Dr. Lynn Hellerstein of Vision Beyond Sight speaks with Dr. Robert Lederman, neuro-developmental optometrist and international speaker, to talk about the big impact of vision to learning and why we are still missing it. “We live in the illusion that seeing is easy.” Robert revealed how myopia or nearsightedness has higher incidents in certain populations, questioned why having myopia as a condition is being considered normal when growing up, and provided myopia prevention tips especially for children. He also delved in the wrong expectations set to optometric vision therapy by pointing out the differences between language-based and vision-based learning difficulties, and how 20-20 vision is not a reliable measure to know if you are meeting the visual demands of your life. Functional testing is inadequate, and seeing a developmental optometrist would solve the undiagnosed and untreated visual inefficiencies that are preventing your child (or even you!) from living a full life.
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- How Dr. Lederman got interested in the field of developmental and functional optometry
- The more studious people are more myopic and the less studious are less myopic.
- Questioning how myopia or nearsightedness is being considered normal and understanding why certain populations have higher incidents of myopia
- The danger of higher prescription glasses
- Significant hours spent outside reduces the likely onset of myopia for children.
- Taking regular breaks for your eyes using the 20-20-20 method
- Using glasses and contact lenses that prevent myopia
- Optometric vision therapy for patients who are having difficulty with adjusting focus
- Why are we still missing the big impact of vision to learning
- The misleading idea about 20-20 vision
- Dyslexia or word-blindness
- Wrong expectations for optometric vision therapy
- Removing visual impediments to learning
- When you change what the child sees, you change what they say.
- Language-based versus vision-based learning difficulties 2747
- How parents can find out if their children have vision problems
- Finding a more thorough functional testing through OVDRA and OEP
- The case study of the 17-year old with the goal of one day reading a story for his children
- Meeting the visual demands of your everyday life
- What developmental optometrists offer to the world
- How to reach Robert
About Dr. Robert Lederman:
I grew up in London and moved to Israel in my twenties, where I’ve built both my family and my professional life. I’m married, with children and grandchildren, and for the past several decades, I’ve devoted myself to helping people see—and live—better.
As a neuro-developmental optometrist, I focus on functional vision: how the eyes, brain, and body work together to support learning, reading, balance, and daily life. Over the years, I have seen more than 18,000 patients, many of whom struggle with challenges that go far beyond 20/20 eyesight—difficulties with reading, dizziness, visual motion sensitivity, or binocular vision dysfunction. My goal is to uncover the root of these challenges and give patients tools to thrive.
Alongside patient care, I’ve developed a passion for teaching. I’ve delivered over 400 lectures worldwide and continue to teach through courses and webinars designed to help optometrists “master the foundations” of binocular vision, one step at a time. Too many graduates leave school feeling uncertain about how to apply what they learned in this area. My mission is to guide young and experienced optometrists alike to see beyond the eye chart, recognize the life-changing potential of functional vision care, and build the confidence to bring it into their practices.
What makes my journey unique is the bridge I try to build—between clinical expertise and human impact, between traditional optometry and a broader understanding of vision, and between colleagues across the world who share the drive to learn and grow. At its heart, my work is about clarity: helping people see more clearly, and helping professionals think more clearly about what vision truly means.
Connect with Robert Lederman and LedermanVision:
Websites: robertlederman.com | ledermanvision.com
Facebook: Robert Lederman | Lederman Vision
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@visioncenter | www.youtube.com/@Robert.Lederman
“Someone can have their eyes examined, be told everything is fine, and be struggling to read the piano music the very next day because of undiagnosed issues of visual efficiency. I have a quote on my website: ‘Undiagnosed and untreated visual inefficiencies is the title of the first chapter of so many stories of lives not fully lived. Sadly it remains mostly unread.’” – Dr. Robert Lederman
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Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, Developmental Optometrist, previous co-owner of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, P.C., award-winning author and international speaker, holds powerful and inspiring conversations with her guests in the areas of health, wellness, education, sports and psychology. They share their inspirational stories of healing and transformation through their vision expansion. Vision Beyond Sight Podcast will help you see with clarity, gain courage and confidence. Welcome to Vision Beyond Sight!
Dr. Lynn’s books are available at Amazon.com and www.lynnhellerstein.com/shop.
Dr. Lynn is available for speaking engagements and consulting. For more information, visit www.lynnhellerstein.com.
To learn more about vision therapy or to find a doctor providing vision therapy in your area, visit COVD.org.
To learn more about vision and the impact in concussion/brain injury, visit Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.
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