I M OPTICAL
Optometrist in Sandton

At IM Optical we realise that each individual requires a comprehensive individualized eye examination, and that at different ages, our patients require different screenings. One of the most critical considerations for reading, learning or life in general, is the child’s visual performance. binocular stability (the ability to use both eyes as a team with good coordination) visual skills (the ability to perform visual tasks comfortably and track and focus rapidly and accurately across lines of print during reading) Children can be examined from any age, the earlier any visual problems are detected, the better the chance for successful treatment. It is recommended to assess a child’s visual performance before they start school. In the early to mid 40s, the lens inside our eye loses it flexibility, making it difficult for us to focus on objects near to us. At IM Optical we use sophisticated diagnostic equipment to not only facilitate early problem detection, but to also accurately monitor changes over time. Aside from visual refraction (near-sightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism) that can be corrected with prescription spectacles, effective vision also depends on the ability to use all the muscles in and around the eye in unison. For children with visual skill difficulties, most of their concentration and energy is going into keeping objects or reading material single and clear, with very little concentration left to process the information. These children tend to lose concentration and interest easily. Visual therapy can be described as a kind of physical therapy for the eyes and brain as it helps improve many of the common visual skill challenges that can lead to reading and learning problems. Accommodation is the ability to quickly and accurately change and maintain focus at different distances, such as when we look from the chalkboard to a piece of paper on the desk and back. This change in focus is facilitated by contracting or relaxing the eye's ciliary muscles around the lens. Copying notes from the board or reading up close can be really difficult for a child with accommodation problems as it will take time and effort to get the words in focus. Binocularity is the ability to align and move both eyes as a team. This involves coordination between all the extra-ocular muscles ensuring good stereovision and depth perception. These skills are essential for reading and writing. Precise eye movements are not only necessary for reading, but also for following the ball in sports and depth perception for driving. Evaluation of subjective refraction (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism)