VISION THERAPY

Your Child

Developmental Optometry - Vision Therapy - Colourimetry

DEVELOPMENTAL OPTOMETRY

Developmental Optometrists use a combination of carefully prescribed lenses, prisms, filters and or tints to improve visual efficiency. We can also help improve the visual system through Optometric vision therapy. Vision is closely integrated with our other senses, movement, memory and speech so improving visual skills can help in a range of conditions such as those found in dyslexia, dyspraxia, traumatic brain injury as well as strabismus and lazy eye.

VISION THERAPY

Vision therapy is a sequence of neurosensory and neuromuscular activities individually prescribed and monitored by an Optometrist to rehabilitate and enhance visual skills and processing. The vision therapy program is based on the results of a comprehensive assessment, and takes into consideration the results of standardized tests, your needs as the patient, and your symptoms. Therapy includes the use of lenses, prisms, colour filters, occluders and specialized instruments including computer programs.

Research has demonstrated vision therapy can be an effective treatment option for:
• Ocular motility dysfunctions (eye movement disorders)
• Non-strabismic binocular disorders (inefficient eye teaming)
• Strabismus (misalignment of the eyes)
• Amblyopia (poorly developed vision)
• Accommodative disorders (focusing problems)
• Visual information processing disorders, including visual-motor integration and integration with other sensory modalities
• Visual sequelae of acquired brain injury

COLOURIMETRY

Colour and Visual Stress

Visual stress (also known as Meares Irlen or Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome) is a term used to describe a collection of signs and symptoms linked to visual difficulties with reading that improves with the application of tinted lenses.

Studies have found that up to 20% of people have some degree of visual stress, but that it is more severe in 5% of the population. Visual stress is more common in those with a diagnosis of dyslexia or dyspraxia but can also occur in the rest of the population.

Symptoms described when reading include:

Blur or variable vision
Letters that move
Words doubling
Shadowy lines
The gaps between words move
Shapes or colours on the page
Flickering
Glare from a white background

Some children report no symptoms at all, other than a dislike or difficulty reading so it is important to look for symptoms.

We use the orthoscopic system for colourimetry which, instead of using filters, uses a combination of LED lights that are calibrated to the same frequencies as the human eye. The software allows fine control over the colours tested which provides for much more rapid and sensitive assessment. The specially developed VDEX tints can provide or in some cases completely alleviate the reading difficulties caused by visual stress.

In addition to those with reading difficulties, we’ve also found VDEX lenses to be of help in variety of other conditions where the visual system is inefficient such as migraine, macular degeneration, dyspraxia and ADHD to name a few.

Vision Therapy: Services