What is Behavioural Optometry?

Behavioural optometry determines if a visual problem limits the patient’s education or performance outcomes. This involves assessing visual defects, which can be considered hardware problems, such as refractive error, strabismus and ocular health. There is also an assessment of visual deficits, which can be considered ‘software’ problems such as visual processing.

Behavioural optometry involves a comprehensive assessment of distance and near binocular vision, accommodation, eye movements, refraction and visual processing development. Behavioural optometry aims to detect and treat vision problems that can interfere with reading, computer use, learning to read and other activities of daily living. Treatment may include lenses, prisms and vision therapy.

WHO WOULD BENEFIT?

Anyone. Behavioural eye examinations are comprehensive, but we commonly see

Before your Behavioural Eye Examination

• Complete the relevant online questionnaire form. If you are unsure, call us for guidance on which form to complete

  • Infant Toddler Questionnaire

  • Child Questionnaire

  • Extensive Child Questionnaire (for children with know behavioural or learning difficulties)

  • Adult Questionnaire

  • Extensive Adult Questionnaire (for adults with moderate to severe visual concerns)

  • Child Strabismus Questionnaire

  • Adult Strabismus Questionnaire

  • Acquired Brain Injury Questionnaire

• Your Medicare card and private health insurance card are required as appropriate.

• All prescription spectacles you currently use.

• If you wear contact lenses, please wear them to your appointment and bring your contact lens case. It is helpful to bring the boxes or lens packets that indicate the lens manufacturer, brand name, power, base curve and diameter.  

• Any referrals or relevant reports from a Psychologist, Optometrist, Speech Pathologist or OT.  

Consultation Structure & Fees

1. Visual Function Evaluation

40 minutes - $180

medicare rebate of $60.05 to $90.05*  

This evaluation consists of

• Case History

• Distance Near Refraction and Acuities

• Fixation stability

• Focusing abilities

• Eye Teaming

• Stereopsis & Fixation Disparity

• Strabismus and Amblyopia

• Confrontation Visual Fields

• Colour Vision

• Ocular Health

• Portable Retinal Imaging

*If you had your eyes tested by another optometrist in the last 3 years, please provide a referral letter from your optometrist so we can provide you the full medicare rebate.  

2. Visual PROCESSING Evaluation

UP TO TWO 60 minutes sessions - $220 EACH

medicare rebate of $60.05 per session

This evaluation is preferably done when the child is most alert. It consists of

• Bilateral Integration & Ocular Motor (Eye Movement)

• Directional Concepts

• Motor Free Visual Form Perception, i.e. visual discrimination, visual memory, visual sequencing, visual form constancy, visual figure-ground and visual closure

• Visual-Motor and Form Reproduction

• Information Span or Visual Memory

• Auditory and Visual Auditory Integration

3. PARENT CONFERENCE & report

40 minutes - $180

MEDICARE REBATE OF $30.05

A meeting is scheduled with the parents or guardian to review the visual function and visual perceptual evaluation findings. Further insights or concerns about the patient are discussed here. The optometrist will discuss the treatment options and prepare a report based on the meeting outcome. Copies of the report will be forwarded to those involved in the patient's care, such as teachers, occupational therapists, and educational psychologists.

4. Subsequent evaluations

40 minutes - $150 to $180

MEDICARE REBATE OF $30.05 to $60.05

Patients require ongoing review to assess treatment outcomes. Subsequent evaluations of visual functional skills within the next three years will cost $150 to $180. A medicare rebate will apply. If a visual perceptual evaluation is required, a 60 minute session is organised and will cost $180. A medicare rebate of $28.90 will apply. Your behavioural optometrist will inform you of what is more appropriate.