MONTENARE EYE CARE
& VISION THERAPY
Smooth Pursuit
A smooth pursuit is a controlled and guided movement of both eyes on a moving target. If you put one finger in front of you and watch it as you slowly move it around, then you are making a smooth pursuit.
Function
Smooth pursuits are important for following moving targets. They are necessary for such activities as sports and driving.
Deficiency of Smooth Pursuit
A deficiency of smooth pursuit means that the eyes do not follow a moving target with the appropriate speed and/or accuracy. For example, the eyes may have trouble "keeping up" with the target (i.e. a low pursuit gain).
A deficiency of smooth pursuit may be functional in nature, in which the child fails to develop age-appropriate oculomotor skills. It may also be due to acquired brain injury such as from a concussion. In both cases, vision therapy is the treatment of choice. In some cases, however, a deficit of smooth pursuit may be due to organic causes such as Parkinson's or basal ganglia disease, and would require the consult of an ophthalmologist or neurologist.
Signs and Symptoms
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Excessive head movements
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Poor performance in sports
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Reading difficulty
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Difficulty catching, throwing, or kicking balls
Treatment
Vision therapy is the treatment of choice for deficit of smooth pursuit that is functional in nature or due to an acquired brain injury. A vision therapy program should focus on enhancing oculomotor accuracy and speed, as well as the ability to integrate with vergence ("eye teaming") and accommodative ("eye focusing") skills.