Dr. McKenzie Symons, OD

Adirondack Pediatric Vision & Rehabilitation

Having blurry vision can be frustrating, and sometimes glasses are simply not enough. Up to 75% of vision problems are missed at a basic screening, but Dr. McKenzie Symons, OD, is passionate about getting to the root of the problem and helping people see more clearly. She recently started Adirondack Pediatric Vision and Rehabilitation with the goal of helping as many patients as possible improve their vision. Her vision therapy services help the brain and eyes work better together, which not only improves vision but gives people the confidence they need.

From an early age, Dr. McKenzie knew that she wanted to be an optometrist. She had always looked up to her own eye doctor, who just happened to be her next-door neighbor.
“My doctor growing up was just such a big inspiration for me,” she shared. In high school, Dr. McKenzie had an eye issue develop, which resulted in her going to the doctor’s office every day for several weeks. This experience gave her the drive to pursue optometry as a career. She began her studies at the State University of New York College at Geneseo, enrolled in a special program that allowed her to complete her undergraduate degree in only three years. From there, she began a four-year graduate program at the State University of New York College of Optometry, located in New York City. “Being in the city was awesome, and you get to learn so many things from so many different people,” shared Dr. McKenzie.
During her education, she had the opportunity to shadow a lot of different doctors throughout Albany, Glens Falls, Queensbury, and Saratoga. Throughout this experience, she discovered many new opportunities within optometry, including vision therapy. “I discovered that vision therapy was a path that you could take in optometry school, and that kind of opened up a whole new world,” she explained.

What is Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy is very personalized to each individual. Dr. McKenzie compared it to physical therapy but for your eyes, saying, “We do different eye exercises to retrain the brain and eyes to work better together, to focus, to track things, to read, all those kinds of things.” It heavily focuses on eye teaming, focusing, and tracking skills. Eye teaming is how well the eyes work together, eye focusing is keeping small print clear and in focus, and eye tracking is used for following objects, which is especially important when reading or driving. According to Dr. McKenzie, these three skills are “outside of the realm of just the glasses prescription. They’re kind of deeper aspects of our vision that all come together to create useful and effective true vision.” In order to treat these issues, Dr. McKenzie uses a variety of different tools and techniques, including lenses, charts, 3D pictures, computer software, patterns, and more.

The Importance of Early Detection
While treating these eye issues can be life-changing for a person, identifying them is not always easy. Basic eye screenings usually only focus on how well a person can see far away, but there could be another vision-related problem that they miss. As Dr. McKenzie explained, vision is not simply about seeing, but ensuring our eyes and brain are communicating properly. Additionally, a person could not even realize that the problem they’re facing is related to their vision. “A lot of cases with kids, they have no idea what they’re seeing is different from anyone else. They might not even tell you they’re seeing blurry, but let alone, they might not tell you they’re seeing double, or they can’t move their eyes, or their eyes feel really tight,” explained Dr. McKenzie. “They truly have no idea what they see is different from anyone else, or how they’re completing their work, or how hard or laborious something is. They have no idea—it does not always have to be that hard.”

The Impact of Proper Treatment
Vision-related problems can create a lot of stress, especially when they go undiagnosed. “It can be really frustrating for the child when they can’t express what’s wrong,” explained Dr. McKenzie. Her goal is to help children—and anyone—get to the root of the issue so they can reach their full potential. She has seen with her own eyes how much getting the proper help can impact a person. “It’s truly what I absolutely love to do,” she shared. “It’s so rewarding to see them truly grow throughout the program and change as a student and as a kid. Their frustrations go away.”

To learn more about Dr. McKenzie and her practice, visit the website: https://www.adirondackpediatricvision.com/. You can also call: 518-350-4044 or send an email to: adirondackpediatricvision@gmail.com.