Specialist Services

Optometric visual therapy is a series of programmed activities undertaken to improve either poorly developed visual, visual motor or visual perceptual skills, or procedures to further enhance the present visual skills to a higher level of efficiency and / or stamina.

Visual therapy may be used in the treatment of such conditions as:

• Eye turn (strabismus)

• Lazy eye (amblyopia)

• Poor eye movement or eye focusing skills (fine visual motor therapy)

• In traumatic brain injury (accident and stroke)

• Enhance specific visual abilities. (i.e. required in a sport)

• Developmental and visual perceptual deficits.

Ortho-K is the only non-surgical procedure that allows you 20/20 vision without the use of correcting lenses during the day. It is a revolutionary therapy which involves the use of specially crafted contact lenses worn overnight to gently reshape your cornea while you sleep. Upon waking, your corneas will become the correct shape to accurately focus light enabling you to see clearly without the hassle of contact lenses or glasses during the day! To ensure that you will have good vision daily, you must wear these Ortho-K lenses continuously at night. 

How does it work? 

Ortho-K works by gently remoulding the front surface/window of the eye called the cornea. It does this by using the tears underneath a specially designed mold or lens. The lens itself creates a shape like a dental retainer and it is the sucking force of the tears that actually do all of the work. The lens itself does not physically press on the eye in any way, and is safe and comfortable for users. 

 

What can Ortho-K treat? 

Ortho-K is commonly used to treat myopia (short-sightedness). It can also be used to treat hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism (unequal focus) or presbyopia(vision after forty). Talk to your Visique Ortho-K specialist to see if you are a candidate for this treatment. 

Avid orienteer and Napier Boys High School student Callum Herries (16), who competed at the World Schools' Orienteering Championship in April, is currently ranked 10th in the world in the under-17 division. 

He says Ortho-K has helped him excel at the sport by removing the need to wear glasses while practicing and competing. “Orienteering involves a lot of running and having to wear glasses can be quite disruptive. This is especially true when it’s raining – which happens a lot in New Zealand – as you aren't able to see through your glasses.” 

Callum, who sufferers from myopia (short-sightedness), first competed in the World Schools' Orienteering Championship at the age of 14 in northern Italy, and was awarded a silver medal in the junior boys' grade. 

Tim Eagle, Visique Shattky optometrist and Ortho-K specialist, says freedom from wearing contact lenses or glasses is a major benefit to patients, especially those who participate in sports, but for younger patients there is another advantage. “Ortho-K can really help patients who suffer from myopia. For teenagers and young adults the advantages are two-fold: they can cease wearing their glasses or contact lenses, which many find inconvenient, and it can also slow down the progression of short-sightedness.” 

A Behavioural Optometrist has a more holistic approach in the treatment of vision and visual perceptual problems.

A Behavioural Optometrist believes that your visual status and the way you interpret what you see is not just dependent on how clear your eyesight is. Consideration must be given to all your visual, visual motor and visual perceptual skills.

In this way your Behavioural Optometrist will consider not only the remediation of any eyesight difficulties but also the benefits of prevention, protection and enhancement of your visual system in order to improve all aspects of visual performance.

Treatment regimes include the utilisation of lenses and prisms, along with visual hygiene instructions.

Which patients may benefit from Behavioural Optometry?

All patients will benefit from the more holistic approach but it is especially suited to those with eye motor control problems, lazy eyes, developmental delays, neurological damage or learning delays.