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WHY CHOOSE A BEHAVIOURAL OPTOMETRIST?
A Behavioural Optometrist:
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explores how someone’s eyes work in the distance but also how they work when reading or using various types of technology
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ensures that the focus, movements and teaming of the eyes are working efficiently and have the stamina for everything that you want them to do
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manages amblyopia and strabismus (turned eyes)
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assesses vision processing skills
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provides vision therapy services
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ensures vision development in children is progressing as it should and is not impacting their ability to learn
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assesses and manages the vision issues of children and adults with learning difficulties, dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Parkinsons and those with special needs or who are developmentally delayed and those who have had a stroke or head injury
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takes a holistic approach and uses information from teachers and other professionals to understand everything that is of concern to the person
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understands the health of the eye and how your body health impacts eyes.
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As soon as possible if there is a family history of vision problems such as eye turn, lazy eye, or high degrees of long or shortsightedness.
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At age 3 onwards to ensure there are no signs of a lazy or turned eye, or high degrees of long or shortsightedness.
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Between 3 and 5 years if significant hyperopia is found, then regularly.
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When they start school if their progress is significantly slower than expected, to check for vision problems which could be interfering in learning to read, or using their eyes to read and write.
WHEN SHOULD CHILDREN HAVE AN EYE EXAMINATION?
IS THERE EVIDENCE BEHAVIOURAL OPTOMETRY WORKS?
Yes, there is! This website has a whole section devoted to the science and the evidence for Behavioural Optometry https://www.acbo.org.au/for-patients/evidence
BEHAVIOURAL OPTOMETRY
Behavioural Optometry involves an understanding of VISION and how it is different from EYESIGHT. EYESIGHT simply involves seeing an eyechart on the wall, while Behavioural Optometry is more interested in VISION.
Vision includes sharpness of sight at distance and near; ability to aim and focus the eyes properly especially for near vision tasks such as reading and computers; the ability to sustain focus for long periods of time for reading and computers; tracking the eye movements for reading fluency and accuracy; processing of the visual information each the eyes take in; and of course, health of the eyes inside and out.
All patients can benefit from the more holistic approach, but it is especially suited to those with eye motor control problems, lazy eyes, developmental delays, acquired brain injuries concussion, or delays in learning to read, or problems reading to learn.
Although the majority of Behavioural Optometrists' patients are children, Behavioural Optometry may be suitable for patients of any age.
