Myopia

• Does your child have trouble seeing far away objects?
• Does your child lose concentration with long distance tasks?
• Does your child squint when looking far away?
• Does your child complain of ghosting or streaky vision?
• Does your child sit close to the TV or whiteboard?

Your child may have short-sightedness (myopia) which is a common refractive error in which close objects are clear but far away objects appear blurred or out of focus. This occurs because the eyeball is too long and the lens focusses images in front of the retina instead of on the retina. Single focus glasses may improve the clarity of vision but the myopia may continue to worsen.

At L&K Kids, our optometrists specialise in myopia control. We offer a range of clinically proven techniques to slow the progression of myopia. These include the use of specific glasses lens designs such as Miyosmart (with DIMS technology) and extended focus or multifocal types. There are a variety of contact lens options for myopia control including orthokeratology or multifocal soft contact lenses. Eye drops such as low dose Atropine treatment are another option for myopia control and can be prescribed by our therapeutically endorsed optometrists.

Hyperopia and Astigmatism

• Does your child have trouble seeing close objects?
• Does your child have poor concentration with reading?
• Does your child experience episodes of near blur?
• Does your child complain of ghosting or streaky vision?
• Does your child dislike reading or avoid near tasks?
• Does your child get headaches or eyestrain?

Your child may have hyperopia (long sightedness) or astigmatism. Hyperopia is a refractive error which occurs when the lens of the eye is too weak for the eyeball size and the image is focussed behind the retina instead of on the retina. Astigmatism means that the eye is elliptical or irregularly shaped causing the retinal image to be out of focus. Both of these conditions may cause blurred vision and eye strain. Glasses or contact lenses may improve the clarity of vision.

At L&K Kids our optometrists do more than just correcting refractive errors. We undertake comprehensive assessments of binocularity to detect other ocular problems including strabismus, vergence dysfunction and/or amblyopia. These conditions often co-exist with refractive errors. L&K Kids offers a range of lens designs to cater for all glasses prescriptions. We also have a large variety of frames to suit all sizes, face shapes and styles. Our optometrists can recommend contact lens options as an adjunct to glasses.

Strabismus / Amblyopia

Your child may have strabismus which means that the eyes are not aligned correctly. One eye may be turned inwards, outwards, upwards or downwards. Other people may notice the turn all of the time or intermittently. Sometimes the turn is only a small deviation and may not be cosmetically visible to parents and carers. When the eyes don’t line up correctly, it causes the child to experience double vision. Over time the brain favours the vision from one eye and ignores or suppresses the signal from the turned eye. Long periods of suppression can lead to impaired vision development in the turned eye, otherwise known as amblyopia (lazy eye).

At L&K Kids our optometrists can detect strabismus and amblyopia, even when there may be no visible symptoms. We offer a full range of treatments including glasses, contact lenses, patching, eye drops or vision therapy. In some cases surgical correction of strabismus is required and we can recommend and refer to a paediatric ophthalmologist.

Binocular Vision Problems

Your child may have a binocular vision (eye focusing or eye teaming) problem. This may occur when the eyes are unable to comfortably work together (convergence insufficiency or excess), if the eyes are unable to move easily to the required position (eye tracking) or if the eyes are unable to focus accurately (accommodation insufficiency or excess).

At L&K Kids our optometrists understand the link between comfortable and accurate near vision and the potential to learn. We offer a comprehensive binocular vision assessment for all children and can provide a tailored program to children with impaired binocularity. This may include glasses, contact lenses or vision therapy.

Visual Processing Delay

• Does your child dislike reading or avoid near tasks?
• Does your child have poor physical co-ordination or hand-eye co-ordination?
• Does your child have poor concentration with reading?
• Does your child have trouble remembering what was recently read?
• Does your child make frequent reversals when writing?

Your child may have a visual processing delay. Visual information is processed by the brain to enable reading and facilitate learning. Good vision is also integral to the development of body co-ordination and spatial awareness.

At L&K Kids our behavioural optometrist can provide assessments of visual processing skills including visual discrimination, visual memory, form constancy, laterality, figure ground, visual closure and spatial awareness. Specific treatment plans can be created to assist in your child’s learning, performance and behaviour. These plans may include vision therapy, visual processing therapy tasks and physical co-ordination exercises. To make our young clients welcome and to facilitate vision training, L&K Kids has a purpose built vision therapy room. We also provide comprehensive reports, when required.

Ocular Pathology

• Does your child have red, sore, itchy or discharging eyes?
• Does your child have unequal pupil sizes or white pupils?
• Does your child have a sudden change in vision or sudden double vision?
• Does your child have lumps or bumps on the eyes or eyelids?

Your child may have ocular pathology. At L&K Kids we have state of the art diagnostic and imaging equipment to help us diagnose eye disease. Our optometrists are therapeutically endorsed and able to recommend treatment options including the prescription of eye drops, if required. In the event of a serious disorder, we can arrange referrals to paediatric ophthalmologists.