Behavioural Optometrist in Melbourne for Children

If your child passed an eye test but still struggles with schoolwork, a behavioural assessment may help identify what's going on.

What Does a Behavioural Optometrist Check?

A behavioural assessment looks at how a child’s eyes work together to read, learn and focus. Some parents call this developmental optometry; the two terms describe overlapping practice.

At Eye Care for Kids, Marvin runs the assessment as a single comprehensive appointment that includes a standard sight and eye-health check plus the additional visual skills evaluations behind classroom performance.

The visual skills tested in a behavioural assessment include:

Eye tracking

How smoothly the eyes move across a page when reading. Children with poor tracking lose their place, skip lines, or use a finger to read.

Eye teaming (binocular vision)

How both eyes work together. Poor teaming can cause double vision, headaches, or words appearing to "jump" on the page.

Focusing (accommodation)

How quickly and accurately the eyes shift focus between near and far. Poor focusing causes blur when copying from the board.

Visual processing

How the brain makes sense of what the eyes see. Poor processing can affect reading comprehension and spelling.

Depth perception and spatial awareness

How the eyes judge distance and the position of objects. Children with weak depth perception may seem clumsy, miss catches, or struggle with handwriting layout.

Visual-motor skills

How the eyes coordinate with hand movements. This affects handwriting, copying from the board, and ball sports.

What Are the Signs Your Child Needs a Behavioural Optometrist?

Around 1 in 5 Australian children has an undetected vision problem (Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists), and many children who pass a standard eye test still struggle with reading, writing or concentration.

Signs to watch for at home or school:

Skipping lines, losing place, or using a finger to track when reading
Reversing letters or numbers past the age that is typical
Avoiding reading or homework, or complaining of headaches afterwards
Holding books or screens unusually close
Words appearing to move, blur or "jump" on the page (per the child)
Difficulty copying from the whiteboard
Short attention span for visual tasks
Concentration that improves once your child takes a break from reading or screens

Behavioural assessments are most commonly suitable from around age 5, when school demands on visual skills increase. Earlier assessments may be helpful in some cases, particularly if you’ve noticed unusual head tilting or trouble tracking objects. If your child has started school and is finding reading or focus difficult, it’s worth booking an assessment.

Need help with your child’s vision?

What to look for

What to Expect at Your Child's Behavioural Assessment

You don’t need a referral to book a behavioural assessment, parents can book directly. The appointment is typically 45 to 60 minutes, and Marvin paces it around your child. The assessment is gentler and more conversational than parents often expect.

Initial conversation

Gentle testing

Reviewing with you

Recommending a plan

Initial conversation

Gentle testing

Reviewing with you

Recommending a plan

Marvin makes time for the questions you’ll think of as he explains things. You don’t need to make decisions on the spot.

Have any questions?

(03) 9972 2722

Senior Optometrist, Dip Optom SA, FOA, MCOPTOM

Marvin Janet

Marvin Janet is an optometrist with extensive training and experience in paediatric and behavioural optometry, solving children’s eye problems, and helping them succeed at school.

Marvin is often referred to by Maternal Child Health nurses, school nurses, GPs, paediatricians, teachers and other optometrists.

He puts children of all ages at ease with his gentle, friendly and caring nature. This produces better diagnoses and outcomes for your child.

More about Marvin

With more than two decades’ experience as an optometrist, Marvin developed his interest in childrens’ vision at the School of Optometry at the Technikon Witwatersrand, South Africa. He continued his study of children’s vision at The University of Manchester. After migrating to Australia, Marvin furthered his proficiency at The University of New South Wales.

Marvin presents educational lectures to teachers at schools on childrens’ vision, and holds private practice in Melbourne, where the majority of his patients are children of all ages.

Eye Care for Kids has 2 convenient locations

Narre Warren

Casey Business Centre
Suite 5, 26-28 Verdun Drive
Narre Warren VIC 3805

Caulfield

Access Business Centres
Suite 7, 242 Hawthorn Road
Caulfield VIC 3161

Tell us about your child’s eyes

Frequently Asked Questions

Most frequent questions and answers about Behavioural Optometry

What's the difference between behavioural optometry and a regular eye test?

A regular eye test checks whether your child can see clearly at distance and up close. A behavioural assessment goes further, testing the visual skills your child needs to read, learn and concentrate, including eye tracking, eye teaming, focusing and visual processing. Many children pass a standard test but still struggle with schoolwork because these visual skills are not checked in a routine eye exam.

What age should my child see a behavioural optometrist?

Most children benefit from a behavioural assessment from around age 5, when school demands on visual skills increase. Earlier assessments may be helpful if you notice signs at home, such as difficulty tracking objects or unusual head tilting. If your child has started school and is struggling with reading, writing or concentration, it’s worth booking an assessment.

Do I need a referral to see a behavioural optometrist?

No referral is needed. You can book directly with Eye Care for Kids, online or by calling (03) 9972 2722. We work alongside GPs, paediatricians, teachers and other health professionals when relevant, but parents can make the booking themselves.

Is behavioural optometry covered by Medicare?

Costs depend on the type of assessment your child needs and any follow-up care recommended. We’ll talk through the fees and any health fund coverage that may apply. We can also discuss costs at your child’s first appointment before any plan is recommended.

What conditions can behavioural optometry help with?

Behavioural optometry may help with visual factors behind reading difficulties, poor concentration, headaches when reading, eye strain, and trouble copying from the whiteboard. It can also support children with binocular vision problems (how both eyes work together), focusing issues and convergence insufficiency (when the eyes struggle to turn inward together when reading). Behavioural optometry does not diagnose conditions like dyslexia or ADHD; it identifies vision problems that may be contributing to a child’s difficulties.

How do I find a behavioural optometrist near me in Melbourne?

Eye Care for Kids has two Melbourne locations, Narre Warren in the south-east and Caulfield in the inner south, both run by Marvin Janet. (For parents searching “behavioral optometrist near me” with US spelling, the service is the same.) You can book online at either clinic or call (03) 9972 2722 to find the location that suits you best.