Developmental Vision: More than Meets the Eye

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Eighty percent (80%) of our environmental observation and learning occurs through vision. However, one in ten children and a staggering 60-80% of children with special needs, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADD/ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Down’s Syndrome, and other genetic disabilities or developmental delays, have vision problems.  These aspects of vision can be identified by a comprehensive eye exam by a Doctor of Optometry or Ophthalmologist specializing in pediatrics, vision therapy, or low vision. 

At the University of the Incarnate Word optometry clinics (UIW Eye Institute and UIW Bowden Eye Care & Health Center) a comprehensive eye exam includes evaluating eyesight, eye teaming (the eyes straight and working together), accommodation (the focusing system), eye tracking (the eye movement system), and visual information processing (how the brain interprets what the eyes are seeing).  Children with developmental disabilities typically have difficulties in several of these areas.  These visual issues can cause many internal or behavioral frustrations and can lead to an inability to reach their full potential. 

It is invaluable to make sure the child is wearing the correct glasses prescription and seeing the best that they can in order to help the child succeed.  Vision therapy can help treat ocular conditions that glasses cannot fix.  Vision therapy trains and reinforces the connections from eye to brain.  It can also assist with the visual information processing issues that often hinders the special needs child.  

Low vision services may be helpful to some children who have a disorder of the eye or brain that keeps them from seeing clearly even with glasses. Pediatrics, Vision Therapy, and Low Vision Rehabilitation services are offered at the UIW optometry clinics by residency-specialized doctors in an individualized treatment plan focused on improving functional vision, vision processing, and visual-sensory integration.

More comfortable vision and the ability to process visual information, in conjunction with any other therapies or academic support services, can open a new world of exploration and success for children with special needs 

For more information on University of the Incarnate Word Clinics, please call one of our locations listed below or visit http://www.evcclinic.com for appointments or more information about Pediatric, Vision Therapy, or Low Vision Services. 

UIW Eye Institute
9725 Datapoint Drive
210-283-6800

UIW Bowden Eye Care & Health Center

2547 E. Commerce Street

210-619-7020

The American Optometric Association recommends that all children have a comprehensive eye examination between 6 months- 1 year, age 3, age 6 and every 1-2 years thereafter.

Prevalence of Vision Problems and Eye Diseases that will develop in children:

  • 1 in 10 is at risk from undiagnosed vision problems

  • 1 in 30 will be affected by amblyopia (lazy eye)

  • 1 in 25 will develop strabismus (crossed-eyes) which can lead to amblyopia

  • 1 in 33 will show a significant refractive error

  • 1 in 100 will exhibit evidence of eye disease

  • 1 in 20,000 children have retinoblastoma (intraocular cancer) 

Hellerstein LF. See it, Say it, Do it! A Parent and Teacher’s Action Guide to Creating Successful Students and Confident Kids. Centennial, Colorado. High Clear Publishing. 2010.

Care of the patient with learning-related vision disorders. Optometric Clinical Practice Guidelines. American Optometric Association. 2010.

Chung SA, Chang YH, Rhiu S, Lew H, Lee JB. Parent-reported symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children with intermittent exotropia before and after strabismus surgery. Yonsei Med J. 2012 Jul 1;53(4):806-11.

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