Vision is 70% of the incoming sensory information to your brain and over 90% of your brain is involved in processing vision.
In fact, when different senses are giving conflicting information, your brain will almost always use vision to over-ride the other sense.
The Opt-mization Eye Exam Process
Our eye examinations go beyond clarity and eye health. We look at how your vision functions. This includes areas such as how your eyes track, work together, and how your brain processes your vision.
This allows for the diagnosis and treatment of any problems, as well as ways to improve your visual performance.
Common Conditions
Here is a list of common conditions that commonly have underlying functional vision problems and benefit from the assessment:
- Post Concussion Syndrome
- Dyslexia and Dysgraphia
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
- Learning Disabilities
- Meniere’s Disease
- Mal de Debarquement
- Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis
- Stroke
- Headaches/Migraines
- Strabismus
- Convergence Insufficiency
- Amblyopia
- Double Vision
The Exam Process
The Opto-mization process is made up of 3 key steps
Examinations/Assessments
Our in-depth examinations are split into two components to cover all aspects of your eyecare; The NeuroVisual Assessment and the Ocular Health Assessment.
We do the exams separately because putting it all into one appointment is too much for optimal outcomes. This also allows each examination type to be done at different frequencies.
Neuro-Visual Assessment
This involves computerized eye tracking, visual performance testing, and refraction (checking your prescription). It involves more in-depth testing of visual function than a routine eye exam.
This gives us the ability to diagnose any areas of dysfunction and determine options for treatment. The functional testing results in a specialized glasses prescription that takes into account how your eyes and brain work together.
Testing includes:
Eye tracking, Computerized tracking of eye movements, Depth perception, Eye teaming (binocularity) including, vergences, Visual-vestibular integration (balance/dizziness), Visual-motor ability, Refraction (prescription to see clearly), Effect of various prescriptions and tools (including prism) on visual performance in above areas, and more…
Treatment
There are often several options for treatment:
Ocular Health Assessment
This is focused on the physical health of the eye. It is similar to the routine eye exam you are used to, but does not include the refraction (glasses prescription) because that is done in the Neuro-Visual assessment. The ocular health assessment includes
Testing includes:
- OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) 3D scans of retina and nerve
- NCT (Non-Contact Tonometry)- puff of air to measure pressures
- Bio-microscopy – examining your eyes with bio-microscope
- Keratometry – measuring the curve of your cornea
- Visual Acuities
- May include visual field testing
- May include dilation when necessary (able to opt-out)
Why are the exams done separately?
Our exams are split into two components because it yields better results. Putting all the in-depth function testing into the same appointment as the scans, puffs, and lights is often too much.
Many new patients have had their ocular health assessed as part of a routine eye exam somewhere else before they’ve seen us, and we often do not need to repeat that testing.
