Frequently Asked Questions

While the roles of the optometrist and orthoptist overlap, we may in many cases work collaboratively together. This is because each professional is slightly more experienced in a subspecialty. For example, optometrists are trained to examine the eye and prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses or medications as needed to help patients with problems relating to eyesight or the physical state of the eye, such as conditions relating to glaucoma or keratoconus! Orthoptists are like eye physiotherapists, they are trained to offer a range of treatments including eye exercises, patches or prisms. They also commonly work with patients with neurological conditions, such as stroke, brain tumours or multiple sclerosis offering low vision care or vision rehabilitation. Alternatively, you may find orthoptists working alongside ophthalmologists to non-surgically investigate and manage diseases in the eye. 

As physicians have become more focused on surgery, medication or prescribing eye glasses, orthoptists  (specialists performing orthoptics) often go undercover. Orthoptics simply means “straight eyes”. 

Hence, an orthoptist is trained to evaluate ocular motility (eye turns) and binocular function disorders and subsequently prescribe orthoptic exercises to help improve skills related to eye teaming, eye tracking, fusion and eye focusing necessary for our daily activities.

Vision Vibes Orthoptics uses the term “vision therapy” for ease of language as not many are aware of orthoptic programs. 

Some cases will require the aid of eye glasses or prisms to assist in the exercise regime for optimal treatment. Other cases, will require surgery as a last resort. However, most people benefit from eye exercises and show improved results within the first year of therapy. This is because orthoptists are trained professionals in this field and often closely monitor, follow up and individualise programs according to patients needs.

Eye movement difficulties, amblyopia or lazy eye, focusing issues, double vision, and visual processing issues are just a few of the conditions that vision therapy can successfully cure. Loss of place when reading, fuzzy vision, and re-reading lines are all possible symptoms of these conditions. 

Additionally, vision therapy is a very effective way to improve sports performance and eye-hand coordination.

These are just a few of the most common symptoms or behaviours indicating an underlying eye problem that can be fixed with eye exercises. 

For children:

  • Unexplained poor performance in school
  • Difficulty keeping track of reading spots whilst reading (skipping lines or re-reading lines)
  • Bringing reading materials up close
  • Disliking near work activities or homework
  • Noticing of an eye turn
  • Frequent squinting
  • Frequent eye rubbing
  • Head tilts or head turns when looking at objects
  • Increased light sensitivity or poor adaptation to light-dark environments and vice versa. 
  • Poor eye-hand coordination
  • Poor depth perception
  • Increased clumsiness or bumping into objects
  • Visual changes following a recent infection

For Adults:

  • Eye Strains
  • Headaches
  • Red or watery eyes
  • Increased blur or double vision when looking at reading materials
  • Difficulty reading for a long period of time
  • Light sensitivity 
  • Visual disturbances following a head trauma, an infection, or a strokes

Both children and adults with visual challenges can benefit from vision therapy. The time frame and effectiveness of the treatments depend on the the individual’s maturity and level of motivation, his/her age, commitment to prescribed activities  and the condition itself. 

Although it is typically understood that children  are the classic type of patients receiving care for childhood conditions such as lazy eyes or eye turns; adults too, can also benefit from vision therapy programs for neglected childhood disorders as research have indicated that the brain’s flexibility is increased with increased repetition. It is simply like learning to play a new instrument!!

On the other hand, conditions affecting adolescents and adults causing eye strains, double vision, headaches, difficulty focusing are all perfect candidates for vision therapy.

Vision therapy is also beneficial for treating issues such as fixation, saccades, pursuits, visual field expansion in patients who suffered from brain injury or stroke

Certain vision and misalignment concerns in babies usually disappear by the age of 3. However, Vision Vibes Orthoptics is honoured to examine and monitor babies visual development and milestones from 6 months of age.

Toddlers at the age of 2.5-3 years are most suitable to commence vision therapy programs due to their learned ability to participate in the prescribed exercises. 

All patients will receive an initial 1-hour comprehensive eye assessment. If your child is the patient, he or she may have been screened for potential visual disorders at his/her educational institution prior to the initial assessment.  

Once the orthoptist establishes a diagnosis, a treatment plan will be customised and assigned for the patient to begin therapy. Follow up sessions may range from 30 min-1 hour and may be assigned on a weekly, monthly or 6-weeks basis. Most cases start to show improvement at the 6 months mark and are fully treated by 1 year. Depending on the condition diagnosed, adults may require frequent follow up sessions and treatment period may go beyond 1 year.

The aid of other health professionals may be utilised for a holistic approach to therapy.

 

Please don’t try eye exercises demonstrated on YouTube or similar platforms or prescribed by a specialist to a friend at home. Every individual is different and requires a highly customised treatment plan with close monitoring. Any wrong doings may backfire and cause your existing condition to worsen or yield a secondary eye issue. 

 

In-office programs offer formal series of more complex exercises using sophisticated equipment, that you wouldn’t otherwise have access to at home. As Vision Vibes Orthoptics is a mobile service, In-office sessions are what we refer to as orthoptic consults and treatments that take place at your nominated location instead of a physical clinic.

Vision goes beyond improved eye-sight, Vision is a full experience of perception empowering us to thoughtlessly perform our daily activities. It is however a learned experience, it develops with practice. That’s why prescribed homework is like going to the gym.

Prescribed homework exercises are not sufficient for effective treatments, they compliment in-office therapy. They are designed to be simple, but challenging enough to maintain the therapy regime. 

While we do not promise a definite timeframe even after the designation of a treatment plan, the average course of therapy is between 6-12months. Every patient will be closely monitored with constant adjustments made throughout the way. The end goal of vision therapy is to effortlessly utilise vision unconsciously. The desired outcomes of vision therapy usually lasts for a life time. Patients will be trained to self evaluate their “eye teaming” state and are provided with self monitoring tips and maintenance exercises at the end of every therapy program. 

As medicare does not generally cover “orthoptics” you won’t be needing a referral. However NDIS and DVA claiming patients will need to supply us with a valid referral from a medical practitioner or specialist to process their claims.

Absolutely not! Rest back and enjoy the rest of your day!

Depending on your cover, some health insurances are able to claim back “Orthoptic consultation” and “Orthoptic therapy”. Please check with your  insurance provider prior to making a payment for optimal benefit. 

 

Unfortunately, Medicare and NDIS rebates are  limited to children with Autism, ADHD and children under  Better Start For Children With Disability  program.

 

Vision Vibes Orthoptics is constantly expanding  our private health fund network for easy claims processing. We are also working on accepting funds from NDIS planners and DVA card holders.

Patients may choose from a range of payment options:

  • Direct bank transfer
  • EFTPOS
  • Visa or Mastercard over the payments
  • Paypal
  • Afterpay

We do not accept cash or cheques.

Orthoptics is not new. The literature in regards to positive effects of eye exercises among a broad range of patients of varying age and conditions is abundant.  Research in this field is constantly exploring more contemporary techniques that are simpler to administer, accepted by patients and are more comfortable visually.

Lazy eye is diagnosed when one eye appears to have reduced vision compared to the other eye. The condition occurs in the early stages of development and is a result of delayed vision-brain pathway development. The condition commonly present with poor depth perception, poor eye-hand coordination and reading difficulties. If left untreated, the difference in vision and poor depth perception will become permanent, the person affected may also experience eye alignment issues and poor eye teaming.

Of course the earlier the condition is detected and treated the better, but it is never too late. Although, treatment may take longer, recent research have indicated that lazy eye can be treated at any age!

Stress induced visual difficulties occur from tasks requiring extensive amount of visual attention, especially at near distances. Computer vision syndrome, convergence insufficiency and accommodative insufficiency are among the common conditions causing eye strains, headaches, double vision and jumping words to name a few.

These symptoms can be very disturbing, especially when most of your work/ daily tasks are reliant on near work and reading.

As part of our mission to increase visual comfort and reduces environmental stressors on vision in workplaces, Vision Vibes Orthoptics proudly host educational sessions to educate employees about eye care tips. Sessions consist of 3 parts:

  1. Quick vision assessment of employees
  2. Eye care lecture
  3. Practise Eye Exercises