Five Signs You Might Need a Behavioural Optometrist
Vision Is More Than Sight
Most people associate an optometrist with prescriptions for glasses or relief for tired dry eyes. Yet not all visual concerns begin with blurry sight. Sometimes the eye itself appears completely healthy while reading becomes a struggle learning plateaus or concentration wanes by midday.
At Eyes By Design we practise behavioural optometry. This is an advanced clinical approach that looks beyond how clearly you see and focuses instead on how your entire visual system supports learning performance and daily life. It recognises that vision is not a static snapshot.
It is a dynamic interaction between the eyes the brain and the body.
What Is Behavioural Optometry
Behavioural optometry sometimes referred to as functional or developmental optometry is based on the principle that seeing clearly is only the beginning. For vision to serve us fully our eyes must work efficiently track accurately shift focus seamlessly and deliver information to the brain in a way that supports movement posture memory and learning.
This includes:
- Smooth tracking across pages and screens
- Quick and reliable focusing at various distances
- Coordination between both eyes
- Spatial awareness and body control
- Accurate visual processing in real time
A behavioural optometrist evaluates these interconnected systems. The goal is to identify not just if you see clearly but whether your visual system is working in your favour.
Five Clues That Vision May Be Holding You Back
1. Your Child Struggles With Reading but Seems Capable in Conversation
A bright articulate child who finds reading frustrating may not have a learning problem. They may be experiencing visual dysfunction. Skipping lines using a finger to follow the text or claiming that words blur or shift position are signs worth exploring. We assess how the eyes work during sustained near tasks like reading where subtle inefficiencies often go undetected in routine testing.
2. Frequent Headaches or Eye Fatigue After Screen Use
Digital eye strain is often brushed off as normal but symptoms like tightness behind the eyes end-of-day headaches or an inability to focus clearly can suggest a breakdown in visual coordination. Behavioural testing reveals whether the muscles that control eye alignment and focus are struggling under screen-based demands.
3. Poor Coordination Clumsiness or Reluctance to Engage in Sport
Vision is central to movement. If a child avoids ball sports has difficulty catching objects or struggles with balance this may relate to the way their brain interprets visual spatial cues. These behaviours often reflect issues in visual-motor integration rather than pure athletic ability.
4. A Verbal Child Who Underperforms on Paper
Many children who are naturally inquisitive and verbally expressive underachieve academically because their eyes are working too hard to track and process written information. Fidgeting daydreaming slow completion of tasks or resistance to reading may stem from undiagnosed functional vision problems not disinterest or defiance.
5. Glasses Help But the Problem Persists
Some patients find that no matter how often their prescription is adjusted something still feels off. They may struggle to relax their eyes experience depth confusion or never quite feel visually settled. This often points to eye teaming or neurological processing difficulties rather than refractive error.
What Happens During a Behavioural Optometry Assessment
At Eyes By Design our approach is detailed methodical and deeply tailored. We assess how your eyes move work together and respond to changing demands. Key areas we investigate include:
- Eye movement control
- Focusing stamina and flexibility
- Eye teaming and visual alignment
- Visual memory and cognitive load
- Spatial reasoning and coordination
From here we create a personalised plan which may involve therapeutic lenses vision therapy or practical modifications in your environment at school or in the workplace.
When Vision Is the Missing Link
If you or your child are facing daily frustrations that are not explained by general eye tests a behavioural optometry assessment could reveal the underlying cause.
This is not simply about seeing more clearly. It is about seeing more comfortably moving more confidently and learning more effectively.
At Eyes By Design in Kincumber we are committed to helping people uncover the full potential of their vision through comprehensive behavioural care.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general eye health topics.
It should not be used as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your health care professional prior to incorporating this as part of your health regimen.
Dr Nicholas Altuneg
For over two decades, my greatest passion has been helping people of all ages live improved lives through better vision. At Eyes by Design, vision is so much more than being able to see clearly or read small letters from far away; it determines your perceptions and reactions every second of the day.
Read more about Dr Nick
