What is a developmental optometrist?

 A developmental optometrist is an eye doctor who has completed two to three years of post-graduate training and is credentialed as a Fellow in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, or F.C.O.V.D.

Developmental optometrists may also be called a behavioral optometrists or pediatric optometrists because of their roles in evaluating the impact of vision on behavior and learning.

My child has good vision, how do I know if he/she needs to be evaluated by a developmental optometrist?

A child may have “healthy” eyes and not require glasses, but still have visual problems. In addition to performing routine eye exams, a developmental optometrist will complete other tests to determine whether the patient has adequate visual function in order to perform daily tasks, such as reading, focusing back and forth between a printed page and the blackboard, and catching a ball.

 Symptoms that may indicate a need for a developmental optometry evaluation:

Headaches while reading or writing

• Blurry vision when reading
• Difficulty smoothly reading across a line
• Skipping words or entire lines when reading
• Difficulty copying from the blackboard
• Avoiding reading and writing
• Poor reading comprehension
• Short attention span
• Moving one’s head excessively when reading
• Poor handwriting
• Burning, itching, or watery eyes
• Bumping into things
• Holding books too close or too far
• Squinting
• Difficulty recognizing faces

What areas of vision are assessed developmental optometrists?

Binocularity: the ability of the eyes to work together to transmit information to the brain

Oculomotility (tracking): the ability to smoothly and accurately move the eyes, which is especially important for reading

Accomodation: the ability to rapidly re-focus the eyes when looking at something up close, then from a distance, and back again

What is vision therapy?

If the results of the assessment indicate that visual skills are too weak to support age appropriate activities, vision therapy may be recommended. Vision therapy typically includes a program of progressive “exercises” that address the child’s specific visual needs. They are usually performed in the doctor’s office once or twice a week. Frequent reevaluations are performed to closely monitor progress. Home exercises may be prescribed to facilitate more rapid progress.  

Why would my child’s occupational therapist refer me to a developmental optometrist?

Occupational therapists screen oculomotor control, assess and treat deficits in visual perception, or the ability to interpret and analyze visual information accurately, and visual motor integration, or eye-hand coordination. However, an occupational therapist may refer a child to a developmental optometrist if there is a cluster of symptoms that indicate that vision deficits are affecting a child’s functional performance at home or in school not attributable to postural control, fine motor, or visual-motor skills alone.

References: Scheiman, M. Understanding and Managing Vision Deficits: A Guide for Occupational Therapists. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated, 1997.

 www.covd.org

 www.childrensvision.com

 Blog written by: Aviva Goldwasser, MS, OTR & Chaye Lamm Warburg, DPS, OTR, Director of POTS