VISUAL EFFICENCY EXAM
CHILDREN & BINOCULAR VISION
What is a Visual Efficiency Exam?
A visual efficiency exam is a series of tests that evaluate a patient’s vision skills with particular emphasis on the following:
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Visual acuity: clarity of sight at distance and near
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Refractive status: tests to determine whether glasses are needed for myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and/or astigmatism.
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Accommodative function: ability of the focusing system to maintain clear vision at various distances.
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Binocular function: the ability of the two eyes to work efficiently as a team
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Oculomotor function: eye tracking ability

Who Might Need a Visual Efficiency Exam?
Generally, a comprehensive eye examination (with dilating drops) performed by your eye care professional is required prior to a VEE. Based on patient's signs and symptoms suggestive of binocular vision, focusing and/or eye tracking problems, a VEE may provide valuable information in diagnosis and treatment.

These symptoms commonly include, but are not limited to:
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Blurred vision after prolonged near work
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Headache associated with use of the eyes
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Double vision
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Eye strain
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Loss of concentration while performing close work
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Skipping lines/losing place while reading
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Words appearing to move around on
page during reading -
Closing or squinting one eye while reading
What are typical treatment options?
Your doctor will review the information collected and may recommend any combination of these treatments:
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Prescription eyeglasses for full time wear
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Reading-only eyeglasses
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Eyeglasses with prism (which can help the two eyes to work together more easily)
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Vision therapy (a program that improves vision skills through a series of prescribed activities)
