are a few main reasons:
If you wore glasses before starting the PRI Vision Program to see more clearly, you will need to be re-evaluated to determine your final prescription as you discharge active treatment. This is to ensure that you are able to maintain the changes you have made in your posture and position regardless of what prescription you have in your glasses.
If the effect of the PRI Vision Program eyewear prescription is no longer evident, which may mean adaptation has occurred, or you are not progressing in your PRI physical therapy program as expected and your physical therapist suspects your vision is continuing to influence this.
Generally, all patients will be seen for at least one follow-up to gauge whether the vision component has been adequately addressed and to recheck the clarity of your vision.
Q. Do I need to still see my regular eye doctor?
A. Yes. Regular ocular health evaluations are recommended to check for eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. Most eye diseases do not affect how clearly you see until you have had them for a long time. This is not part of your PRI Vision Evaluation. We ask that you do not fill any eyeglass prescriptions from another eye doctor while undergoing your PRI Vision Program.
