Vision problems can severely impact a child’s school performance.

Has your child’s visual skills been checked?

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Child Questionnaire
Teacher Pre Examination Questionnaire
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Poor eyesight can impact your child’s learning potential

Of the 4 million children in Australia aged under 12 years, one out of five will experience a vision problem. Vision problems rarely threaten a child’s sight, but can prevent normal development. Some vision problems may interfere with learning and hinder participation in sport.

Vision is a learned skill, similar to walking and talking. Infants are born with components of the visual system in place, such as the eyes, optic nerve and brain, but it is after birth that growth, development, coordination and fine tuning of the visual system occurs.

Learning is accomplished through complex and inter-related processes and your eyes play a fundamental factor in thinking and learning. Early detection and treatment is imperative.

Is your child suffering?

Learning Difficulties
Poor Focus & Fatigue
Weak Hand Eye Coordination
Handwriting Problems
Lower Reading Comprehension
Headaches
Dry Eye
Mental Health Issues

Signs your child has a vision problem

Vision plays a major role in reading, spelling, writing, board work and computer work. Students tackle these tasks all day long, day after day. Each requires the visual skills of seeing quickly and understanding visual information that is frequently less than an arm’s length from the eyes.

Many students’ visual skills are not up to the demands of these types of classroom learning situations.

Clear eyesight is not all that is required for close vision tasks. Students must have a variety of scanning, focusing and visual coordination skills for learning and for obtaining meaning from reading. 

If these visual skills have not been addressed or are poorly developed, learning may become more difficult and stressful.

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Is your child showing the signs?

  • Avoidance of reading
  • Frustration with learning
  • Short attention span
  • Eyes Water
  • Fatigue and/or headaches
  • Adaptations
  • Declined academic performance

Prevent & fix issues with a comprehensive eye test

At Total Optical Cairns, we provide three types of eye tests for children:

Behavioural Optometry Tests

Suitable for babies, preschoolers and school aged children. We  explore the functioning of the eyes and the brain, as they process visual information and how they effect performance and behaviour. This includes areas of immature visual skills that may be interfering with progress at school. Even children with 20/20 eyesight may have problems with their visual skills.

45-60 minute test
Medicare Claimable

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Children’s Eye Tests

Regular eye examinations form an important part of your health-care regime, even if your child has  perfect eyesight.

45-60 minute test
Medicare Claimable

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Developmental Visual Information Processing Assessments

If your child is having difficulty with learning, an additional appointment may be scheduled for a Developmental Visual Information Processing (DVIP) Assessment with our Vision Therapist

Eye movement skills
Visual spatial skills
Visual memory
Visual analysis
Visual motor integration
Auditory skills

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Reducing the progression of Myopia in children.

Myopia is rapidly becoming a serious public health concern worldwide, yet new research1 shows that 65% of Australian parents (with children 0-17 years old) and 69% of New Zealand parents do not know what myopia is, and only 12% of parents in both countries recognise the health risk that their children might develop later in life from child myopia.

This is of significant concern given that high myopia (a refractive error of at least -5.00D in either eye) is also associated with comorbidities including retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts and myopic maculopathy.2 The risk of developing any of these conditions increases along with any increase in myopia.

It has been established that managing myopia in its early stages can slow its progression, reducing the potential risk of developing high myopia and its associated conditions later in life.3  This not only involves correcting the blurred distance vision associated with myopia but also employing treatments and strategies proven to slow the progression of myopia in children.

So what should you do to help delay the onset of myopia in your child?

Monitor

Monitor eyesight and eye health with regular eye exams by a qualified optometrist. 

Go Outdoors

A recent study showed children who spent an additional 40 minutes outdoors each day were at less risk of developing myopia.

Act Early

Speak with an optometrist as soon as symptoms emerge. The sooner treatment is received, the better the long term outcome.

Want to know more?

Read Our Blog on Myopia in Children

Vision Therapy

If your child’s Developmental Visual Information Processing Assessment reveals any areas needing improvement, you and your child may choose to start a Vision Therapy Program

The program covers

  • Visual thinking and memory
  • Organising space
  • Eye movements and focusing
  • Visual motor integration
  • Attention and sequencing
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We will care for your child’s eyes like they’re our own.

Hi, I’m Jane.

As a mother of a primary school aged daughter in addition to three older sons, and as an Optometrist, I know what it’s like to be worried about your child’s vision and academic performance.

I’ve been an optometrist for over 30 years, and I am obsessed with ensuring my patients receive the best possible eye care.

Whether your newborn has been identified as having an eye issue, or you are worried your child is having vision problems, I’d love to help you.

Do your child’s eyes a favour, book an appointment to see myself and my team.