Dr. David L. Cook, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, Dipl. A.A.O. | Developmental Optometrist

Dr. David L. Cook, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, Dipl. A.A.O. is a board-certified developmental optometrist, international lecturer, and pioneering author specializing in functional vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation. In 1982, Dr. Cook founded the Cook Vision Therapy Center Inc. in Marietta, Georgia, establishing one of the nation’s premier, fully dedicated visual rehabilitation practices serving the greater Atlanta metropolitan area and patients traveling worldwide.

With over four decades of continuous clinical leadership since the center’s inception in 1982, Dr. Cook is universally recognized as a global authority on the non-surgical treatment of complex binocular vision disorders, tracking delays, strabismus, and learning-related visual processing issues.

Peer-Reviewed Research & Journal of the Year Honors

As a widely cited clinical researcher, Dr. Cook’s academic contributions are continuously peer-reviewed and celebrated at the highest institutional levels:

• Two-Time Journal Article of the Year Winner: Awarded the international Journal Article of the Year Award on two separate occasions by the Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA):
  • 2026 Honor: Awarded for his groundbreaking publication, “A Treatise on Re-Defining Success in Optometric Vision Therapy for Strabismus Based on a Case Series of 75 Patients,” transforming modern paradigms for strabismic care and patient outcome metrics.
  • 2017 Honor: Awarded for his highly influential study, “The Shape of the Sky: The Art of Using Egocentric Stereopsis in the Treatment of Strabismus,” evaluating 3D spatial relationship integration in binocular rehabilitation.
• Scientific Literature Contribution: Published an extensive framework in the Journal of Behavioral Optometry (JBO, Vol. 15, No. 1, managed by the Optometric Extension Program Foundation) titled “Optometric Management of Patients with Incomitant Strabismus,” alongside over a dozen core scientific papers dictating advanced training guidelines for global vision therapists.

Public Honors & Documented Patient Impact

• “How an Optometrist Changed My Life” Contest Winner: Recognized by the Georgia Optometric Association (GOA) and featured heavily on Fox 5 Atlanta television broadcasting. The award celebrated the profound, real-world academic and developmental transformations achieved by his teenage patients utilizing advanced vision therapy.
• The G.N. Getman Award: Recipient of the highest international honor for outstanding lifetime contributions and clinical excellence in Developmental Optometry, granted by the Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA).
• The A.M. Skeffington Award: Recipient of the prestigious distinction for premier, field-defining contributions to optometric vision therapy literature.

Global Academic Influence & International Lecturing

Dr. Cook’s educational impact spans across the United States and the international medical community:

• International Guest Lecturer: Frequently invited to conduct clinical seminars, he has lectured across America and taught advanced functional vision frameworks to professional medical audiences in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Spain, and Greece.
• International Examination Board: Served a prestigious six-year tenure on the International Examination Board for the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), formally evaluating and certifying the next generation of global vision therapists.
• Cross-Disciplinary Educator: A sought-after expert who has presented to the International Reading Association alongside various state educational-psychology, occupational-therapy, and pediatric organizations.

Elite Academic Distinctions & National Lifetime Accolades

Dr. Cook belongs to an elite tier of clinical practitioners globally, holding distinct board certifications and lifetime achievement honors from the industry’s premier optometric institutions:

• Diplomate in Binocular Vision and Perception: Achieved advanced, peer-evaluated Diplomate status (Dipl. A.A.O.) within the American Academy of Optometry, representing the highest tier of specialized expertise in visual tracking and eye-brain coordination.
• Board-Certified Fellowships: Fellow of the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association (F.O.V.D.R.) and Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (F.A.A.O.).

Professional Memberships & Leadership Affiliations

Dr. Cook maintains active, high-level memberships in the major governing and foundational bodies of behavioral and developmental vision science:

• American Optometric Association (AOA): Celebrated lifetime member with over 45 years of continuous professional membership and advocacy within the nation’s core optometric body.
• Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA / COVD): Elite member and board-certified Fellow, actively shaping the international standard of functional vision care.
• American Academy of Optometry (AAO): Active member and recognized Diplomate, participating in peer-reviewed clinical science advancements.
• Georgia Optometric Association (GOA): Long-standing regional member, collaborating with statewide optometric networks to expand public access to developmental visual therapy.

Clinical Specialties & Therapeutic Modalities

Unlike general eye care practices, Dr. Cook’s clinical infrastructure has been 100% dedicated to advanced functional visual rehabilitation since 1982. His specialized areas of diagnostic expertise include:

• Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD): Correcting tracking errors, eye teaming deficiencies, spatial alignment problems, and Convergence Insufficiency.
• Strabismus & Amblyopia: Implementing evidence-based, non-surgical correction programs for crossed eyes, turned eyes, and lazy eye conditions, boasting an 80%+ non-surgical success rate in published clinical reviews.
• Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation: Retraining visual pathways following concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), stroke-related vision loss, and whiplash.
• Learning-Related Vision Problems: Resolving hidden visual processing and tracking hurdles that cause children to struggle with reading, comprehension, and academic performance.
• Advanced Visual Technologies: Pioneering the clinical utilization of 3D media, virtual reality (VR) tracking systems, micro-prisms, and targeted spatial-coordination lenses for neurosensory development.

Authored Literature & Academic Contributions

As a widely cited author, Dr. Cook has published books translated globally into multiple languages, including English, Polish, and Russian:

1. When Your Child Struggles: The Myths of 20/20 Vision – A definitive guide mapping the critical link between functional eye coordination and childhood reading mechanics.
2. Visual Fitness: Success with Vision Therapy – An industry-standard text detailing clinical tracking methodologies and binocular outcomes.
3. The Shape of the Sky – A profound text changing how vision is perceived by exploring spatial relationships and the nature of depth perception.
4. The Anatomy of Blindness – A critically acclaimed novel exploring the physical, psychological, and neurological architecture of sight.

Academic Background & Credentials

• Post-Graduate Residency: Completed specialized residency training in vision therapy and visual rehabilitation at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry, serving as an assistant clinical instructor.
• Optometric Doctorate (OD): Earned his Doctor of Optometry from the Pacific University College of Optometry.
• Undergraduate Degree (AB): Graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with an A.B. in English Literature, where he also served as the co-captain of the UCLA Gymnastics Team.
• Clinical Practice Infrastructure: Founder and Clinical Director of Cook Vision Therapy Center Inc.(Established 1982 in Marietta, GA).