Welcome
Take a tour of the Special Eyes practice with Dr Ursula.
Comprehensive vision assessment for people with additional needs
Typically, an eye examination involves reading letters from a letter chart, but what if a person can’t do that? Did you know that there are special testing methods which allow us to determine what a person can see even if they are non-speaking or minimally verbal?
At Special Eyes, we have the skills, equipment, and experience to assess vision for children and adults who are unable to engage with traditional vision testing.
Low vision assessment
Vision impairment is common among people with addition needs and complex disability.
Professional staff at Special Eyes have a wealth of experience assessing and supporting people with vision impairment. We are also able to provide onward referral to a wide range of therapy, medical, and other support services.
A comprehensive low vision assessment can help to demonstrate the need for support when making an NDIS application.
Bioptic telescopes
Bioptic telescopes are a low vision device comprising a telescopic system which is attached to a pair of spectacles. These devices provide hands-free magnification for a wide range of different distances, meaning that they can be used for all sorts of different tasks. Some examples of their potential uses include: seeing people’s faces, reading bus numbers, reading prices in the supermarket, reading print, craft activities, and watching live sport. These are just a few, and each user will find additional things that they can use their bioptic for.
We have a bioptic fitting set, which allows us to trial different strengths and types of telescope, to determine which one would be best suited to your needs, and for you to get a feel for how it works. If you decide to go ahead, your prescription device is ordered from a company called Ocutech in the USA. You can learn more about bioptic telescopes by visiting the Ocutech website.
Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) Assessment and support
Cerebral/cortical visual impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of blindness and low vision among children in developed countries, yet this condition is not widely recognised or understood. CVI is visual impairment due to brain differences, abnormality, or damage.
For people with CVI, determining what and how they see is crucial to ensuring they can access their world as fully as possible. Often small adjustments to the environment can make a huge difference, and it is particularly critical to ensure that visual material is made accessible for individuals when it is being used in educational or therapy settings.
A CVI assessment at Special Eyes can be used to support a medical diagnosis of CVI, to tailor therapy, and to gain access to support services for vision impairment within education settings.
If you would like to know more about any of the services we can offer, we’d love to talk to you and discuss your individual needs and how we can best support you or the person you care for. Why not send us a message and we can give you a call.
“As an optometrist with extensive experience working with individuals with disability, I understand the importance of accessing healthcare that is equitable and fit-for-purpose. Your situation and needs are constantly evolving, and I am here to help you navigate. Let's work together to ensure that your vision needs are well taken care of, fully understood, and that you receive the personalised care you deserve.”