Undiagnosed Vision Disorders—A Barrier to School Performance.

© By Nancy Torgerson, O.D., F.C.O.V.D.; edited by Margaret K. Dore, Esq.

When thinking about vision, most people think of the Big E, the "Snellen Eye Chart". This chart is a good tool for testing "acuity", whether a person’s vision is blurry at certain distances or "20/20".

But there is far more to vision than acuity. For example, there is the ability to use the eyes together or "eye teaming". When this ability is not well developed, symptoms can include those described in the adjacent article, as experienced by Meaghan McCarthy. Symptoms can also include: double vision; letter or word reversals; and a short attention span more typically diagnosed as attention deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD). Moreover, such symptoms are common among "at risk" school children and the incarcerated population. Unfortunately, the typical vision examination does not check for eye teaming (and many other aspects of vision). This is apparently what happened when Meaghan was examined by her local optometrist; he apparently limited his examination to eye health and visual acuity. It is not uncommon for an optometrist or ophthalmologist to do so.

By contrast, a "developmental optometrist" does perform tests for eye teaming. He or she would also tell the patient that symptoms related to an eye teaming disorder are treatable with vision therapy.

Developmental optometrists include those certified by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, designated "F.C.O.V.D."

Nancy Torgerson, O.D., F.C.O.V.D.