Visual Efficiency
Visual efficiency indicates on
easily visual information is transferred to and processed by your brain.
Your eyes can produce a clear image but the processing of the information can be
slowed or inaccurate. This can result in eyestrain and fatigue, especially
when doing detailed work like prolonged reading or computer activity such as
word processing or spreadsheet fabrication. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over 75 million public and
private employees spend at least three hours of their working time at a computer. By the year 2005, over 37 million children will be linked to the
Internet either at home or school. According to the American Optometric Association, 70 to 75 percent of these computer users will need
corrective eyeglasses to work comfortably and safely at a computer.
Visual efficiency exams are specialized exams that have a number of components to them. Before they are completed it is important than a regular eye exam has been completed. This will rule out any eye disease or acuity problems. If glasses or contact lenses are necessary, they will need to be worn for the visual efficiency exam.
The first component is a detailed questionnaire. An ERIC article on Learning Related Vision Problems is here. (Your must have the free Acrobat Reader - download if you don't have it).
Specific tests are then completed in
the areas of accommodation (focusing),
binocularity (eye teaming) and
ocular-motor (eye tracking). These tests generally take 30-60 minutes to
complete.
A detailed description of the rationale and
actual tests is available. This textbook, Binocular Anomalies, is
very insightful and easy to understand. For the person who wants a better
understanding of this area, this book by Drs Griffin and Grisham is a
must. To review a summary of this text please click on the book image.
Another respected book, Anomalies of Binocular Vision: Diagnosis and Management, is also recommended for the serious reader. This text by Drs Rutstein, Daum and Hays is well laid out. To purchase it, click on the book image.
Links:
Ocular
Motility Testing
Vertical
Binocular
Testing
Case Example
Optometric Clinical
Practice Guideline for Care of the Patient with Accommodative and Vergence
Dysfunction
Optometric
Clinical Practice Guideline for Care of the Patient with Strabismus
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