An orthoptist is an allied health professional - just like physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. Orthoptists are experts in eye movement, alignment, and visual processing. They assess and manage conditions affecting functional vision, eye coordination, and visual development in children and adults. Orthoptists usually work in public hospitals, private ophthalmology practice, low vision services and in private practice. Learn more at Orthoptics Australia and Allied Health Australia.

Vision therapy at the seeing brain is a personalised program designed to support how the eyes and brain work together — tailored to your unique strengths, challenges and goals. Therapy is functional, practical and goal-focused. It’s not just about exercises — it’s about real-world change. Examples of goals include: 🏫 Supporting learning at school Modifying classroom setup, worksheets and learning materials and building sustainable visual routines that helps the eyes and brain work together more effectively. Vision therapy also includes practical strategies to help with: Visual attention and recognition Managing visual fatigue Handling busy or cluttered environments Coping with changes in lighting, colour, or contrast

Yes! If vision difficulties impact daily life and participation, NDIS funding may cover assessments and therapy under "Capacity Building - Improved Daily Living" under NDIS plans. . We can guide you through eligibility, planning, and how to include vision support in your plan.

Yes, mobile orthoptic services (vision therapy and vision assessments) are generally covered under "Capacity Building - Improved Daily Living" under NDIS plans. We are happy to coordinate with your plan manager/key support worker to ensure the services align with your funding.

Absolutely! We use a range of objective evidenced-based tests to assess vision. Carefully observing how a child interacts within their environment also provides valuable insight into their visual world. For example: - A child noticing and reaching for 100s & 1000s or Jelly Beans on the therapist's hand from a meter away - A child accurately picking up a moving grey ball from a dark rug indicates good contrast sensitivity - A child requiring lots of support going down the stairs while confidently and independently walking up the stairs could highlight a lower visual field defect. We use comprehensive history-taking, observation (in both familiar and non-familiar settings) and objective tests to understand a child's visual profile.

After the assessment, you’ll receive a clear explanation of what we observed and what it means for everyday life. We’ll talk through how vision is used in real environments - strengths as well as challenges. You’ll receive a written report outlining: Assessment findings Practical strategies for home and school or work Liase with your multi-disciplinary team - teachers, therapists, support workers, and medical professionals. We share practical, easy-to-implement strategies so they can: Adapt their sessions to suit visual needs Reduce visual overload Adjust materials, positioning, lighting, and layout Support attention, recognition, and engagement Most importantly, you’ll leave with clarity — understanding what’s happening and what the next steps are. You won’t be left guessing.

A functional vision assessment may help anyone who seems to struggle making sense of their environment. This can include babies, children, teenagers, and adults. You might consider an assessment if someone: Gets overwhelmed in busy or cluttered spaces Has trouble recognising objects, faces, or pictures Bumps into things or misjudges steps Struggles with reading, copying, or school tasks Has difficulty with eye-hand coordination Seems visually fatigued or avoids looking Has a diagnosis involving the brain or nervous system Functional vision support is especially helpful for individuals with: Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) / Cortical Visual Impairment Cerebral palsy Developmental delay Autism Brain injury - Stroke, Complex medical needs Those who are minimally or non-speaking

Yes. A CVA (stroke) can affect how the brain processes visual information — even if eyesight itself hasn’t changed. After a stroke, someone may experience: Visual field loss (missing part of their vision) Difficulty judging distance or steps Trouble recognising objects or faces Bumping into things on one side Double vision Slower visual processing Visual fatigue Sometimes these changes are subtle. Other times they significantly impact safety, independence, and confidence. A functional vision assessment looks at how vision is being used in real-life situations — such as walking, reading, navigating environments, or preparing meals. Vision therapy and practical strategies can help by: Improving visual awareness Supporting scanning and tracking Strengthening eye–brain coordination Reducing visual fatigue Adapting environments for safety Support is tailored to the person’s goals — whether that’s returning to work, moving more confidently at home, or regaining independence.