Paul Harris
Dr. Paul Alan Harris is a 1979 Graduate of the State University of New York, State College of Optometry. He practiced in the greater Baltimore area for 30 years and then became a Professor at Southern College of Optometry (SCO) in 2010. He retired from SCO in 2023. Didactically he taught Amblyopia and Strabismus, Pediatrics, Vision Therapy, and Ocular Motility, and an elective which addresses Sports Vision and working with patients with ABI and TBI. Clinically he was involved in Vision Therapy, Vision Rehabilitation and Hospital Based Care for ABI/TBI, Pediatrics and Electrodiagnostics. He is also actively involved in research working on new ways to measure visual performance with innovative measures of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, glare disability, visual fields, the effect of color on patients with TBI/ABI, migraine and seizure disorders, and with a team working on an objective measure of the degree of concussion.
His accreditations include Fellowships in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (1984), the Australasian College of Behavioral Optometry (1993), the American Academy of Optometry (1999) and the National Academies of Practice (2013). He is a past President of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF).
In 1991, Dr. Harris founded the Baltimore Academy for Behavioral Optometry (BABO) to help expand the quantity and quality of behavioral optometric care available to the public. These courses are now part of the OEPF’s educational base and are known as the Clinical Curriculum, which provides hands-on small-group post-graduate clinical education in the field of behavioral vision care. Over 1700 optometrists and vision therapists in the US and abroad have taken part in one or more of these courses. He is a founding member of the OPSIS Education Foundation.
2026-04-17
- DOUBLE VISION
- Plennary Hall
Rob Lewis Understanding and dealing with diplopia in the context of developmental strabismus There are significant concerns among the visual care community about the possibility of developin...
Rob Lewis
Understanding and dealing with diplopia in the context of developmental strabismus
There are significant concerns among the visual care community about the possibility of developing permanent or persistent double vision following interventions for strabismus. The discussion will include an explanation of persistent misunderstandings about visual development, the nature of diplopia and the organization of the visual field that lead to persistent concerns about diplopia in the treatment of strabismus. This presentation will discuss why diplopia is sometimes encountered following surgery for strabismus, why diplopia need not be a permanent outcome, and will discuss the management and elimination of diplopia, when present, through a combination of lenses and Visual Therapy. Selected visual therapy techniques will be demonstrated in the workshops.
Vassilis Kokotas
Re-aligning vision: Working behind the scenes to treat diplopia
The presentation will focus on the reasoning for diplopia management during a Vision Training program. Diplopia is often faced with fear as a symptom but it can be used also as a feedback mechanism for recalibrating binocularity and increasing awareness. As therapists we can reframe and alter the conditions under which our patients' experiences will guide them to a therapeutic result. Optical, perceptual and communication parameters will be discussed in order to provide the necessary background for providing successful treatment and setting the basis for what will be presented during the workshops.
Paul Harris and Matt Mathews
The Clinical Evaluation and Management of Patients Who Present with Diplopia
Dr. Harris will present a protocol for assessing double vision when you encounter it. In the two workshops he will present key elements of both the assessment (workshop 1) and treatment options which complement VT (workshop 2) when helping the patient with double vision in reestablishing their symmetrical use of self. One of the big fears we share is creating constant double vision with their patient. Dr. Harris will tell the story of his one and only case that ended with his patient Matt Mathews having constant double vision. Matt, who was 16 years old at the time of starting VT in 1982, will be part of the presentation and talk about his experience in VT and his successful life.
Glen Steele
The Critical Link Between Vision and Overall Development
This course will briefly outline the critical importance of vision in overall development and why it is important to identify issues early. There will be discussion of HOW the process of vision directs and influences all action(s) that are so important during development. Also, the course will include methods for examination of the typical child including management.
2026-04-18
- DOUBLE VISION
- Plennary Hall
Rob Lewis Understanding and dealing with diplopia in the context of developmental strabismus There are significant concerns among the visual care community about the possibility of developin...
Rob Lewis
Understanding and dealing with diplopia in the context of developmental strabismus
There are significant concerns among the visual care community about the possibility of developing permanent or persistent double vision following interventions for strabismus. The discussion will include an explanation of persistent misunderstandings about visual development, the nature of diplopia and the organization of the visual field that lead to persistent concerns about diplopia in the treatment of strabismus. This presentation will discuss why diplopia is sometimes encountered following surgery for strabismus, why diplopia need not be a permanent outcome, and will discuss the management and elimination of diplopia, when present, through a combination of lenses and Visual Therapy. Selected visual therapy techniques will be demonstrated in the workshops.
Vassilis Kokotas
Re-aligning vision: Working behind the scenes to treat diplopia
The presentation will focus on the reasoning for diplopia management during a Vision Training program. Diplopia is often faced with fear as a symptom but it can be used also as a feedback mechanism for recalibrating binocularity and increasing awareness. As therapists we can reframe and alter the conditions under which our patients' experiences will guide them to a therapeutic result. Optical, perceptual and communication parameters will be discussed in order to provide the necessary background for providing successful treatment and setting the basis for what will be presented during the workshops.
Paul Harris and Matt Mathews
The Clinical Evaluation and Management of Patients Who Present with Diplopia
Dr. Harris will present a protocol for assessing double vision when you encounter it. In the two workshops he will present key elements of both the assessment (workshop 1) and treatment options which complement VT (workshop 2) when helping the patient with double vision in reestablishing their symmetrical use of self. One of the big fears we share is creating constant double vision with their patient. Dr. Harris will tell the story of his one and only case that ended with his patient Matt Mathews having constant double vision. Matt, who was 16 years old at the time of starting VT in 1982, will be part of the presentation and talk about his experience in VT and his successful life.
Glen Steele
The Critical Link Between Vision and Overall Development
This course will briefly outline the critical importance of vision in overall development and why it is important to identify issues early. There will be discussion of HOW the process of vision directs and influences all action(s) that are so important during development. Also, the course will include methods for examination of the typical child including management.
2026-04-19
- DOUBLE VISION
- Workshop B
The goal of what we all do is clear, single, binocular and symmetrical use of the visual system. You will learn things that are helpful to know in working through the first steps of helping...
The goal of what we all do is clear, single, binocular and symmetrical use of the visual system. You will learn things that are helpful to know in working through the first steps of helping a patient reassemble the world following an event which creates double vision. Dr. Harris will show each of these and give a workflow to guide you through working with your patients who present with double vision.
List of activities: Advanced Cover Testing, Looking for non-comitancy, size differences (Cheiroscopic Tracing & the Herrmann chart), cyclo rotations (Double Maddox Rod)
- DOUBLE VISION
- Workshop B
The goal of what we all do is clear, single, binocular and symmetrical use of the visual system. You will learn things that are helpful to know in working through the first steps of helping...
The goal of what we all do is clear, single, binocular and symmetrical use of the visual system. You will learn things that are helpful to know in working through the first steps of helping a patient reassemble the world following an event which creates double vision. Dr. Harris will show each of these and give a workflow to guide you through working with your patients who present with double vision.
List of activities: Advanced Cover Testing, Looking for non-comitancy, size differences (Cheiroscopic Tracing & the Herrmann chart), cyclo rotations (Double Maddox Rod)
- DOUBLE VISION
- Workshop B
This workshop will build on the first one and demonstrates when and how to use prism, spot patches, Bangerter filters, and mono-nasal or binasal tapes. He will also show how to use jump duct...
This workshop will build on the first one and demonstrates when and how to use prism, spot patches, Bangerter filters, and mono-nasal or binasal tapes. He will also show how to use jump ductions for reducing vertical deviations along with discussing the concept of the “leap-frog” prism prescribing to lead and guide reduced dependency on prisms.
- DOUBLE VISION
- Workshop B
This workshop will build on the first one and demonstrates when and how to use prism, spot patches, Bangerter filters, and mono-nasal or binasal tapes. He will also show how to use jump duct...
This workshop will build on the first one and demonstrates when and how to use prism, spot patches, Bangerter filters, and mono-nasal or binasal tapes. He will also show how to use jump ductions for reducing vertical deviations along with discussing the concept of the “leap-frog” prism prescribing to lead and guide reduced dependency on prisms.
