Behavioural Optometry

What is Behavioural Optometry?

Behavioural Optometry is a specialised area within Optometry. A Behavioural Optometrist believes eyesight is not exclusively a function of how well each eye sees, but how well your visual system processes the information it sees. We investigate your motor, balance and visual awareness within space.

A Behavioural Optometrist doesn’t just correct visual difficulties. They also aim to protect and develop your visual system, and act to prevent visual problems from developing in the first instance. We act to improve your visual performance in of the all aspects we can.

Near Point Stress (NPS) is an important area for the Behavioural Optometrist. This describes the strain on your visual system as it carries out near tasks such as reading, writing or computer work. A Behavioural Optometrist believes that certain conditions such as short-sightedness, astigmatism or turned eyes may arise, at least in part, due to near point stress. Becaues of this, a Behavioural Optometrist will not solely consider correcting vision, but also aims to protect the visual system and prevent problems from arising .We aim to imrove all aspects of visual performance. 

Behavioural Optometry – The Aims:

Every patient has an exclusive set of goals they wish to achieve. These are often unique to your environment. We tailor each behavioural examination to meet your needs. Some common goals are as follows:

• To improve visual performance. This may be certain aspects of schoolwork, at work or within social situations.
• To provide care and planning for eye conditions such as short-sightedness or turned eyes (squints).
• To promote a healthy visual system in such a way that we prevent visual problems from developing.

How might your Behavioural Optometrist Manage your care?

• By prescribing techniques which promote solid visual hygiene. These may inhibit conditions from developing prevent them from worsening.
• Use spectacles or prismatic correction in a way that encourages your visual system to develop correctly and maintain accuracy.
• Use visual therapy such as eye exercises. Often these help those who are behind in their visual development or struggling in certain situations.
• Use Optical aids including lenses of precise hues or occlusive management regimes.

For more information or any questions on Behavioural Optometry, you can contact our Behavioural Optometrist John Mellsop.