Stuff I can't believe behavioral optometrists say

@sicbbos.bsky.social

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This account's purpose is to highlight extraordinary claims made by behavioral (also called developmental or neurodevelopmental) optometrists. Quotes taken from their websites, textbooks and other public places.

The claim Did you know being left-eye dominant (LED) can contribute to reading difficulty? https://eyesontrack.com/ Dr Kristy Remick, OD, FCOVD, FAAO Book available to purchase from OEPF The facts As for the debate on the role of eye dominance in reading, the present results showed no relationship between reading performance and dominance stability, regardless of the kind of test and scoring method used. Zeri, F. , De Luca, M. , Spinelli, D. & Zoccolotti, P. (2011). Ocular Dominance Stability and Reading Skill: A Controversial Relationship. Optom Vis Sci, 88 (11), 1353-1362. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0b013e318229635a.
The claim A study by an optometrist, Dr Kaplan, in New York in conjunction with a psychiatry clinic showed that some schizophrenics were cured after receiving vision therapy. Others were helped in conjunction with other treatment. What would Jesus see? A developmental optometrist’s journey through vision care with an eye on the Bible by Dr Bill Henshaw. Available to purchase on ACBO website. The facts To be clear, Henshaw is claiming that vision therapy can cure some people with schizophrenia. The “science” on which this claim rests is, at best, flimsy. The claim is about as valid as claiming “my mate showed that eating baked beans made several of his kids get better at football”. If only schizophrenia was not such a serious illness. Why is the science flimsy at best? See the next card.
The claim. I can assure the reader that lack of visual skills is one of the primary causes, if not THE primary cause, of learning difficulties in children who appear to be otherwise normal. Eldon Rosenow OD FCOVD In Eyes on Track: A Manual to Improve Vision Processing By Dr Kristy Remick Available on OEPF website The facts Dyslexia and learning disabilities are complex problems without simple solutions and there is no evidence to suggest that visual interventions remediate them. However, through early detection and language-based individualized instruction that is systematic, explicit, and cumulative, children can develop appropriate word reading skills. The Southport CoLab and Florida Center for Reading Research https://dyslexiaida.org/do-vision-problems-cause-dyslexia/
The claim Vision is involved with a lot of childhood development. Even areas we wouldn’t typically think of as being involved with vision…so things like communication, you’d think that is mostly an auditory development. Well, eighty percent of communication is body language. What do we need to be able to understand body language? Vision. https://emergent.teachable.com/courses/vt101/lectures/4336914 The facts This claim likely originates from work done in the 1960s, where someone read a neutral word to an audience, varying the way that they said it to convey positive, neutral or negative feeling towards the (imaginary) addressee. The researchers asked the audience to say how they worked out how the speaker felt towards the addressee. The actual figures are: 55% used facial communication, 38% used tone of voice, and 7% used actual words spoken The study outcomes don’t support the statement that 80% of communication is body language. A fairer statement would be that body language contributes 55% of how people work out how the speaker feels towards the addressee. https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/beyond-words/201109/is-nonverbal-communication-a-numbers-game Mehrabian, A and Ferris S. (1967) 31(3) J Consult Psychol 248
Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim Although there may be other ways to reach our goals in life, vision therapy / vision enhancement is the most efficient way to achieve the goal of becoming better human beings and living a better quality of life. Albert Shankman OD, Psycho-Behavioral Vision Enhancement, Optometric Extension Program Foundation 2005 available to order from OEPF and ACBO The facts. Pseudoscience in health care: “Every disease has a single cause and they’ve got the cure-all.” Vision therapy is not going to make you a better human being. quote from Jonathan Jarry, MSc. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/general-science-quackery/correactologyr-or-how-identify-pseudoscience
The claim. Nature’s Electromagnetic Spectrum <a list which includes> 172 Hz (~ 2 meters) the dominant harmonic frequency of nature known in ancient China and Tibet, rediscovered independently by the author. 10^0 Hz (10^5 miles) heat beat (EKG); distance to the moon; heart/love resonance with our Mother/Wisdom 10^-3 Hz (10^8 miles) distance to the sun; resonance with the Christ Jamming Nature’s Spectrum: Technology Frequencies <a list which includes> 10^10 Hz (1 inch) SHF: microwave radio, ovens: when a neighbour cooks by microwave, you are exposed via resonance over the power lines. Electromagnetic Pollution Solutions: What You Can Do To Keep Your Home & Workplace Safe by Dr Glen Swartwout. Available to purchase from ACBO The facts. ACBO claims to follow evidence-based practice. These ideas are clearly alternative, and not science: having a specific “resonance with our Mother/Wisdom” having a specific “resonance with the Christ” being exposed to resonance due to your neighbour’s use of a microwave oven. Can you trust anything ACBO says? https://www.acbo.org.au/images/Membership/Evidence_Based_Practice_Policy_Feb_2024_Final.pdf
The claim. Using Eastern methods of analysis, Ayurvedic medicine, and my own experience with the South African natavistic rituals, I began viewing the left eye as the “feminine channel” and the right as the “masculine channel”. The Power Behind Your Eyes: Improving Your Eyesight with Integrated Vision Therapy by R.Kaplan OD. Available to purchase from OEPF. The facts. Um what…? Seriously we have nothing to say about this. We think it speaks for itself.
The claim. Over 80% of learning occurs through the visual system, which means that even subtle issues can have a major impact on your efficiency and performance. https://babo.co.uk/ The facts. We think the original reference for this statement is this: Report of Learning Process Project, by the Industrial Audiovisual Association, 1962 which we can’t access anywhere. However, this report is referenced and appears to be quoted both of these places: Gosnell, D. J. (1978). T squared = L: Theory and Technology Combine for Learning. J Educ Tech Sys 7(2), 133-141. http://lettres-anglais.ac-amiens.fr/IMG/pdf/12 LyceeGT_Ressource_AP_Developper-memoire-technique-memorisation_sequence1.pdf The report apparently said that we “learn 85% (or 83% depending on which source is right) through sight”. This Claim is based on a report prepared by an audiovisual industry association in 1962. Such science.
The claim. For children with learning disabilities, cerebral palsy on the autism spectrum, traumatic brain injuries, and other neurological conditions, we also use Quantum Reflex Integration, QRIⓇ, a method in which acu-reflex points linked to primitive reflexes are stimulated by the QRI Harmonic cold laser and sound system. Low level laser therapy works at the cellular level to repair nerve cells and stimulate the integration of the reflexes often bringing significant results. The Symphony of Reflexes: Interventions for Human Development, Autism, ADHD, CP, and Other Neurological Disorders by Bonnie Brandes. Available for sale on OEPF. The facts. The various reflex integration therapies are based on speculative ideas about retained primitive reflexes. We can’t know whether any of them are effective, because they haven’t been scientifically tested. Harriet Hall, MD. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/reflex-integration-therapy/
The claim. Each eye condition is representative of a mind’s-eye perception. Each condition is a gift, offering a specific lesson. The following guide may help you to discover your particular gift. Corneal conditions. Mind’s eye perception = blocking of power, fear of loss of power, seeing pain. Gift or lesson = Reclaim personal power or vision. Seeing Without Glasses A Step-by-Step Approach to Improving Eyesight Naturally By Roberto Kaplan Available for sale on OEPF. The facts. There is no evidence that corneal conditions are a “gift” intended to teach a person to reclaim their personal power or vision, nor is there any evidence that people develop corneal conditions due to a “fear of loss of power”.
So this claim is based on a report prepared by an audiovisual industry association in 1962.
The claim. ​​This study <The impact of vergence and accommodative therapy on reading eye movements and reading speed. Gallaway M and Boas MB. Optom Vis Dev 2007;38(3):115-120.> establishes that accommodative and vergence therapy can result in improved reading speed and eye movements even in the absence of ocular motility therapy. This is documented through objective computerized tools for monitoring changes in eye movements, thereby assisting in understanding the effects of vision therapy on reading efficiency. Ida Chung, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, President the College of Optometrists in Vision Development https://openjournals.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/cjo/article/view/511/366 The facts. “Establishes” is a pretty strong word to describe a study of six people aged 11 to 24, with no control group and no masking, that the authors themselves describe as “providing preliminary data”.
The claim. When used in very small amounts, lenses, prisms, and binasal occluders can have an effect which is analogous to the effects of internally taken homeopathic medicines. Homeopathic medicine is designed to stimulate the body’s own mechanisms for healing. It uses what is typically considered to be a very small amount of a substance which, when introduced into the body, stimulates learning by the immune system. This enables the system to respond more effectively in similar future situations. This is unlike immunization which uses significant amounts of a substance to trigger an actual response to the toxin. This can cause an actual illness from the exposure, and does so, in a some instances. A Variation on the Use of Binasal Occlusion by Steven Gallop OD https://vision-therapy-pa.com/published-articles/binasal-occlusion The facts. We can’t decide if it is ironic or just plain sad that this peculiar-to-behavioral-optometry technique of binasal occlusion is being compared positively to homeopathy by a behavioral optometrist. Homeopathy is an example of how a lack of understanding of how science and the scientific method work contributes to beliefs that can have drastic consequences for patients. Grams N. (2019). Homeopathy-where is the science? A current inventory on a pre-scientific artifact. EMBO reports, 20(3), e47761. https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201947761. See also: Mukerji, N., Ernst, E. Why homoeopathy is pseudoscience. Synthese 200, 394 (2022). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11229-022-03882-w
The claim. “One example of a potentially harmful vision therapy is the use of nasal occlusion filters (a form of opaque tape), prescribed by optometrists in the treatment of esotropia (crossed eyes). This tape is placed on the medial aspect of spectacles worn by a child and is known as binasal occlusion.” Here Dr Press is quoting from this paper https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1873 and then states The problem with this statement of course is that no study has ever shown any harm from the use of binasal occlusion in esotropia. https://visionhelp.wordpress.com/2022/12/15/yet-another-vision-therapy-hatchet-job/ The facts. Has Dr Press read the referenced paper? In the same paragraph, the authors describe the harm: We have seen multiple children lose valuable time (in some cases, up to a year lost) in the treatment of their strabismus. This time cannot be made up, as there are critical phases in visual development [ 7 ]. These children may lose both visual acuity and binocularity, known as stereopsis. There is no study to show this because none would ever be approved by an ethics board. Wang, B., & Kuwera, E. (2022). Children, 9(12), 1873. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9121873
The claim. How Do I Know If a Child Needs Vision Therapy? The list below may signal that a patient may need vision therapy: Mixing similar words, such as ‘was’ and ‘saw’ Confusing the letters b, d, p and q https://www.visiontherapycanada.com/vision-therapy/what-is-vision-therapy/ The facts. For the most part children's confusion of mirror image letters is not caused by perceptual deficits but relates to the fact that they are unfamiliar with this type of discrimination task. The ability to successfully discriminate between such letters can be learned easily by most children before first grade when they are instructed properly... reversals are appropriately regarded as relatively trivial and easily corrected errors, not as indicators of ... serious reading problems that must be remediated with special perceptual training materials. The most beneficial teacher response to such errors is to plan a suitable instructional program for the child. Moyer, S. B., & Newcomer, P. L. (1977). Reversals in reading: Diagnosis and remediation. Exceptional children, 43(7), 424-429. This is not new information and is considered a settled fact by reading researchers.
The claim. As mentioned in a previous post, the National Eye Institute (NEI) has funded a 5 year $8 million study called the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial–Attention and Reading Study (CITT-ART)!! This clinical trial is designed to study the effectiveness of vision therapy (VT) for improving reading and attention after treatment of convergence insufficiency (CI) in children for 9 to <14 years of age. This is a call to help recruit for a placebo-controlled VT trial in 2014, sent out on the COVD blog here: https://covdblog.wordpress.com/2014/11/17/action-action-we-want-action-citt-art/ The facts. When the study outcomes were published a few years later, they showed that VT was no better than placebo for improving a child’s reading score. The link below is a 41 page reaction published in the COVD journal, complaining about everything from the CITT-ART authors not using “suggest, may or might” in the abstract, to the placebo used not really being a placebo, to a claim that VT is actually psychotherapy and so you can’t do a placebo-controlled trial of it, and of course that the investigators were biased. Or maybe you could just accept the science? https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.covd.org/resource/resmgr/vdr/vdr_9_2/vdr9-2_article_cook_web.pdf
Photograph of a field at dawn. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim Visual field loss has been found to be negatively correlated with return to work in a follow up study over 15 years of Vietnam Veterans. Reference given: GroswasserZ, Cohen M, Blankstein E. Polytrauma associated with traumatic brain injury: incidence, nature and impact on rehabilitation rehabilitation outcome outcome. Brain Inj 1990;4:161 1990;4:161. Source of this claim: https://www.oepf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Steve-Leslie.pdf The facts. The relationship between visual field loss and return to work was actually not significant in this paper. just another example of playing fast and loose with the truth
Pink and green floral background. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim A case is presented of a four and a half year old child. VA reported OD 20/50 OS 20/20 Retinoscopy reported OD +3.25 OS +2.75 “Refraction” reported OD +1.50 20/40 OS +0.75 20/20 Conclusion: His broken collarbone restricted his arm movement and probably his eye movement. Intentional control of large muscles was difficult, so at this stage, lenses (for central eyesight) would not be the first choice. Treatment given: NON-Conscious ambient visual processing. Passive alteration of visual environment to nonconsciously modify habitual peripheral visual processing. Activities prescribed: shoulder stimulation games, passive peripheral eyesight stimulation , Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex activity, ball bouncing , wheelbarrow moving head, arm and shoulder activity. At 2nd visit (3 weeks later), +0.62 sphere eyeglasses were prescribed to be worn 4 hours per day. Patch left eye with 0.4 Bangerter filter 20 minutes per day. A Novel Contribution to the Optometric Rehabilitation of Optometric Rehabilitation of Amblyopia ICBO 2010 Deborah Zelinsky, O.D. The Mind-Eye Connection https://www.oepf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Deborah-Zelinsky.pdf The facts. This workup and management is so far from the standard of care according to the evidence. Was cycloplegic retinoscopy done? (probs not) How did you “refract” a 4.5 year old? (and why do you think refraction in an amblyopic 4 year old is reliable?) How does a broken collarbone a year ago cause eye movement problems? (it doesn’t) How do shoulder activities affect vision? (they don’t) What is your rationale for +0.62 spectacles? (there isn’t a justifiable one) And why did you patch for 20 minutes per day? (evidence says 2 hours per day) Chen, A. M., & Cotter, S. A. (2016). The Amblyopia Treatment Studies: Implications for Clinical Practice.
Royal blue background with colorful starbursts. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim Does vision therapy (VT) work? We get it. You've probably never heard of VT before. How long has this been around? How do I know if I'm receiving evidence-based care? Here are just a few of many research endeavors which have been completed in the last several decades outlining why optometric VT is a respected, highly effective method for improving eye teaming ability. (followed by a list of dozens of references). https://www.lumen.vision/does-vt-work The facts. In the section on visual perception and information processing, there are 41 references. 20 are textbooks or textbook chapters. 7 are papers supporting VT for visual perception 13 are papers that do not “outline why optometric VT is ...highly effective”. The next image has details. Our favorite is a review which concludes: “As the relationship of visual perception to school learning is,at best, minimal, the time and expense currently devoted to visual training in the schools should be reevaluated if the purpose of such training is to improve academic achievement.” Larsen, Stephen C and Donald D Hammill, ‘The Relationship of Selected Visual- Perceptual Abilities to School Learning’ (1975) 9(3) The Journal of special education 281-291 Arrow to next page.
New age looking image (planets, star bursts) on purple background. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim [if you read Luminous Light by Liberman] you will be rewarded with some new concepts that could influence your thinking and [help you] treat your patients more effectively. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.covd.org/resource/resmgr/vdr/vdr_4_1/berne.pdf The SICBBOS team just read most of the Luminous Light preview on Google Books...it covers topics such as: Prahlad Jani the breatharian monk who claimed to live without water or food for decades, and whose “extraordinary state of health was not just related to the fact that he did not eat or drink. He also received great health benefits from sunbathing.” use of “color homeopathy” to enable one to “embrace colors that had previously caused reactions” the author being “elected president of the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine” in 2010 The facts no references, just...breatharianism, color homeopathy and energy medicine are all alternative medicine and not science
Abstract paint smudges in green and orange. Screenshot from referenced website: an eye made to look like a pie chart, with vision 83%, hearing 11%, touch 3.5%, smell 1.5%, taste 1%. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim We are built to learn visually. It’s simply the most effective of the five senses when it comes to learning, and it’s the sense that most successful students rely upon. In fact, over 80% of brain function incorporates the visual system. https://minnesotavisiontherapy.com/visual-learning The facts. We think the original reference for this statement is this: Report of Learning Process Project, by the Industrial Audiovisual Association, 1962 which we can’t access anywhere. However, this report is referenced and appears to be quoted both of these places: Gosnell, D. J. (1978). T squared = L: Theory and Technology Combine for Learning. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 7(2), 133-141. http://lettres-anglais.ac-amiens.fr/IMG/pdf/12 LyceeGT_Ressource_AP_Developper-memoire-technique-memorisation_sequence1.pdf The report apparently actually said that we “learn 85% (or 83% depending which source is right). Not that over 80% of brain function incorporates the visual system. So the Claim is based on a report prepared by an industry association in 1962, and even then is not quoted accurately. Arrow (next page)
Abstract orange squiggle and a drawing of a person looking confused with question marks. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. From an exemplar case report published by COVD Unaided VA: OD 20/20, OS 20/25-3 At near (reduced Snellen) OD 20/20 OS 20/30 The OS VA through a 2.2xTelescope was 20/20+1 …Near phorias (with+ 2.50 sph OU): intermittent diplopia with unstable fusion at 10^ BO OS …Wirt Rings with +2.00 sph. OU, patient perceived ring #1 correctly https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.covd.org/resource/resmgr/certification/2019_2020_Fellowship_Guide_F.pdf, P.35-38 The facts. Ok, so we have some questions. For example:... Of course VA is better when you get the patient to read the letter chart through a TELESCOPE: why did you include that? You can’t measure a phoria when there is a constant tropia. So is the tropia constant or did you write the wrong word? Yes, even a monocular person can see the first Wirt ring: this doesn’t mean anything. So why include it? And most importantly, it seems you consider this patient cured based on symptoms, since clinical findings after 13 weeks of weekly in-office vision therapy and home activities did not improve. The patient was wearing plus for near concurrently (an accepted treatment for esotropia). Is it possible her symptoms improved due to the plus lenses? What is the point of the time and expense committed to vision therapy if clinical findings don’t improve?
Bright orange background with two photographs of children’s toys. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Vision Therapy for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Incorporation of the DIR model/Floortime approach in which the presenters promote and support the use of Floortime™ in the management of autism. Rachel A “Stacey” Coulter, OD Maria Mandese, OD, Mehrnaz Azimi Green, OD https://www.oepf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Stacey-Coulter.pdf Currently, DIR/Floortime simply does not meet the basic standards of care for use as a treatment intervention. Specifically,there is little to no objective evidence of effectiveness. Ross, Harrison and Zane. https://asatonline.org/for-parents/becoming-a-savvy-consumer/is-there-science-behind-that-dir-floortime/
Yellow gingham background. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Reversals are a manifestation of a developmental lag in the process of orientation. They are indicative of an underlying problem in the integration of the vestibular and visual systems in the brain. College of Optometrists in Vision Development: Reversals white paper https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.covd.org/resource/resmgr/white_papers/5-_reversals.pdf The facts For the most part children's confusion of mirror image letters is not caused by perceptual deficits but relates to the fact that they are unfamiliar with this type of discrimination task. The ability to successfully discriminate between such letters can be learned easily by most children before first grade when they are instructed properly... reversals are appropriately regarded as relatively trivial and easily corrected errors, not as indicators of ... serious reading problems that must be remediated with special perceptual training materials. The most beneficial teacher response to such errors is to plan a suitable instructional program for the child. Moyer, S. B., & Newcomer, P. L. (1977). Reversals in reading: Diagnosis and remediation. Exceptional children, 43(7), 424-429.This is not new information and is considered a settled fact by reading researchers.
Person reading in an armchair with books on a table. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Because of inadequacy in visual form perception and also in the ability to match visual and verbal symbols, sight reading techniques are ineffective with dyslexics and phonic approaches to the teaching of reading also failed to produce fully satisfactory results. P.98, Selected Works of Nathan Flax Volume 1, Optometric Extension Program Foundation, 2007, for sale on both OEPF and ACBO websites The facts “Impaired phonemic awareness is the most common precursor to dyslexia, and interventions that target phonemic awareness skills have been shown to be the most effective treatment” Jason D. Yeatman, Ph.D. Copyright © 2016 International Dyslexia Association (IDA). Link https://dyslexiaida.org/how-to-counter-vision-based-claims-about-dyslexia-cures/
Green blue and yellow abstract watercolor background. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. My opinion is that there are many causes to the behavioral characteristics of autism, including genetic predispositions and environmental triggers, including vaccines. I personally know of hundreds of children that have had the same reaction that my son had to their vaccinations that led to serious gastrointestinal and immune dysfunction and autism. https://vtworks.org/2014/05/23/a-sit-down-with-dr-susan-daniel/ The facts. There is no link between vaccines and autism. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center. Link https://www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-safety/vaccines-and-other-conditions/autism
Green background with electrical power boards with plants growing from them. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim James Oschman, in his book The Scientific Basis of Energy Medicine, has shown the existence of a liquid crystal matrix consisting of collagen, peri-vascular, and connective tissue that communicates electromagnetic energy throughout the body at superconductive speed. Wallace LB. The theory and practice of syntonic phototherapy: a review. Optom Vis Dev 2009;40(2):73-81. The facts. Energy is a mathematical property of stuff, not a glowing orb—and because of our intuitions and wishful thinking, it’s a concept that lends itself well to pseudoscience. Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience/energy-wasnt-there
Pink background with flower illustration. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim In commenting on a blog about dyslexia, behavioral optometrist George Sahely quotes 28 studies that apparently support his view that “optometry can be of help to children who present with learning difficulties (again WITHOUT TREATING ANY DYSLEXIA OR LD ITSELF)”. https://www.spelfabet.com.au/2021/10/dyslexia-is-not-a-visual-problem-or-a-gift/ The facts Of these 28 studies: 1 is a consensus guideline (#27) 1 is a policy statement (#26) 2 are irrelevant to learning difficulties (#19 and #20) 1 is a description of a theory (#4) 1 is a textbook (#1) 2 are non-systematic reviews (#10 and unnumbered Nearchou) 2 support prescribing for refractive error (#12 and #24) 16 “support” his view but 13 of them have serious issues including low numbers of participants, no control group, simulation studies in adults, poor control of confounding factors and 2 actually support the opposite view, that eye exercises “remain controversial” except for very limited circumstances. (#2 and #13)
Child having eyes examined with a microscope. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. A typical optometrist will look at your eyes, they’ll check your prescription, and they’ll check you for eye disease. But that’s literally all they do. They treat you like a pair of eyeballs. Dr Nicholas Altuneg, Eyes by Design on TikTok https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSME4uCd7/ The facts. Under Australian guidelines, all optometrists are obliged to diagnose, assess and manage (including referral if out of their own scope) problems of binocular vision, amblyopia, strabismus and other issues that are not “prescription” or “eye disease” related. This claim breaks the Optometry Board of Australia code of conduct: not making unfair or inaccurate comparisons between the services of optometrists. https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Professional_support/Guidelines/Final_Entry-level-Competency-Standard-for-Optometry-2022.pdf https://www.optometryboard.gov.au/documents/default.aspx?record=WD10%2F1313&dbid=AP&chksum=3DLsSdMZPBDHyZxbvSLtew%3D%3D
Beige background with text. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. I have a concept about ocular pathologies. They stop you from normal visual function for a period until it's taken care of. But everybody that's had a prolonged ocular pathology needs vision therapy after their pathology is taken care of, and I'm talking about cataracts and everything else, absolutely. Optometric Extension Program Foundation Youtube Mort Davis at 24:14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5swtzojGHo The facts. Pseudoscience in health care: “Every disease has a single cause and they’ve got the cure-all.” We are not suggesting this quote implies vision therapy will cure ocular disease. But we are suggesting that behavioral optometrists think everyone needs vision therapy after a diagnosis of ocular disease. quote from Jonathan Jarry, MSc. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/general-science-quackery/correactologyr-or-how-identify-pseudoscience
Background photograph of woman stretching while looking at view of green mountains. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Disruptions in the flow of energy can be identified with bio-energetic information medicine. And these are fixed in the right place with certain geometric shapes, the so-called “code or symbol”. These signs act like antennas, which influence and harmonize the energy and information flows. The codes / symbols can be attached directly to the body or the symbol can be carried in your pocket. THE POWER OF SYMBOLS - HEALTH CODE 2020 by Yvonne Frei & Stefan Collier, Behavioral Optometrists link: https://www.limbicbalancemethod.com/lbmblog The facts. Energy is a mathematical property of stuff, not a glowing orb—and because of our intuitions and wishful thinking, it’s a concept that lends itself well to pseudoscience. Trying to manipulate this non-scientific, mystical energy turns out to be, well, a waste of energy. Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience/energy-wasnt-there
Pink background, heart symbol. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim I don't think there's an oncologist or a heart surgeon or a neurosurgeon who has saved more lives than I have. Dr Bob Sanet at 50:34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIUyH12Vmyw The facts. That is quite a claim.
Beige background with photograph of a mirror. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim Some people considered letter reversals after age 7 to be a symptom of dyslexia. While this can be true, the most common cause of reversals in older children is a lack of visual spatial development. https://www.eyecarekids.com.au/visual-spatial-skills/ The facts For the most part children's confusion of mirror image letters is not caused by perceptual deficits but relates to the fact that they are unfamiliar with this type of discrimination task. The ability to successfully discriminate between such letters can be learned easily by most children before first grade when they are instructed properly... reversals are appropriately regarded as relatively trivial and easily corrected errors, not as indicators of ... serious reading problems that must be remediated with special perceptual training materials. The most beneficial teacher response to such errors is to plan a suitable instructional program for the child. Moyer, S. B., & Newcomer, P. L. (1977). Reversals in reading: Diagnosis and remediation. Exceptional children, 43(7), 424-429.This is not new information and is considered a settled fact by reading researchers.
Most surgeons tend to be unfamiliar with exactly what the problem is [in strabismus], other than a cosmetic one. Gallop, S. J. (2015). A Parent Guide to Strabismus, Eye Muscle Surgery and Vision Therapy. Optometric Extension Program Foundation. [sarcasm alert] goodness knows how strabismus surgeons know anything about anything. They only do 4-6 years of medical school, two years of hospital training, 5 years of ophthalmology training, and 1+ years of pediatric ophthalmology training. https://www.chp.edu/-/media/chp/healthcare-professionals/documents/ophthalmology-fellowship-program.pdf?la=en https://www.ebo-online.org/subspecialty-exam-in-strabismus-and-paediatric-ophthalmology/ https://ranzco.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/17_Ocular-Motility_-Curriculum-Standard-2022.pdf
Pale yellow background with orange basketballs and a black and white photograph of basketballers shooting hoops. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. A study years ago involved three groups of basketball players shooting free throws: A. Practiced for a month, improved by 23% B. Control group no practice, no improvement C. Visualized only, improved by 23% The facts There is a “medium positive effect of imagery in sport specific outcomes” “comparable to the effects [of] goal setting or self-talk interventions.” “Imagery combined with physical practice was more effective than physical practice alone” Searches online suggest the ‘basketball study’ was conducted in the 1950’s at the University of Chicago by Dr. Biasiotto. Neither the original work by Biasiotto, nor any literature references to it, can be located by us. Just another example of playing fast and loose with the truth. Simonsmeier, B. A. et al (2020). The Effects of Imagery Interventions in sports: a meta-analysis. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984x.2020.1780627
Pink background with cartoon picture of a woman wearing a white coat and a stethoscope. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. The importance of the relationship between vision development and the autistic spectrum is poorly understood by most pediatricians, family doctors, pediatric ophthalmologists and child psychologists. Link. http://www.familyoptometry.net/conditions-we-treat/autismspectrum-disorders/ The facts. Wow, that’s a bold claim: that most pediatricians family doctors pediatric ophthalmologists child psychologists only poorly understand the importance of the relationship between vision development and the autistic spectrum (sic). We can’t find a reference to show that most of these people actually do understand the importance of the relationship between vision and autism. We think that makes this claim unfalsifiable, a common characteristic of pseudoscience.
Photograph of books in a library. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim Dyslexia refers to difficulty with reading. According to the Webster’s dictionary, the meaning of dyslexia is a disturbance of the ability to read. That’s it!...A test for “dyslexia” merely points out that there is a reading problem. http://www.familyoptometry.net/conditions-we-treat/dyslexia/ The facts These statements are a gross oversimplification of the process of evaluation of a person for dyslexia, which includes multiple domains including skills of oral language, decoding, spelling, vocabulary and comprehension. https://dyslexiaida.org/testing-and-evaluation/
Green background with photo of books. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim Vision Therapy ... is an individualized treatment program to improve or eliminate conditions such as ... dyslexia. https://www.silverstrandoptometry.com/services The facts “Impaired phonemic awareness is the most common precursor to dyslexia, and interventions that target phonemic awareness skills have been shown to be the most effective treatment” Jason D. Yeatman, Ph.D. Copyright © 2016 International Dyslexia Association (IDA). The IDA labels vision therapy for dyslexia as snake oil, unproven, and science fiction. Link https://dyslexiaida.org/how-to-counter-vision-based-claims-about-dyslexia-cures/
White and blue background. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. The purpose of the training is discussed with a child at the first training session. He is told that as a result of his optometrically oriented training, he will perform more efficiently and with less effort in the following areas: School. His school work will improve…He will be able to spend less time on his school work and get more out of it. Sports. His ability to catch and hit a ball will improve. Socially. He will be accepted by other children. Wiener, H. (2012). Eyes Ok-- I’m Ok. Optometric Extension Program Foundation. P.33 The facts. How to spot pseudoscience. The claim that “optometrically oriented training” will lead to peer acceptance lacks a plausible mechanism: there’s no way to explain how the claim might work based on existing knowledge. and is an extraordinary/exaggerated claim: it promises extraordinary benefits with insufficient evidence. https://thinkingispower.com/11-characteristics-of-pseudoscience/
Cream and pink background with florals Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Where is the research to support Vision Therapy? Well, here it is. And there is more developing as we speak. BILL HENSHAW, OD, FCOVD. https://www.drhenshaw.net/research-in-vision-therapy.html The facts The documents listed do not all “support Vision Therapy”. For example, in the amblyopia section, there are 63 references, of which: 3 are epidemiology papers 7 are papers describing functional impacts of amblyopia 4 are single case reports, 3 are case series 2 are about diagnosis 1 is an evidence-free description of VT activities used in the author’s practice 12 are textbooks / papers that support the opposite of Dr Henshaw’s approach https://www.drhenshaw.net/uploads/4/1/3/8/41383103/amblyopia.pdf
Cream plain background Sticker: Can you believe they said this? Stuff I can’t believe behavioral optometrists say. Why does it matter what they say? Because the average person on the street does not realize that these regulated, university-trained professionals are not following the science. And when the science is not followed, it does harm. economic, time and commitment costs, and most importantly for the struggling reader, opportunity cost in not accessing interventions that do work. Help us spread the word.
Green background with photo of herbs. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Learn how to free the body’s energy channels and treat minor vision problems with natural remedies that range from acupressure to herbs. Sherman, A., & Press, L. J. (2008). Chapter 22: Myopia Control Therapy in Applied Concepts in Vision Therapy Kindle Edition (L. J. Press, Ed.). Optometric Extension Program Foundation. The facts. Many alternative medicine practitioners believe in a form of energy …that our body has and that they can manipulate, with no evidence of its existence. That doesn’t stop them from claiming they can feel it, unblock it, or balance it. But there is no evidence for the existence of this form of energy, and actual evidence that its believers can’t even feel it. Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. The Energy That Wasn’t There. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience/energy-wasnt-there
Dark bluish gray with colourful flower motifs. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Since the majority of amblyopes have an eccentric fixation and they are not fixating with their fovea, the line of sight will pass through a peripheral portion of the cornea. Since that part of the cornea is flatter and more toroidal, [you] will find more plus and more cylinder, thus giving the illusion of an anisometropia.Reduce the power found in the fixating eye from 0.50 to 1.00 diopters. Make both lenses relatively equal in power. Forget cylinder. Donald J. Getz Differences between the classical and behavioral methods in the therapy for strabismus and amblypia (why our way is better!) ICBO 6 2010. https://www.oepf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Donald-Getz.pdf. The facts. Error 1: around half of amblyopes have eccentric fixation Lea, S., Snead, M., Loades, J. et al. Eye 5, 576–584 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1991.100
Bright blue, orange and pink amorphous blob with words. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. In this exercise you make a long sustained sound using different parts of your vocal mechanism. Voicing sounds make the inside of your head vibrate...These vibrations seem to relax and cleanse your brain. Dr Ray Gottlieb. Better Vision Class. Link https://www.drcharlesblum.com/oldsite/Patient%20Information/Eye%20Exercises.pdf The facts. How to spot fringe or pseudo-science. This claim is unfalsifiable: It can’t be proven wrong, because no testing or observation could ever disprove this claim. Professor Melanie Trecek-King. Thinking is Power link https://thinkingispower.com/11-characteristics-of-pseudoscience/
Pale blue background with abstract dark blue decoration. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Receptive language difficulties ...(are) manifested by problems in...posture - head tilt, slouching...one leg functionally longer than the other Wiener, H. (2012). Eyes Ok-I’m Ok. Optometric Extension Program Foundation.p.10 Book for sale on OEPF and ACBO websites. Lacks a plausible mechanism: There’s no way to explain how the claim might work based on existing knowledge. Honestly this claim is so bizarre, we don’t even know where to start. Based on Professor Melanie Trecek-King. Thinking is Power link https://thinkingispower.com/11-characteristics-of-pseudoscience/
Beige background with colorful abstract shapes. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim When treating intermittent divergent strabismus, near plus based on OEP-Skeffington concepts is very effective – when prescribed at the correct time. Nathan Flax. Paths to Managing Strabismus and Amblyopia. International Congress of Behavioral Optometry. 2010. https://www.oepf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Nat-Flax.pdf The facts. Plus lenses for near are not indicated for intermittent divergent strabismus (exotropia). There are more recent reviews, but the ones listed below were published prior to the date of the above quote. Plus lenses for near have no plausible mechanism in this condition. Gnanaraj, L., Richardson, S. Interventions for intermittent distance exotropia: review. Eye 19, 617–621 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6701617 Link. https://www.nature.com/articles/6701617 Hatt SR, Gnanaraj L. Interventions for intermittent exotropia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003737. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003737.pub2. Link. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003737.pub2/full
Pink background with text. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. A gifted clairvoyant … can often see distinct colors and shapes emanating from the body. This ability seems to be inborn in all of us to some extent, and can be developed with practice. Auras are easier to see than you might think. Liberman, J. (2011). Take Off Your Glasses and See. Harmony Books. The facts. Sorry, what? pretty sure even clairvoyants don’t think they are doing science or healthcare so why is this textbook for sale by the Optometric Extension Program Foundation, peak US behavioral optometry body? Link https://www.oepf.org/product/take-off-your-glasses-see/
Black background with neon pink and green background and streamers and confetti decoration. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Below you will find a list of research articles regarding some of the diagnoses and symptoms we treat. Dyslexia: What is the Role of the Visual System in Reading and Dyslexia? (2016) Link https://dyslexiaida.org/what-is-the-role-of-the-visual-system-in-reading-and-dyslexia/ The facts. What this link actually says. “Impaired phonemic awareness is the most common precursor to dyslexia, and interventions that target phonemic awareness skills have been shown to be the most effective treatment” Jason D. Yeatman, Ph.D. Copyright © 2016 International Dyslexia Association (IDA). The IDA labels vision therapy for dyslexia as snake oil, unproven, and science fiction. Ouch! Link https://dyslexiaida.org/how-to-counter-vision-based-claims-about-dyslexia-cures/
Pink background with text. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. The Z Bell Test…first off I'm going to do [the test] with no glasses, just to see if [the patient] does have a mismatch. I'm going to [instruct the patient to] close your eyes, and you're going to touch the bell where you hear it… [Now] I'm going to put something together that's going to help her hear this part <indicates area of space near patient’s head> to make it match [her vision]. <to the patient> Close your eyes, ready… much better. So there are actual lenses that can be given to a person to help them match their auditory and their visual to make them more comfortable. Dr. Amy Thomas, OD, FCOVD. Arizona Vision Therapy. The Z Bell Test. Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNqnk5nIhkc The facts. How to spot fringe or pseudo-science. This claim lacks a plausible mechanism: at the very least, how does the prescribing of spectacles through closed eyes affect hearing? Lacks adequate peer review: as at 27 Feb 2025, the only paper in PubMed about this test was a case report published by the inventor of the test in 2017. Based on Professor Melanie Trecek-King. Thinking is Power link https://thinkingispower.com/11-characteristics-of-pseudoscience/
Blue background with text. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? Iridology is a powerful, non-invasive technique that allows wellness practitioners to gain deeper insights into their clients’ health by analyzing the patterns and colors of the iris. Using detailed iris charts, you can assess potential imbalances, stress, and predispositions to disease, providing a more personalized and holistic approach to wellness. Link: https://www.oepf.org/oepf-course/6-hours-deeper-insights-into-healing-with-iridology-with-randy-schulman/ 6 hours: Deeper Insights into healing with Iridology! with Randy Schulman this is not only benign nonsense. A clean bill of health from an iridologist may prevent diagnosis of an existing ailment and some sort of false diagnosis can scare people unnecessarily. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience-history/looking-iridologyhttps://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience-history/looking-iridology Looking at Iridology By Joe Schwarcz PhD
White and beige background with foliage and text. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Homeopathic Remedies for Strabismus Aluminum 6c: Good for strabismus affecting the right eye. Improves coordination. Calcarea carbonica 6c: Good for strabismus affecting the left eye. Relieves spasm. P198 in Anshel, J. (1999). Smart Medicine for Your Eyes. Avery Publishing Group. The facts. Homeopathy is an example of how a lack of understanding of how science and the scientific method work contributes to beliefs that can have drastic consequences for patients. Grams N. (2019). Homeopathy-where is the science? A current inventory on a pre-scientific artifact. EMBO reports, 20(3), e47761. Link https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201947761. See also: Mukerji, N., Ernst, E. Why homoeopathy is pseudoscience. Synthese 200, 394 (2022). Link https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11229-022-03882-w
Purple background with pale yellow glittering spots. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim Dyslexia is now an extremely common diagnosis in some fields, and the problem is that many teachers, and parents, feel that it is a problem that nothing, and no one, will be able to help in any way. Darin Browne. Can a Dyslexic be Helped… Ever? Link. https://behaviouraloptometristsunshinecoast.com.au/can-a-dyslexic-be-helped-ever/ The facts [Reading] instruction that is supported by research is explicit, systematic, and cumulative. International Dyslexia Association Dyslexia Handbook: What Every Family Should Know Link.https://dyslexiaida.org/ida-dyslexia-handbook/
Red background with pink text Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim One can’t compare the concern of pediatric ophthalmology in blindness prevention and straight eyes to (the) raison d’etre of developmental optometry (which) is optimizing visual performance and function in its broadest sense... the pediatric ophthalmologists... I and my colleagues have encountered have little if any interest or knowledge about the visual system as it relates to child development. - Dr Leonard Press. Link https://visionhelp.wordpress.com/2011/01/29/do-you-see-with-your-eyes-or-with-your-brain-and-what-difference-does-it-make/ The facts Wow, Dr Press, are you okay? Pediatric ophthalmologists do a whole lot more than “blindness prevention” and “straight eyes”.
Purple background with abstract bubble pattern. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Dr. Michael Christian describes Quantum Photo Somatics as "a modality that does not merely address symptoms but looks deeper into the essence of being to initiate healing." This approach leverages the properties of light combined with the principles of quantum physics to influence and enhance the body's natural healing capabilities. Link https://quantumphotosomatics.com/understanding-quantum-photo-somatics/ The facts. Dr. Michael Christian’s “PhD” is from Quantum University. Because [Quantum University] is not a real university and doesn’t teach real medicine, [founder Paul Drouin] is free to do and say as he pleases, and he can surround himself with a faculty that likewise uses quantum mechanics to legitimize eccentric beliefs about the human body. Quantum University Misuses Physics to Train Fake Doctors by Jonathan Jarry M.Sc Link https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking-pseudoscience/quantum-university-misuses-physics-train-fake-doctors
Dark green background with stylized sun icon and glasses icon. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. Many behavioral optometrists believe – and have seen enough positive responses in patients over the last 90 years to know for sure – that reading glasses should be considered for anyone who has begun reading. Steven J Gallop, OD. Link. https://vision-therapy-pa.com/blog/124896-stop-visual-stress-before-it-stops-you The facts. How to spot fringe or pseudo-science. This claim relies on anecdote. This claim professes certainty and complete confidence. Based on work of Professor Melanie Trecek-King. Thinking is Power link https://thinkingispower.com/11-characteristics-of-pseudoscience/
Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. I have found the following to be effective treatments for AD/HD: homeopathy, cell salts, essential oils, ...osteopathic manipulation, and auditory integration training. Chapter 5 in Berne, S. A. (2001). Without Ritalin: A Natural Approach to ADD. McGraw Hill Professional. The facts. None of these are evidence-based treatments for AD/HD representative references:Kate Kelly. ADHD alternative treatment. Understood.org link https://www.understood.org/en/articles/adhd-alternative-treatment-what-you-need-to-know Joe Schwarcz PhD. Homeopathy: Aware or Beware? Link https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/general-science-quackery/homeopathy-aware-or-beware Cell salts are a type of homeopathy link https://www.healthline.com/health/tissue-salts UK osteopaths not permitted to claim to treat AD/HD link https://goodthinkingsociety.org/general-osteopathic-council-warns-its-registrants-against-unsubstantiated-advertising-claims/ AIT does not meet scientific standards for efficacy and safety. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Link https://www.asha.org/policy/tr2004-00260
Sticker: Can you believe they said this? Pink background with floral decorations. The claim: In the approach described, the best monocular acuity is not the area of emphasis. Rather, the authors base the [spectacle] Rx on the combination of power for the right and left eyes that provides the best binocular response. Vergara Gimenez, P., Sanet, R. B., Press, L. J., Quevedo, L., Perez, A. G., & Hernandez, A. S. (2023). Management of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study. Vision Development & Rehabilitation, 9(1), 32–40. https://doi.org/10.31707/vdr2023.9.1.p32 link. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.covd.org/resource/resmgr/vdr/vdr_8_4/vdr_9_1/vdr9-1_article_gimenez_web__.pdf The facts. This paper is just one error after another. It is a retrospective record review of 28 patients, with no information about how they were selected, no masking of clinician, quoting “clinical experience” to suggest “about 50%” of patients achieve normal or near normal visual acuity with this protocol, analysis of right eye vs left eye instead of amblyopic eye vs fellow eye, and more. And yet, this protocol is promoted as valid, see for example: Treatment Modalities for Amblyopia: Sanet / Vergara Protocol <link https://emergent.teachable.com/p/vt201>. Its recommendations contravene the findings of the PEDIG studies <link https://public.jaeb.org/pedig/view/Home_Page>, large multi-center RCTs on the treatment of amblyopia.
Sticker: Can you believe they said this? Green background with these words: The claim. <when informing parents of the nature of their autistic child’s visual problems> Discuss plus lenses and how they ...make it easier to organize central tasks...Explain that <yoked> prisms, too, bend the light and allow for changes in internal visual processing by expanding or compressing certain fields...Relate how the prisms create changes that will accelerate the child’s development. Schulman, R. (2008). Chapter 2. Optometry’s role in autism spectrum disorders. In Envisioning a bright future : Interventions that work for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (P. S. Lemer, Ed.). Optometric Extension Program Foundation. P.37-38 The facts. How to spot fringe or pseudo-science. The claim is unfalsifiable: It can’t be proven wrong, in this case because it is too vague. The claim lacks a plausible mechanism: There’s no way to explain how lenses or yoked prisms described here will improve organisation of central tasks, compress or expand the visual field or create changes that accelerate an autistic child's development. Based on work of Professor Melanie Trecek-King. Thinking is Power link https://thinkingispower.com/11-characteristics-of-pseudoscience/
Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. A buildup of load factors [or stressors] causes autism. The Everyday Epigenetics Evaluator for Children [lists these stressors, including]: mother had more than three sonograms during pregnancy mother vaccinated while pregnant eats microwaved food known cell phone tower within 1 mile of home hepatitis B shot at birth gets flu shot wears glasses uses sunscreen Lemer, P. (2019). Outsmarting autism, updated and expanded : build healthy foundations for communication, socialization, and behavior at all ages. North Atlantic Books. The facts. There is no link between autism and vaccines, <Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center. Link https://www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-safety/vaccines-and-other-conditions/autism>, no link between autism and cell phone towers <Science media centre: expert reaction to review linking wireless technology to childhood development, autism and ADHD. Link https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-review-linking-wireless-technology-to-childhood-development-autism-and-adhd/>, and no link between autism and microwaves, sonograms, glasses or sunscreen either.
Royal blue background, pink and white text. Sticker: Can you believe they said this? The claim. The right homeopathic drug can address language delays, learning challenges and impaired social functioning along with physical problems such as headaches, allergies, heightened sensitivities or chronic constipation. The beauty of homeopathy is that a single homeopathic medicine, when properly identified,addresses all of these concerns at the same time. Lemer, P., Breweitt. B., Reichenberg-Ullman J., Ullman R. (2008). Chapter 12: Homeopathy a Tool the Help Children Heal Naturally in Envisioning a Bright Future : Interventions that Work for Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (P. S. Lemer, Ed.). Optometric Extension Program Foundation. The facts. This has no basis in science. Homeopathy is a system of alternative “medicine” introduced in 1796 by German physician Samuel Hahnemann based on his doctrine of “like cures like.” Hahnemann claimed that an extremely dilute version of a substance that in larger doses causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people would cure similar symptoms in sick people. Joe Schwarcz PhD . Homeopathy: Aware or Beware? Link: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/general-science-quackery/homeopathy-aware-or-beware