Eye Examinations

Without a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist, many children have vision problems that can go undiagnosed. Others may be misdiagnosed as a learning disorder. A person with 20/20 may clearly see a certain letter on the standard eye chart (equivalent to what a person with normal vision should be able to see at 20 feet). There's so much more to healthy vision than 20/20.

• Acuity-Distance: Visual acuity (sharpness, clearness) at 20 feet distance.
   
• Acuity-Near: Visual acuity for short distance (specifically, reading distance).
   
• Focusing Skills: The ability of the eyes to maintain clear vision at varying distances.
   
• Eye Tracking and Fixation Skills: The ability of the eyes to look at and accurately follow an object; this includes the ability to move the eyes across a sheet of paper while reading, etc.
   
• Binocular Fusion: The ability to use both eyes together at the same time.
   
• Stereopis: Binocular depth perception.
   
• Convergence and Eye Teaming Skills: The ability of the eyes to aim, move and work as a coordinated team.
   
• Hyperopia: A refractive condition that makes it difficult to focus, especially at near viewing distances.
   
• Color Vision: The ability to differentiate colors.
   
• Reversal Frequency: Confusing letters or words (b, d; p, q: saw, was; etc.)
   
• Visual Memory: The ability to store and retrieve visual information.
   
• Visual Form Discrimination: The ability to determine if two shapes, colors, sizes, positions, or distances are the same or different.
   
• Visual Motor Integration: The ability to combine visual input with other sensory input (hand and body movements, balance, hearing, etc.); the ability to transform images from a vertical to a horizontal plane (such as from the blackboard to the desk surface).