visual foundation skills

visual acuity

clarity of vision both near and far with glasses, as needed

• has to be referred to an optometrist or ophthalmologist

near acuity problems

difficulty reading, typing on a computer/tablet

far acuity problems

difficulty reading traffic signs, reading a whiteboard from back of the room

visual fields

available vision to the right, left, up, and down

• impaired leads to inability to see objects in an affected visual field

• homonymous hemianopsia

testing for visual acuity

snellen chart

testing of visual fields

confrontation testing

• sit across from person and ask them to look at therapist nose

• assess if persons eye is moving

• test peripheral vision

one eye at a time and then both

testing of pursuits

• ask person to follow pen with eye

• moves in X, H, O patterns

• assess for smooth eye movement, ROM, head compensation

one eye at a time and then both

testing for saccades

• present 2 different targets and ask person to look at one then the other when asked

• assess for smooth eye movements, ROM, head compensation

testing for scanning

letter cancellation

testing of stabismus

look at person’s eye and observe deviations

testing of convergence and divergence

hold pen 12 inches away from bridge of nose

• bring pen closer for convergence

• pen further away after for divergence

ocular pursuits

ability to accurately follow a moving object with eyes in a smooth fashion

• difficulty driving, sports, writing

scanning

ability to systematically observe and locate items in the environment

• difficulty findings items in kitchen, fridge, difficulty reading and writing

strabismus

deviation of one eye or one eye at a time while looking at a target

• double vision

convergence

ability for both eyes to work as a team and both turn inward to maintain single vision up close

• near of far double vision

divergence

ability for both eyes to work as a team and both move outward and maintain single vision far away

• near or far double vision