One aspect of aging that might take most of us by surprise is the deterioration of our eyesight. Suddenly, it becomes harder for us to read books or our computer screen until finally we go to the ophthalmologist to find the cause. We leave the office with a prescription for reading glasses despite the fact that there are other alternatives such as vision therapy.

Vision therapy or vision training – as it is sometimes called – has been around since the late nineteenth century as a non-surgical treatment for strabismus, farsightedness, and other visual problems. However, most visual specialists have conflicting opinions regarding the effectiveness of visual therapy for the treatment of strabismus and farsightedness.
Nevertheless, traditionally, vision therapy has been performed by ophthalmologists and Orthoptics. The treatment usually consists of eye exercises, the use of lenses, prisms, filters, occluders, special instruments, and software. The treatment lasts a few weeks or several months depending on severity. However, new technologies have made natural vision therapy available.

A company called Ucansi Inc., a U.S. corporation with an R&D facility in Israel, has developed a vision therapy smartphone application labeled GlassesOff™. GlassesOff™ is a non-invasive vision therapy application that boosts the brain’s speed and image processing capability to enhance your eyesight. Their software enhances contrast sensitivity making it unnecessary to wear glasses or contact lenses. As Uri Polat, co-founder of Ucansi, stated in an interview with the New Scientist, “We’re using the brain as glasses”. Hence, users of this vision therapy application are able to improve their eyesight naturally and prevent further biological deterioration. Scientific studies confirm the effectiveness of this new methodology.

Unlike other online vision therapy software, GlassesOff™ advance, and non-invasive methods have been thoroughly researched over the last 15 years. Furthermore, a recent study conducted at the University of California, Berkeley reported that volunteers who tried the app exhibited nearly a 10-year enhancement in their eyesight. Before the study, they needed reading glasses to read the standard font size of most newspapers. However, after training with GlassesOff™ for three months, they had no need for their reading glasses anymore. Other studies have produced similar results throughout the years of testing. Consequently, this new technology might delay the need for glasses as we age.
The GlassesOff™ vision therapy application will be available next year for the iPhone and Android technologies via your device market.