I think DS1 (ASD) needs to see a behavioural optometrist - can anyone advise?

[Loueytb3]

Basically he has had a birthmark on his eyelid which has been monitored for years. It causes his eyelid to droop slightly. We investigated surgery but decided the risks were too high. His vision has always been fine on standard eye tests.

He was about to be discharged but we have one more appt this afternoon. However, we've noticed more recently from photos that he shuts that eye when posing for photos (this is without use of a flash), almost as though he is squinting. I mentioned it to his OT yesterday and she said he has severe visual perception difficulties. I suspect he needs to see a behavioural optometrist but I don't know whether we can do this via the NHS or whether we have to go privately. The specialists we are seeing today are at moorfields.

Can anyone advise? Also, if you have recommendations for one in NW London, Herts/Bucks I would be grateful.

Sorry for v quick potted message, am working before I have to go and pick DS up.

Have a look at the BABO website for a list. The BO we used was in Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes, and I was very impressed. It was private, though.

We have used Paul Adler in St Albans or Hitchin if they are close enough to you. Both children saw him and the results are fantastic. There may be a wait to see Paul Adler himself but he is excellent.

Hope this helps.

Thanks very much - can I ask what your children's problems were and how did the BO help?

We will have to go private I think but there is a remote possibility I can get private medical insurance to cover it.

We went as he was having trouble with writing and spelling. He has since been dx with SpLD in spelling, writing and fine motor control. Also ASD traits, TS and OCD.

His eye issue was very poor eye tracking and some focussing issues.
We did 4-5 months of vision therapy. This was exercises at home every night and a session in the office every two weeks.

The therapy began with gross motor exercises to deal with the retained reflexes that were stopping his tracking developing normally. Once these reflexes went the eyes caught up really quickly, and now tracks at an age-appropriate level. Losing the retained reflexes really helped with overall coordination and he became substantially less fidgetty.

Hi!

We go to Owen Leigh in Petersfield - it is also private and making a real difference. It is bizarre because we travel a very long way to go to him for DS1, simply because he copes so well with DS2, who has the autism.

DS1 has dyslexia and dyspraxia and all sorts of reflexes that he should have outgrown and so, the mid-line and tracking issues.

DS2 has that "look" you describe but got the all clear from the behavioural optometrist, which was such a good feeling because everyone else had commented on what he does with his eyes.

You could try Ian Jordan in Ayr. It's free testing... We had FANTASTIC results with our 3dc.

We see Smita Trevedi in Wood Green, North London for general check ups and for two weekly vision therapy. If you google her you should find her website. I think she is on the council of the BABO.

Is it worth checking if you can be referred to your hospital optometrist? My son wasn't able to complete the school eye test properly at age 5 and was then referred to the hospital optometrist. The difference was amazing. He has check ups at his special school but still goes to the hospital for eye drops once a year and they deal with him fab.

I know this is an old message, but I have a DS with tracking eye reading problems. I have him booked in to see Paul Adler in May, I see one person on this thread really recommends him, the other person I could see is in Wood Green called Smita who another person has seen, I wondered which of these two optometrists are concerned the better with working with reading eye tracking issues? Thank you