At Nuvo Eye Centre, vision care goes beyond conventional glasses and eye exams to offer a full-service eyecare experience with a spa-like feel for the entire family. With two locations—170 Vanguard Dr. in Orléans and 156 Beechwood Ave. near downtown Ottawa—Nuvo combines cutting-edge medical care with a warm, inclusive environment, providing comprehensive eye health solutions for all ages. This includes their Vision Therapy program, led by leading doctors Dr. Francine Gauthier and Dr. Jonathan Wareham—a flexible treatment approach offering an effective solution for a wide range of visual disorders affecting both children and adults.
Nuvo Eye Centre’s Orléans location at 170 Vanguard Drive, offering a spa-like eyecare experience for the entire family.
Vision Therapy is often described as “physical therapy for the eyes and brain.” Unlike corrective lenses or surgery, it’s a non-invasive, targeted treatment designed to address a variety of visual problems that can affect daily life—whether reading, learning, or athletic performance. As Dr. Gauthier explains, “Vision therapy is a progressive program of vision procedures and activities to allow an individual to develop better visual skills. Often, people believe that good visual acuity, like 20/20, is synonymous with good vision. If someone sees 20/20 but cannot focus or track, that person will not see well.” Under the leadership of Dr. Francine Gauthier and Dr. Jonathan Wareham, Nuvo Eye Centre offers patients a customized program of visual exercises to retrain the brain and improve visual processing. Whether it’s helping a child struggling with reading or a patient recovering from a brain injury, the clinic’s approach is rooted in cutting-edge science and compassionate care.
Dr. Francine Gauthier, optometrist at Nuvo Eye Centre, brings decades of experience and a passion for Vision Therapy to her patients.
Dr. Gauthier, a seasoned optometrist who transitioned from a nursing background into the world of optometry in 1988, brings decades of experience and dedication to the practice. Her recent training in Vision Therapy through the Optometric Extension Program Foundation has allowed her to expand the services available at Nuvo, turning her passion into a full-scope therapy program. Known for her infectious smile and positive attitude, Dr. Gauthier’s enthusiasm for helping patients achieve better vision is central to the clinic’s success. Speaking about the patient journey, Dr. Gauthier shares, “After a few weeks of therapy, patients already notice positive changes. Initially, they may mention being able to perform the exercises with less strain. Then, they may realize that their headaches are gone or less frequent. They may be able to read for a longer period of time before getting tired. They may be able to see in 3D for the first time or catch a ball. It is very rewarding to see patients, especially the little ones, becoming more confident in their daily activities.”
Joining her is Dr. Jonathan Wareham, a leader in the field of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation. With a background in Neuroscience and extensive post-graduate studies in visual dysfunction, Dr. Wareham has a reputation for tackling complex cases with precision and care. As a founding board member of the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation, Dr. Wareham’s expertise has been instrumental in establishing Nuvo’s Vision Therapy Clinic as a premier destination for vision rehabilitation in Ottawa. His dedication to helping patients recover from developmental vision problems, strabismus, amblyopia, and brain injury-related vision dysfunction is unmatched.
Dr. Jonathan Wareham, a leader in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation, dedicated to providing comprehensive eye care at Nuvo Eye Centre.
So, how does Vision Therapy work? Patients undergo a series of tailored exercises—either in-clinic or remotely—that target the brain’s ability to process visual information. Over the course of multiple sessions, these exercises help correct conditions such as lazy eye, convergence insufficiency, and even visual complications stemming from concussions. By gradually retraining the brain, patients see remarkable improvements in both their visual capabilities and their daily lives. On her motivation for joining the Vision Therapy team at Nuvo, Dr. Gauthier adds, “I have been working at Nuvo Eye Centre long before the establishment of the Vision Therapy clinic. Over the years, I was frustrated that some of my patients clearly had visual issues despite having normal visual acuities and I did not know how to help them. I completed the Optometric Extension Program (OEP) curriculum in 2022 and started practicing Vision Therapy.”
Together, Dr. Gauthier and Dr. Wareham, along with their expert team of therapists, are setting a new standard for vision care in Ottawa—helping patients not only see better but also live better.
