The three-step process before vision therapy begins is:
- Comprehensive eye exam and initial consult
- Binocular/developmental eye evaluation
- Conference to discuss results and recommendations
Our developmental optometrist Dr. Megan Ford has been specifically trained to use the following tests for children and adults to evaluate several important areas of vision that often go unchecked during standard “20/20” visual acuity tests.
Our comprehensive vision exams and developmental evaluation evaluate the following:
- Acuity at Near and at a Distance
- Eye Focusing
- Eye Teaming
- Eye Movement
- Vision Related Reading Fluency
- Depth Perception / 3D Vision
- Visual Processing Skills
- Visual-Motor Integration
Why Are These Vision Exams So Rigorous?
The breadth and depth of these tests enable us to develop comprehensive therapy programs for our patients.
When Should These Exams Be Administered?
Though there are benefits to these exams at any time, there are recommendations as to when they should begin.
We recommend that all children begin vision testing at 6 months and again at 3 years (prior to preschool) and 5 years (prior to kindergarten).
Early diagnosis of problems like Amblyopia (Lazy Eye), Convergence Insufficiency (near vision disorder) and other problems can help children overcome and possibly avoid struggling with learning disabilities like dyslexia and conditions like ADD.
We can also use these tests to assess and develop treatment plans for all ages of people struggling with vision problems due to outside causes such as traumatic brain injuries, autism, whiplash, and even strain from computer usage or reading.
Adults should also have annual vision testing to catch problems like hypertension, glaucoma, diabetes, cataracts early, when treatment is more effective.