Vision Therapy Brisbane

Vision Therapy for Children and Adults

As members of the Australian College of Behavioural Optometrists (ACBO), the optometrists at Aphrodite Livanes Eyecare Plus in Alexandra Hills are proud to be part of the only Behavioural Optometry practice in the Redlands – meaning they are qualified to provide vision therapy.

What is Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy is known by a host of different names, usually including some variation of visual, eyesight, therapy, treatment or training – for example, visual training, eye therapy, etc.

Because visual skills such as tracking lines of text, coordinating the eyes and focusing on close objects are learned, these skills can be improved upon. Vision therapy consists of a series of programmed activities, designed to help the individual achieve the highest level of vision possible – and may even be beneficial for those with 20/20 vision.

These activities are prescribed by a behavioural optometrist specifically for the individual, and should be undertaken each day at home.

Vision therapy can be helpful for:

• poorly developed visual, visual motor or visual perceptual skills;
• difficulties with focus, particularly with maintaining for longer periods of time (eg for close up work such as reading, using an iPad, etc);
• and other common eye conditions in children.

Recent research has indicated that vision therapy is also helpful for children with autism.

Vision Therapy for Children

It is estimated that 1 in 4 children has a vision problem severe enough to affect their learning at school (1), but school vision screenings can miss up to half of these problems (2).

This is why we recommend parents take their child to a behavioural optometrist for an eye examination, prior to commencing their formal education.

Not only will a behavioural optometrist conduct a thorough check of all aspects of the child’s eye health, vision, and visual skills, they are also able to prescribe vision therapy or corrective lenses if required.

There is a growing body of evidence to support the use of vision therapy for improving convergence (eye coordination) disorders, accommodation (focusing), and tracking, which has been collated on the ACBO website.

Interested to know more? If you live in the Brisbane area, you can call us on 3824 1878 or book an eye test, to discuss whether vision therapy is suitable for you or your child.

1. ACBO – Vision Screening Outcomes of Grade 3 Children in Australia (PDF)
2. https://www.covd.org/
3. https://www.acbo.org.au/for-patients/about-vision/147-eye-skill-activities