Behavioural Optometry – More Than 6/6 Sight

Behavioural Optometrist: Defining Behavioural Optometry involves understanding Vision and how it is different from Sight. Traditional optometry is more involved with Sight whilst Behavioural Optometry is more interested in Vision.  All patients will benefit from the more holistic approach but it is especially suited to those with eye motor control problems, lazy eyes, developmental delays, neurological damage or learning delays.

Although the majority of Behavioural Optometrists’ patients are children, Behavioural Optometry may be suitable for patients of any age if their condition is likely to respond to this treatment.

Sight

Sight essentially refers to the physical attributes and performance of the many organic components involved in the visual system.  Thus there is a high emphasis on structure, pathology and measurements of function of these components.

6/6 vision is a commonly quoted measure of normal Vision, yet it simply describes the sensitivity of the eye to see fine detail in the distance.  This is certainly an important measurement but having 6/6 vision does not guarantee that a person can read.  Reading requires good Vision.

Vision

In most instances, Vision uses Sight as its foundation.  So understanding all aspects of traditional optometry is extremely important to a Behavioural Optometrist.  Unlike Sight, which is strongly related to the performance of components in the visual pathway, Vision is a thought process. Vision combines information from many sensory systems to create a perception of reality.

Vision uses information from all the senses, including hearing, smell, touch and even the taste sense, which is then combined with information provided via Sight.  All this is in turn processed, linked to memory, and an image of the world or object is created.  This overlay of the senses is evident in the Thalamus, a key component of the brain, which regulates which sensory modality is being accessed at any point.

Vision is learned, so understanding the normal developmental pathway of an infant, through to child to teenager to adult is extremely important to Behavioural Optometry.  A child with limited environmental experiences is more likely to show abnormal development of Vision.  Likewise a child with deficiencies in the physical structures that provide the initial sensory information is also more likely to show abnormal development of Vision.

A child with a Vision problem may experience a learning delay that is not necessarily related to intelligence. Intervening to provide the stimulation required to encourage more normal development of Vision is one of the goals of Behavioural Optometry.

Many adults who once had normal Vision may experience poor Vision after sustaining head injuries, strokes, car accidents and neurological disease (such as Multiple Sclerosis) as brain function is often impacted.  Behavioural Optometry aims to understand the role of brain function in Vision, thus providing opportunities to help these people.

Vision is Motor

Society has become increasingly complex, requiring that Vision be used to complete tasks for which it was not designed. Vision is Motor. Vision creates a three dimensional reality that can be used to plan motor activities to allow physical interaction within the environment in order to survive.

Crossing a road uses Vision.  Looking ahead and then to the left and right provides information about the distances of the key objects involved in the task.  The mind then calculates if the body has enough time to take enough steps to cross the road before being hit by a car.  Good Vision is essential to survival!

Vision is learned which is why parents hold the hand of a child crossing a road. Vision is learned, through experience and motor interaction within the environment.  Abnormal Vision can be improved by providing an environment that triggers key developmental processes in an appropriate order.  This is one of the key reasons why Behavioural Optometrist integrates body movement activities within training programs.  It is also why simple computer only programs are not as effective in treating Vision problems.

Behavioural Optometrist Treating Vision

Treating Vision is the goal of our Behavioural Optometrist.  Recent research into neural development has confirmed the validity of many of the strategies promoted by Behavioural Optometry.  This research falls under the banner of Neuro Developmental Optometry and is an exciting new area of study.

Behavioural Optometrists use a wide variety of tools and modalities to achieve their goals.  These include:

  • Lenses (single vision, bifocals, multifocals, tints, prisms and occlusive) to modify the sensory input from “Sight ”
  • Gross motor activities to assist with integration of body knowledge with other senses, especially “Sight ”
  • Eye exercises with specific goals to encourage an awareness of how information enters the visual system as well as an awareness (and hence control) of the ocular motor systems

There is no one specific mode of practice, although there is commonality in the goals.  Some practitioners offer in-office therapy where all the work is done within the professional rooms under the guidance of a therapist.  Others may use the in-office attendance simply to review findings and provide new activities to be performed at home under the supervision of a carer.  Others may simply provide a software program to treat a disorder of Vision.

Goals of Behavioural Optometry

The goals of Behavioural Optometrist care are:

  • To prevent Vision problems and eye problems from developing
  • To provide remediation or rehabilitation for Vision or eye problems that have already developed (eg. eye turn, shortsightedness, visual sequelae of brain trauma etc)
  • To develop and enhance the visual skills needed to achieve more effective visual performance in the classroom, work-place, when playing sport and following recreational pursuits

Who could benefit from Behavioural Optometry?

All patients will benefit from the more holistic approach but it is especially suited to those with eye motor control problems, lazy eyes, developmental delays, neurological damage or learning delays.

Although the majority of Behavioural Optometrists’ patients are children, Behavioural Optometry may be suitable for patients of any age if their condition is likely to respond to this treatment.