Academy of Vision Development, PLLC

04/16/2026

Spring Break is over, the bags are unpacked, and we’re officially in the final stretch of the school year. 🌷 For many parents, this is the time when the realization hits: “My child is still struggling with reading, and I don’t know why.”

As a teacher for 27 years and experienced behavioral optometrist, We’ve seen this “Spring Plateau” many times. Families often think more tutoring or more practice is the answer. But if a child’s eyes aren’t teaming, tracking, or focusing together, they aren’t "disobedient" or "behind"—they are exhausted.
Imagine trying to finish a marathon while wearing weights on your ankles. That is what reading feels like for a child with an unintegrated visual system.

At the Academy of Vision Development, we don’t just do eye exercises. We look at the whole person. Our "bottom-up" approach integrates the brain and body so that the visual foundation is stable. When the foundation is strong, reading fluency and academic performance finally have a chance to soar.

Don’t "wait and see" until summer. Let’s use this final school term to clear the path for their success.

Call 616-485-9804 to schedule a functional vision evaluation.

04/10/2026

Spring break is over… and for many families, that means it’s time to refocus.

If your child struggled with reading, homework, or attention before the break, those challenges don’t usually fix themselves with time off. In fact, this is the perfect moment to reset and build a stronger foundation.

Vision therapy isn’t just about seeing clearly — it’s about helping the eyes and brain work together for:
• Better focus
• Smoother reading
• Improved comprehension
• Less frustration and fatigue

When the visual system is working efficiently, learning becomes easier—and confidence starts to grow.

Spring is a season of growth. 🌱
This could be the time your child finally gains the skills they’ve been missing.

📞 616-485-9804
— Academy of Vision Development

04/06/2026

Celebrating Kaylee Martin getting into the 2+4 Optometry School early admit program at Ferris State University at MCO's 50th Anniversary celebration gala!

Congrats, Kaylee!!! Your hardwork and dedication to your education have paid off! She starts Optometry school in 2027 and wants to focus on neuro- rehabilitation. With Chad Martin

04/05/2026

No greater words than:
CHRIST IS RISEN!

04/03/2026

03/31/2026

Dreams are built in the off-season. 🏀

Most athletes spend their time in the gym or on the field, but the most elite competitors are also training the "software" that runs the show: their vision.

At Academy of Vision Development, we know that performance isn't just about how fast you run or how high you jump—it’s about how quickly your brain processes what your eyes see. From tracking a fast-moving ball to perfecting depth perception for that game-winning shot, we help athletes integrate their visual system with their body for faster, more accurate reactions.

Why wait for the season to start? The off-season is the time to build the foundation. If you want to sharpen your competitive edge and move from reacting to anticipating, we are here to help you reach that next level.

Academy of Vision Development

Where we treat the whole system, not just the eyes.

03/18/2026

Is Your Child Working Twice as Hard for Half the Results? 📚✍️

If your child is bright but struggles with reading or coordination, the "wait and see" approach isn't the answer. Often, the struggle isn't about effort—it’s about a shaky neurological foundation.

At the Academy of Vision Development, we don't just do "eye exercises." We use OMST (Optimized Multi-sensory Systems Training) to integrate the brain and body from the bottom up.

Real Results We See Every Day:
• Reading Fluency: Words stop "dancing," allowing kids to finally keep their place and understand what they read.
• Faster Reading Speed: When the eyes team up perfectly, the brain doesn't get exhausted by the second page.
• Handwriting & Fine Motor: Better body awareness leads to better pencil control and less frustration during written work.

Why We’re Different:
With over 40 years of experience in schools and behavioral optometry, we know that vision is a whole-brain system. We have helped countless children move from "struggling" to "thriving" by treating the root cause, not just the symptoms.

Your child's potential is waiting. Let’s build the foundation to reach it.

📞 Call us at 616-485-9804

03/17/2026

20/150 to 20/40: When the Brain Finally "Sees" the Full Picture 👁️✨

We often hear that once a child reaches a certain age, a "weak" eye is just something they have to live with. At the Academy of Vision Development, we know that’s simply not true. The brain is capable of change at any age.

Recently, we’ve been celebrating a huge milestone with one of our younger patients. When he first started with us, he could only see 20/150 in one eye. Even with the right glasses, his brain wasn't fully "plugging in" to the information coming from that eye.

How did we help him bridge that gap? Our In-Office Vision Therapy programs treat amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (eye turn). With home therapy activities built into the program, daily practice at home with weekly In-Office visits allow for neuro-genesis. We're building new neuro- synapses so the brain learns to use the two eyes together properly.
We didn't just do "eye exercises." We also used our flagship OMST (Optimized Multisensory Systems Training) approach to work from the bottom up. By integrating his gross motor and vestibular systems, we gave his brain a stable foundation.
Once the body felt secure, the brain was finally ready to "turn on" the visual processing required to see clearly.

The Results:
• Before: 20/150 (Significant struggle with daily tasks)
• After: 20/30 single letter and 20/40 full line!

This isn't just a change in numbers on a chart. It’s a change in this child’s life. He is happier, more confident, and his family is thrilled to see him engaging with the world in a way he couldn't before.

The REASON 20/40 (to 20/20) is the goal: God forbid something happens to his better eye, he will still be legal to drive a vehicle in Michigan if his poorer eye can AT LEAST see 20/40.

The Lesson:
"Wait and see" is not the answer. When care is treated in pieces, progress stalls. When we treat the visual system as part of a whole-brain, whole-body system, outcomes like this are possible.

We are so proud of this young man’s hard work and grateful to this wonderful family for trusting us with his care.

03/13/2026

Bulging Squares.
Can you believe it's made entirely of squares? The pattern tricks your brain into thinking the middle is bulging toward you!
Taken at the Optical Illusions Museum in Chicago.

03/13/2026

Optical illusions museum in Chicago! The colors you process depend greatly on the color of light with which you are seeing.

03/03/2026

To God goes the glory, we just do what we're called to do to help people! I woke up this morning to this lovely text from a previous patient:

Good morning!! My husband and I were chatting over the weekend about how differently things could have gone for Jack. He is really kicking butt in life and we know that without working with you, he wouldn't be this successful. We will forever appreciate you!

He is heading to Ford Field this weekend for the individual state wrestling finals!!!

But even more importantly, he is a great human who works hard and is just fun to be around. Again, I don't know if he would have had the same outcome without your help!

Thanks for being you! Just wanted you to know 😘

02/26/2026

The "Wait and See" approach isn't a plan—it's a gamble. When a child suffers a concussion, the standard advice is often "rest and wait." But what happens when the headaches, dizziness, and focus struggles persist for months—or even years?

A concussion doesn't just affect one "spot" in the brain; it disrupts the rhythm of the entire system. Vision, balance, and spatial awareness lose their ability to communicate.

This is where OMST changes the game.
At Academy of Vision Development, we use this flagship technology to safely reintegrate the visual, auditory, and vestibular systems.

We help the brain reconnect:
✅ Timing & Balance
✅ Eye Teaming
✅ Body Awareness

We are proud to be the only clinic in Michigan offering this neuro-rehabilitative approach. If your child hasn't felt "right" since their injury, there is a reason—and more importantly, a path forward. 💙