Orthoptic Visual Processing Difficulties Clinic
Cornwall Orthoptist
Visual Processing Difficulties Clinic
Through my work as a qualified Orthoptist in Cornwall I assess, diagnose and manage various eye conditions in adults and children. I assess adults and children with double vision, blurred vision and suspected binocular vision dysfunction which are often caused by imbalance or weakness in one or more of the eye muscles. Most of my patients report visual difficulties that remain unexplained after a routine eye exam.
All of my examinations start with a vision and orthoptic assessment to check that each eye sees well for near and far and how well the muscles around the eyes work to keep the eyes aligned and balanced. I will test your binocular vision control to learn more about how well your eyes work together as a pair or to determine why they’re unable to do so. I’ll also assess your ability to maintain clear, focused vision at all distances and to adapt your focusing strength accordingly. It’s important to have these assessments done before moving onto assessing for visual stress, tracking difficulties or visual perception skills.
Visual processing is the ability of the brain to interpret and make sense of what our eyes see. Struggling with one or more aspects of visual processing may cause difficulties with reading, writing and learning. Examples of visual processing difficulties include visual stress, saccade/tracking difficulties, visual memory or spatial relation difficulties.
I will discuss your needs prior to booking and will often request that your routine eye tests are up to date (not always, particularly for younger children). Many patients need a multi-disciplinary approach to their care, which I cannot always offer on a private, independent basis. I will be honest and transparent with this and will inform you if I feel you or your child is best suited to NHS care, where treatments for many general orthoptic problems are offered.
A visual processing difficulties (VPD) clinic or specific learning difficulties (SPLD) clinic is a specialist post-graduate clinical area which some Orthoptists, like myself, undergo additional training in.
Many of my patients come to me for a VPD assessment due to ongoing concerns with reading, writing or learning, often being directed to me by some of the excellent dyslexia assessors in Cornwall who recognise the importance of visual perception and binocular vision. It’s important to note here that dyslexia is NOT a visual issue and neither eye exercises or coloured filters will help with dyslexia. However, the signs of these can overlap and it’s important to address visual issues.
I allow long initial assessment times of 2.5 hours (breaks welcome) for patients booking my VPD service and provide in depth reports which include recommendations and treatment advice. You are welcome to share this with school/college/university SENCOs or your workplace to help guide them on how to support you.
Who Can Benefit from Orthoptic Assessment?
Orthoptists are the experts in visual development, diagnosing and treating defects in eye movements and problems with how the eyes work together. The below signs & symptoms can indicate a variety of visual and visual processing conditions, including visual stress. If you or your child experience any of these, get in touch and learn how I could help…
Double-vision
Rivers in text
Tiring easily when reading
Reversing letters (‘b’ and ‘d’)
Difficulty copying text
Confusing similar-looking words
Light sensitivity (screens)
Words moving on page
Skipping/re-reading words
Blurred vision
Fidgeting when reading
Lack of concentration
Struggles reading black text on white background
Trouble with different fonts
Forgetting what has been read
Struggling academically
Difficulties with left and right
Visual stress and coloured overlays
Visual stress is a condition that causes discomfort when reading black text on a white page. The high contrast ‘striped’ effect is thought to cause a brain cell over-excitation response. The result can be visual symptoms such as seeing words move/shimmer, rivers/patterns, blurred vision, difficulties reading black text on the board and light sensitivity. I can assess and diagnose visual stress, provide a coloured overlay and make recommendations for schools & workplaces on how to manage symptoms.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Using an overlay without a proper assessment and binocular vision assessment first can lead to masking of other treatable visual problems.
I am currently taking on new patients at Cornwall Orthoptist- a Visual Processing Difficulties Clinic in North Cornwall
FAQ’s
I’ve had a routine eye test and was told my vision is 20/20. Why do I still struggle?
A routine eye test primarily checks eye health and how clearly you see letters on a black & white test chart (visual acuity). However, you can have perfect 20/20 vision but still struggle if your eyes don’t track accurately, focus quickly, or work properly as a team. As an Orthoptist, I assess the function of your eye muscles and look in more depth at your binocular vision control (how your eyes work together). I can also test for visual processing problems (how your brain processes what you see) such as visual stress or visual perception problems.
What is the difference between an Optician and an Orthoptist?
While Opticians (Optometrists) focus on eye health and the need for glasses, Orthoptists are specialists in binocular vision and eye movements. Think of it like this: an Optometrist ensures the “camera” (your eye) is in good health, while an Orthoptist ensures the “motors” (your muscles) and the “software” (your brain) are working together correctly to make sense of the image.
Do you assess adults?
Yes, I offer orthoptic and binocular vision assessments to adults as well as children. You’re also welcome to book with me for a visual processing difficulties (VPD) assessment to see if you have visual stress or visual perception difficulties- you’re never too old to learn more about your visual skills. However, if you have sudden onset visual symptoms. e.g. double vision, then you should seek an urgent advice from your GP who may refer you to the emergency eye casualty clinic at your local hospital.
My child is bright but falls behind in reading. Could it be visual?
Absolutely. Children who are mislabelled as “lazy” or having “poor concentration” could actually working twice as hard just to keep the words still on the page or to see them clearly. If a child’s eyes aren’t focusing efficiently or moving accurately they may lose their place, skip words or experience double vision. They could also be suffering from a condition called ‘’visual stress”, where text appears to move or shimmer or they may see rivers or patterns on the page. Identifying these visual barriers could be the “missing piece” in supporting a child’s education.
Why is the assessment 2.5 hours long?
It’s not always this long. A standalone orthoptic appointment is much shorter, typically 45-60 minutes but a visual processing assessment is much more in depth than a sight test; it is a deep dive into how you or your child perceives the world. I assess various visual & focusing skills, tracking, visual memory, spatial relationships and more. This appointment length allows me to be thorough whilst still ensuring your child has plenty of time for breaks so they don’t feel “tested” or overwhelmed. You will leave with a clear understanding of the results and any necessary exercises or support strategies.