Syntonic Phototherapy (Ocularly Transmitted Light Therapy)
It is hard to believe that merely looking at colour can produce such an impact on visual function and aid the healing of trauma. Sunlight, after all, contains every wavelength in the visual spectrum and it is around all the time. However most of us spend little time in natural light. Our modern lifestyle limits natural light exposure and we have become victims of mall illumination. Recent research by scientists on Phototherapy have shown that normal tissue is much less affected by light/colour than out-of-balance tissue. Starving cells are more sensitive than well-fed ones. Cells already reproducing at an experimental rate are least changed by light/colour stimulation. In stagnant colonies of cells, light triggered huge increases in rates of reproduction or cell mass growth. Other research indicates that light sensitive blood constituents carry light information and energy to affect far off places in the body.

What is Syntonic Phototherapy ?
Syntonic Phototherapy is at the core of a rapidly growing interest in and shift towards energy medicine in our quantum age. Optometry is in a unique position to further their research and therapeutic approaches, and retain and special position in the various light therapies of the Millennium. It is one of the most powerful tools available to the Behavioural Optometrist, and when used in conjunction with Visual Training, the efficiency, speed and success rates dramatically increase.

From the beginning of time, history has abounded with observations and scientific validation for the health-giving properties of light. From its obvious effects in plants and its proven stimulatory and regulatory effects on our neuroregulatory centres, light has now taken centre stage as the primal element of life. Although the general therapeutic value of light has been mentioned and demonstrated repeatedly throughout history, major research conducted within the last 40 years has now traced light's major route of entry into the body via the eyes.

How does Syntonic Therapy Work ?
The eyes have a dual role: one obviously deals with vision, while the other deals with our vital functions. Research shows that if light perception is absent or disturbed, significant deficiencies occur in both endocrine and metabolic systems as well as disturbances in emotional and physiological balance. Perhaps Shakespeare's statement "The eyes are the windows of the soul" was not so far-fetched!

Further research has shown that the mid brain responds differently to different frequencies of light. Specific wavelengths (colours) interact differently with the endocrine system to elicit either stimulation or inhibition of hormone production. Blue stimulation is associated with increased relaxation, less anxiety and hostility while red stimulation definitely increased tension and excitement. Artificial lighting such as cool white fluorescent lamps are deficient in the red and blue-violet ranges. Children under this type of illumination all day at school show agitated physical behaviour, fatigue and reduced mental capabilities. The German government has banned the use of all cool white fluorescent lighting in schools and hospitals in response to this research. The combined use of red and blue-violet wavelengths in light therapy are known to produce emotional stability.

What happens during a consultation ?

Treatments are tailored per patient and require at least 10-20 sessions. Specific filters are required for particular ocular conditions and diagnosis is made on the basis of history, symptoms and clinical measurements. Prescribing which colour filter to use is an art and there are several different approaches. Some techniques attempt emotional clearing, body/mind techniques, kinaesthetic procedures, applying sequences of various filters or using the traditional clinical patterns followed by the Syntonic College.

Diagnosis is made on the basis of history, present symptoms and clinical measurements. Success of treatment is judged by changes in symptoms, behaviour (mood/attitude, coping ability and social/verbal skills), performance (academic, athletic, expressive) and changes in functional optometric test results.

Success of treatment is judged by changes in symptoms of

Behaviour (mood, attitude, coping ability and social/verbal skills)
Performance (athletic, academic and expressive)
Changes in functional Optometric test results

Of specific significance are functional visual fields. Visual fields can be constricted because of fatigue, emotional distress, visual dysfunction or swelling around the Optic nerve. Because very few optometrists know about functional field loss, visual fields are rarely tested on children, and colour fields, sensitive indicators of underlying pathology and/or dysfunction, are almost never measured.

Traditional Syntonic therapy requires at least 3 consecutive days of treatment per week for a total of 20 sessions. Progress testing is done after 6-8 treatments and re-evaluation of the filter choice is then made.

What is Syntonic Phototherapy indicated for ?
Three very important controlled studies on Phototherapy's impact on children's learning and vision were published by Kaplan (1983), Liberman (1986) and Ingersol (1998). These studies show that relatively short term Syntonic treatment significantly improves

Visual skills
Peripheral vision
Memory
Behaviour
Mood
General performance
Academic achievement

They confirm that children with learning problems have a reduction in the sensitivity of their peripheral vision. During and after Phototherapy they demonstrated improvement of peripheral vision and visual skills.

Syntonics is currently used to treat children and adults with learning, reading and attention disabilities, people suffering the effects of head trauma and stroke, retinal diseases, squint, headaches and senility. Conditions such as myopia, strabismus, amblyopia, headaches, visual fatigue, reading problems and binocular dysfunctions have all been treated by light stimulation and thousands of clinical cases showing measurable improvements have been presented over the years. Syntonic Phototherapy is used independently of Vision Therapy in techniques to remediate Seasonal Affective Disorder, pre-menstrual tension and jet-lag.

In closing, further research done by Lieberman has shown that each colour of the light spectrum corresponds vibrationally with some aspect of our life experience. Each frequency of life is the vibrational equivalent if its formless frequency of light. Just as we find some experiences easy and other uncomfortable, some frequencies of light (colours) feel easy to observe, while others feel uncomfortable. Because of this discomfort, we have all selectively diminished our ability to receive the full spectrum of light, and thus the full range of our life experiences. Through the regular use of Light Therapy you

Recognise the aspects of the visible spectrum of light (Life) to which you are unreceptive;
Expand and balance your receptivity to experience conscious present awareness.