Eye Teaming
Normally, we have two eyes which are able to work together as a team.
This means when we look at an object, both our eyes are pointing at that object in a precise and coordinated way, giving us single comfortable vision which we can sustain for long periods. This is good eye teaming.
Good eye teaming is an important skill for visual acuity during reading. If your child has poor eye teaming, they may see overlapping images which may cause problems when reading for any length of time. Because vision is not comfortable when your child sees double or when they can’t sustain a single vision for long, they may tend to avoid reading tasks.
Eye teaming problems are usually diagnosed as either Convergence Insufficiency or Convergence Excess.
Convergence Insufficiency is when the brain perceives an object at near to be farther away than it is, which results in the need for extra effort to be used as the eyes and brain must work harder in order to point accurately at the object. Therefore, the eyes have a tendency to turn slightly outward when viewing close objects due to this problem with localisation.
Convergence Excess is when the brain perceives an object at near to be closer than it is, which results in the need for extra effort to be used as the eyes and brain must work harder in order to point accurately at the object. Therefore, the eyes have a tendency to turn slightly inward when viewing close objects due to this problem with localisation.
How Can We Help?
Our optometrists are well trained and equipped to diagnose and treat eye teaming problems and find the best solution for kids and adults whose eyes are not working in tandem. We don’t only check for clarity of vision but also check whether the brain correctly interprets what the eyes see.
Left untreated, eye teaming problems may show up as a learning difficulty. Our optometrists know that eye teaming problems are visual efficiency problems, not language based reading dysfunctions. We will help determine if vision is the basis of your child’s struggle to read through targeted tests.
We use a variety of different activities that will encourage your kids’ eyes to work together and improve their perception of visual space. These activities are fun and effective, and we have found that many kids we’ve treated actually look forward to their next vision therapy session!
We will help your child read for longer periods without experiencing eye strain, begin to experience the benefits of binocular vision, and develop a new level of confidence at school as their eyes begin to work better together and reading becomes more comfortable for them.
