Comprehensive Vision Exam

The following tests should be included in a comprehensive vision exam:

o A thorough patient history, including general health and developmental history.

o A measurement of how clearly the patient can see in the distance and up close (visual acuity, e.g. 20/20)
o A measurement of the presence of any refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism)
o An assessment of eye focusing, eye teaming, and eye movement abilities (accommodation, binocular vision,
ocular motility)
o An examination of the health of the eyes

Depending on the results of these evaluations, additional tests of visual development and visual perceptual abilities
may be needed to effectively assess a patient's total visual status. Testing with eye drops is sometimes used to
evaluate the refractive status or health of the eyes. However, these eye drops can alter test results and mask
significant visual problems. Therefore, testing with eye drops should be deferred until after the first comprehensive
vision examination. A complete functional evaluation of all visual abilities should be conducted first.

Any reading or learning difficulties experienced by you or your child should be brought to the attention of the doctor.
Request an evaluation to detect whether learning-related vision problems are present.

Once testing is completed, the doctor should review all findings with the patient or parent and provide consultation
and recommendations regarding any needed treatment.

Locate a Doctor near you to discuss a comprehensive vision examination.

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You searched: Postal Code: 76106, Radius: 25
1 result found.

David Spivey, O.D.

Fossil Creek Vision Clinic
7125 North Beach Street
Fort Worth, TX 76137, US
PH: (817) 232-2321
FX: (817) 232-4933
Email: drspivey2020dr@msn.com
Website: www.optometrists.org/precision
Distance: 5.6 miles away
17 Visual Skills

Most people don’t realize that you need 17 visual skills to succeed in reading, learning, sports, and in life. Seeing
‘20/20’ is just one of those visual skills. Here is the complete list:

1. Eye Movement Control

2. Simultaneous Focus at Far
3. Sustaining Focus at Far
4. Simultaneous Focus at Near
5. Sustaining Focus at Near
6. Simultaneous Alignment at Far
7. Sustaining Alignment at Far
8. Simultaneous Alignment at Near
9. Sustaining Alignment at Near
10. Central Vision (Visual Acuity)
11. Peripheral Vision
12. Depth Awareness
13. Color Perception
14. Gross Visual-Motor
15. Fine Visual-Motor
16. Visual Perception
17. Visual Integration

Locate a Doctor near you for a comprehensive exam that checks all these visual skills.
Symptoms Checklist

When Is Learning Difficulty Due to a Vision Problem?

While learning occurs through a number of complex and interrelated processes, vision plays a key role. Many signs,
symptoms, and behaviors associated with learning disabilities are similar to those caused by vision problems. This is
why it is so important that a comprehensive vision examination be part of the interdisciplinary evaluation of all
children who are failing to succeed in school.

Here are some signs and symptoms to look for that may indicate a vision problem.

Symptoms Possible Vision Problems

-Complains of blurred vision Nearsightedness, Farsightedness, or

-Rubs eyes frequently Astigmatism
-Squints inability to see clearly in the distance or up
close

- Closes or covers one eye Eye coordination problems

- Occasionally sees double inability to coordinate the eyes together
- Rubs eyes frequently effectively
- Able to read for only a short time
- Poor reading comprehension

- Holds things very close Eye focusing problems

- Complains of blurred vision inability to easily refocus eyes or maintain
- Poor reading comprehension clear focus
- Says eyes are tired
- Able to read for only a short time
- Has headaches when reading

- Moves head excessively when reading Eye tracking problems

- Frequently loses place, skips lines when
reading
- Uses finger to keep place
- Poor reading comprehension
- Short attention span
inadequate ability to smoothly and
accurately move the eyes from one point to
another

- Mistakes words with similar beginnings Faulty visual form perception

- Difficulty recognizing letters, words, or inability to discriminate differences in size,
simple shapes and forms shape, or form
- Can't distinguish the main idea from
insignificant details
- Trouble learning basic math concepts of
size, magnitude, and position

- Trouble visualizing what is read Faulty visual memory

- Poor reading comprehension inability to remember and understand what
- Poor speller is seen
- Trouble with mathematical concepts
- Poor recall of visually presented material

- Sloppy handwriting and drawing Faulty visual motor integration

- Can't stay on lines inability to process and reproduce visual
- Poor copying skills mages by writing or drawing
- Can respond orally but not in writing

- Trouble learning right and left Difficulty with laterality and directionality
- Reverses letters and words Poor development of left/right awareness
- Trouble writing and remembering letters
and numbers

Physical signs or symptoms

o Frequent headaches or eye strain

o Blurring of distance or near vision, particularly after reading or other close work
o Avoidance of close work or other visually demanding tasks
o Poor judgment of depth
o Turning of an eye in or out, up or down
o Tendency to cover or close one eye, or favor the vision in one eye
o Double vision
o Poor hand-eye coordination
o Difficulty following a moving target
o Dizziness or motion sickness

Performance problems

o Poor reading comprehension

o Difficulty copying from one place to another
o Loss of place, repetition, and/or omission of words while reading
o Difficulty changing focus from distance to near and back
o Poor posture when reading or writing
o Poor handwriting
o Can respond orally but can't get the same information down on paper
o Letter and word reversals
o Difficulty judging sizes and shapes

How to Identify a Vision Problem

Children should be referred for a comprehensive eye exam whenever visual symptoms are noticed or if they are not
achieving their potential. Many of these vision problems will not be detected during a school vision screening or
limited vision assessment as part of a school physical or routine pediatric health evaluation.

Locate a Doctor in your area who is experienced and knowledgeable in diagnosing and treating learning-related
vision problems.
Reading, Writing & Vision

Every one of us has to see or visualize what is meant by the words we read and write. Sometimes, people with
learning-related vision problems can see the words, but they can't see what they mean. Reading and writing are the
two most common tasks people will perform in school or at a desk job. Every time we read from a book, a sheet of
paper, or a computer monitor, we are performing a visual task.

How We Read
When we read, we need to:

o aim two eyes at the same point simultaneously and accurately,

o focus both eyes to make the reading material clear,
o continue or sustain clear focus, and
o move two eyes continually as a coordinated team across the line of print.

When we move our eyes to the next line of print, we continue with the process.

Reading Comprehension
In order to gain comprehension throughout the reading process, we are constantly taking in the visual information and
decoding it from the written word into a mental image. Memory and visualization are also used to constantly relate the
information to what is already known and to help make sense of what is being read.

How We Write
Writing is similar, but almost works in the reverse order to reading. We start with an image in our mind and code it
into words. At the same time, we control the movement of the pencil while continually working to keep the written
material making sense. Throughout all this, we focus our eyes and move them together just as in the reading
process.

Complicated visual procedures are involved in both reading and writing. A problem with any or all of the visual parts
of the processes described above can present difficulties in some way with reading and/or writing.

How to Identify a Vision Problem

Sometimes a visual difficulty that affects reading and writing is easy to recognize, and other times it can be quite
subtle to detect.

Locate a Doctor in your area to discuss how vision affects reading and writing.