What Is The Visual Assessment Part Of A Children’s Eye Exam?
In optometry, "eye movement" refers to the coordinated and precise movements of the eyes as they shift their gaze from one point to another. The eyes move constantly, even when we fixate on a single object, as a mechanism for maintaining clear vision, tracking moving objects, and exploring our surroundings.
There are several types of eye movements that optometrists assess during an eye examination to determine the health and functionality of the visual system. These movements include:
- Fixation: The ability to focus and maintain steady gaze on a specific point.
- Pursuit: The smooth tracking of a moving object with the eyes.
- Saccades: Rapid and precise movements of the eyes as they shift from one target to another. These movements are essential for reading, scanning the environment, and changing focus between objects.
- Convergence: The inward movement of the eyes as they come together to maintain single binocular vision for objects at close distances.
- Divergence: The outward movement of the eyes as they move apart to focus on objects in the distance after convergence.
Why Is It Important?
Problems with eye movements can affect visual function and lead to symptoms such as double vision, eye strain, difficulties with reading, and poor hand-eye coordination. Optometrists assess eye movements to identify any abnormalities or disorders that may require further investigation or treatment.
Visual Processing and Learning:
Efficient eye movement skills are essential for effective visual processing, which is crucial for learning. Children rely heavily on their vision to read, write, and absorb information in the classroom. Smooth and accurate eye movements allow them to track words on a page, follow along during a teacher's instruction, and shift focus between different visual stimuli. A comprehensive eye exam that includes an assessment of eye movements helps identify any deficiencies that could hinder a child's ability to learn and comprehend information.
Detecting Binocular Vision Problems:
Eye movement assessment can reveal issues with binocular vision, which refers to how the eyes work together as a team. Problems with eye coordination can lead to difficulties in maintaining single, clear vision, causing eye strain, blurred vision, or double vision. This can negatively impact a child's reading comprehension, depth perception, and overall visual comfort. By evaluating eye movements, optometrists can identify conditions such as strabismus (eye misalignment) or convergence insufficiency (difficulty converging the eyes), allowing for early intervention and appropriate treatment to improve binocular vision.
Tracking and Reading Skills:
Eye movement assessment is particularly important for assessing a child's tracking and reading abilities. Smooth pursuit eye movements enable children to smoothly track moving objects, such as a ball or a moving car. Similarly, saccadic eye movements are crucial for reading, as they allow the eyes to move rapidly and accurately between words on a page. If a child has poor eye tracking or struggles with saccades, it can lead to difficulties in following a line of text, skipping words, or losing their place while reading. Identifying these issues through eye movement assessment can guide interventions to enhance reading skills.
Sports Performance and Hand-Eye Coordination:
Eye movements are vital for sports performance and hand-eye coordination. Activities like catching a ball, hitting a baseball, or shooting a basketball require precise eye tracking, quick shifts of gaze, and accurate hand movements. By evaluating a child's eye movements, optometrists can identify any deficiencies that may affect their sports performance and hand-eye coordination. Early detection of these issues allows for interventions such as vision therapy or sports vision training to improve visual skills, leading to enhanced performance and enjoyment in sports and physical activities.
Comprehensive Children’s Eye Exams At Sunridge Eye Clinic
Eye movement assessment is an essential part of a comprehensive children's eye exam. By evaluating how the eyes move and coordinate, optometrists can detect potential visual issues that may hinder a child's learning, reading skills, sports performance, and overall visual comfort. Regular eye exams that include eye movement assessment play a vital role in ensuring optimal visual development and academic success. Make sure to prioritize your child’s eye health by scheduling routine eye examinations with a qualified optometrist who can assess their eye movements and address any concerns effectively.
Children’s comprehensive eye exams include screening and assessment for various eye conditions to evaluate the health of your child’s eyes and identify any vision problems or eye diseases. By scheduling regular eye exams, you can catch eye issues early and ensure that you are taking the necessary steps to maintain good eye health.
Eye exams are an important part of healthcare. Eye exams can detect any underlying health conditions as well as any developing eye conditions that can impact vision suddenly. At Sunridge Eye Clinic in NE Calgary, our staff is committed to the health of all patients. From infants to seniors, our eye exams are designed to help you and your family stay informed about your health while learning how to care for and prevent various eye conditions. To schedule an eye exam, contact Sunridge Eye Clinic at 1-403-280-7518 or fill out the online contact form.
FAQ
Q: When should I take my child to the eye doctor?
A: Your child should go to the eye doctor once when they are 6 months old, once when they are 3 years old, and then every year once they turn 5 years old. To learn about the importance of the timing of children’s eye exams, read Children’s Eye Health And Safety Month: The Recommended Schedule Of Children’s Eye Exams.
Q: How much do children’s eye exams cost?
A: Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan covers all comprehensive annual eye exams for children aged 0-18 and for adults aged 65+. The AHCIP also provides coverage for all emergency visits to the eye doctor.
Q: What if I can’t afford eyeglasses for my children?
A: To help make eye care affordable for all, Sunridge Eye Clinic is a part of the EYE SEE… EYE LEARN (ESEL) program. If your kindergarten-aged child has been seen by a doctor of optometry and requires eyeglasses, ESEL provides a free pair. Simply tell your eye doctor you would like to participate in the ESEL program; no applications are necessary.
