These include visual acuity (VA), binocular vision (BV), ocular motor skills (OMS) and visual perception skills (VPS).

A developmental optometrist, sometimes known as a behavioural optometrist, focuses on the performance of BV and OMS. We work alongside Occupation Therapists who provide VPS assessments and analyses.

Eye examination starts with determining the refractive status and eye health.

The results of which allow us to assess the eyes’ ability to coordinate between convergence and focusing, both of which are important for reading and learning new skills. Ideally, a child's eyes should have adequate VA and coordination and be able to work together as a system.

Our instrument of choice to assess OMS is the RightEye tracking device. The RightEye instrument has infrared sensors that can accurately detect eye movements, with or without glasses or contact lenses, while the patient focuses on the display screen throughout various motility tasks. The results provide objective and quantified measurements of an individual's OMS, allowing us to track progress achieved through vision therapy (VT).

VP analyses are obtained through Berry’s VMI and the Developmental Test of Visual Perception 3 (DTVP3), the latter of which is preferred to measure an individual's VPS as it contains 5 test subsets.

Our practice offers a multifaceted approach to target the 4 levels of vision by utilising a range of professional skills.

Dominique Cote-Assaf, our resident Optometrist, is a member of the Australian College of Behavioural Optometrists, and is experienced in testing children with learning difficulties between the ages of 4-12. Dominique is responsible for completing the eye examinations, where she uses her experience to tailor the tests to her paediatric patients and provides BV and OMS assessments.

Registered Occupational Therapist (OT), Jaime Outram, will be responsible for administering the DTVP3 test whilst being able to detect other developmental difficulties during the consultation. The results are then jointly reviewed by the Optometrist and the OT, which work together to issue a comprehensive report to the child's parents and school.

Development of language skills may be delayed in children with developmental difficulties. In these cases, a referral to Rachel Loughridge, our Speech Pathologist, allows us to form a well-rounded therapy program, which includes a focus on language.