Eyecare

kids vision

Behavioural Optometrists have an understanding of vision and how to encourage its development. This style of Optometry tends to be more holistic in its approach as it tries to incorporate the physical, neurological and developmental aspects of vision.

Behavioural Optometrists spend years in post-graduate and continuing education to master the complex visual programs that are prescribed to prevent or eliminate visual problems and enhance visual performance.

Not all optometrists practice Behavioural Optometry, which includes neurodevelopmental and functional optometry.

Behavioural Optometrists find that most children with learning-related vision problems have good distance eyesight but have great difficulty maintaining vision up close such as when reading and writing. Most school screenings only test the sharpness of distance eyesight. As a result many vision problems that can impact on learning go undetected.

Parents and teachers who understand and can identify the signs and symptoms can detect learning-related visual problems in a child. Behavioural optometric intervention in the management of children and adults with learning disabilities helps to eliminate any vision problem that may obstruct learning.

Current research indicates that some people with reading difficulties have co-existing visual and language processing deficits. For this reason, a vision examination that assesses those factors influencing learning is vital.

 

Key Points

  • Vision problems can and often do interfere with learning

  • People at risk of learning-related vision problems should be evaluated by an optometrist who provides diagnostic and management services in this area

  •   Problems in identifying and treating people with learning-related vision problems arise if the definition of vision is limited to clarity of sight and healthy eyes The goal of optometric intervention is to improve visual function and alleviate associated signs and symptoms

  • Prompt treatment of learning-related vision problems enhances the ability of children and adults to perform to their full potential

  • People with learning problems require help from many disciplines to meet the learning challenges they face. Behavioural Optometric involvement constitutes one aspect of the multi-disciplinary management approach required to prepare the individual for lifelong learning

management of learning related vision disorders

Every child is unique. We therefore, customise a management plan and make recommendations based on the child’s vision, vision efficiency and prescription.

Glasses or contact lenses

Depending on the correction required, a recommendation with regard to glasses or contact lenses may be made. These may be worn full time or just for specific tasks such as in the classroom and for prolonged close work.

When prescribing spectacle lenses for children we generally use Kids Prevencia lenses which incorporates both impact resistance for safety and lightness along with 100 percent UV and blue-violet light protection.

Vision therapy

Some children benefit from a course of in-office vision therapy with one of our Optometrists or Vision Therapist. This is a personalised program designed to make certain visual behaviour more automatic. For example, a common deficit in children having difficulty reading is reduced oculomotor or eye tracking control. This can be readily improved by practising a series of activities over several weeks. $1071 for an 8 week course.

Comprehensive student or child eye exam; $95 student includes;

  • Review of general health and eye health history including any specific learning disorders

  • Full discussion regarding any concerns you may have regarding your child’s vision or learning

  • Vision & Prescription check

  • Visual function tests as required; binocular vision including eye-focusing and eye-teaming ability, ocular muscle testing & eye-tracking along with screenings for colour and peripheral vision.

  • Internal & External eye health assessment; including testing for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration & dry eye.

  • Digital OCT screening coupled with retinal photography; provides a detailed image of the back of the eye

Behavioural/ Visual Processing eye exam- upon indication; from $199 may include;

  • Visual Information Processing

    • Spatial/ directional processing

    • Visual discrimination

    • Visual memory

  • Visual- Motor ( Eye-Hand Co-ordination)

  • Pattern Glare upon indication - note additional charge of $59

Cycloplegic Refraction upon indication; $59

  • A procedure used to identify an individual's total refractive error by temporarily relaxing the focusing muscles inside the eye, enabling a true measure of the prescription. Cycloplegic eye drops ( Cyclopentolate 1%) are instilled into the eye- they take 40 minutes to take effect. A short 15-30 minute appointment with the Optometrist will be required at this time to measure the spectacle prescription. Therefore, expect to be in Howick for 60-90 minutes. Side effects include dilated pupils for 24-36 hours and blurred vision for 6-12 hours. We recommend the use of sunglasses if outdoors and to avoid close work as it will be blurred.