Children’s Vision

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Good vision and healthy visual systems are essential to children’s ability to read and learn. Not only do we examine the ability to discern both near and far but, by using behavioural vision techniques, all the visual skills that a person needs to learn and function effectively are examined. 

Let’s have a look at some of these skills that are required to see comfortably. 

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Accommodative skills refer to the ability to shift focus from near to far and back again in an easy, sustainable manner. Closely related to accommodation is the ability to converge and diverge. This means that the eyes can look in (towards the nose) and out again without tiring or moving inaccurately. 

 

Eye-tracking refers to the general ability of the eyes to move in an accurate, comfortable manner from left to right or up and down, for instance when reading a sentence.

 

Lastly, binocularity refers to the ability of both eyes to function as a team, in other words, to form a single, three-dimensional image in the person’s mind, using information from both eyes.

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Children often struggle in school because one or more of these vision skills aren’t fully developed. By using vision therapy and spectacles or contact lenses, we often see a great improvement in the child’s confidence, reading rate and learning abilities.

 

We believe in a multidisciplinary approach by involving other professionals such as occupational therapists and ophthalmologists. In doing so, all the appropriate areas of a child’s visual system are optimally evaluated and co-managed. 

 

It is always a joy to work with children and we regard it as a privilege to see them and their parents.

Every child should have a full vision examination before they enter Grade One and every two years thereafter.