Written by Marvin Janet | Senior Optometrist | Dip Optom SA, FOA, MCOptom | 20+ years in paediatric and behavioural optometry
Last updated: April 2026
Behavioural optometry is a branch of optometry that assesses the visual skills children rely on for reading, learning and concentration, whereas standard optometry focuses on whether sight is clear and the eyes are healthy. A behavioural eye test checks how the eyes track, team and focus while a child works on a page.
Many parents come to behavioural optometry after a child has passed a school vision screening but is still struggling with reading, attention or homework. This article covers what a behavioural optometrist checks, who behavioural optometry is for, what conditions it can help with, and how it differs from a standard eye test.
Key Takeaways
- Behavioural optometry assesses the visual skills that affect reading, learning and concentration, not just whether a child can see clearly.
- Around 1 in 5 Australian children has an undetected vision problem (Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists).
- A standard eye test checks sight. A behavioural eye test checks vision, including how the eyes track, team and focus during reading.
- Behavioural optometrists do not diagnose dyslexia or learning disorders. They identify vision problems that may be contributing to a child’s reading difficulties.
- Treatment may include developmental lenses, glasses or a structured vision therapy program, depending on what the assessment finds.
- Most children are assessed from around age 5, when school demands on visual skills increase. Earlier assessment is appropriate if there are clear concerns.
What Does a Behavioural Optometrist Check?
A behavioural optometrist checks the visual skills that affect how a child reads, learns and concentrates. The standard assessment covers six core skills, alongside the usual eye-health and sight checks:
- Eye tracking. How smoothly the eyes move across a page. When tracking is weak, children lose their place when reading, skip lines, or use a finger to keep their spot.
- Eye teaming (binocular vision). How both eyes work together as a pair. Poor eye teaming can cause words to look double, blurry, or jumbled together.
- Focusing (accommodation). How quickly the eyes shift focus from the whiteboard to the page and back. Tired or aching eyes during homework often point to a focusing problem.
- Visual processing. How the brain interprets what the eyes see. Weak processing can affect reading comprehension, spelling, and how a child remembers what they have read.
- 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.
Vision is more than seeing clearly. It is how the brain interprets and uses what the eyes see.
How Is a Behavioural Eye Test Different From a Standard Eye Test?
A behavioural eye test differs from a standard eye test in what it checks, not in whether it is valid optometry. A standard test focuses on distance acuity (the eye chart) and basic eye health. It is designed to detect short-sightedness, long-sightedness, astigmatism and obvious eye conditions. A behavioural eye test covers all of that, then assesses the visual skills behind reading, learning and focus, including eye teaming, tracking, focusing flexibility and visual processing.
Standard eye tests check sight. Behavioural assessments check vision.
This is why a child can pass a school vision screening or a routine eye exam and still find reading slow, tiring or frustrating. The two tests are looking for different things. A behavioural assessment is built around the visual skills that matter most in the classroom.
What Conditions Can Behavioural Optometry Help With?
Behavioural optometry may help children experiencing visual factors behind common learning and comfort issues. Conditions and concerns commonly addressed include:
- Reading difficulties (slow reading, skipping lines, losing place, avoiding reading)
- Concentration and attention problems during sustained close work
- Headaches, eye strain or tired eyes after homework or screen time
- Difficulty copying from the whiteboard
- Letter or number reversals past the age this is typical
- Lazy eye (amblyopia) and eye turns (strabismus)
- Convergence insufficiency, where the eyes struggle to turn inward together when reading
- Vision changes after a head injury or concussion
Many children with learning difficulties have an undiagnosed vision problem. Behavioural optometry does not diagnose dyslexia or ADHD; it identifies vision problems that may be contributing to a child’s difficulties. A formal diagnosis of dyslexia or ADHD sits with a psychologist or paediatrician.
Who Needs Behavioural Optometry?
Parents typically consider a behavioural assessment when they notice signs that vision may be affecting their child’s school performance. Common signs include:
- Skipping lines, losing place, or using a finger to track when reading
- 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
- Difficulty copying from the whiteboard
- Reversing letters or numbers past the age this is typical
- Short attention span specifically during reading or close work
- Squinting, head tilting, or covering one eye when concentrating
These signs can have multiple causes. A behavioural assessment helps determine whether vision is part of the picture for your child.
What Treatments Does a Behavioural Optometrist Offer?
Treatment depends on what the assessment finds. Common approaches include:
- Developmental glasses or lenses. Prescribed to support visual development, not just correct sight.
- Vision therapy. A structured program of in-practice and at-home exercises to improve visual skills like eye teaming, tracking and focusing. Vision therapy works on the principle that visual skills can be trained, much like physical coordination.
- Specialised lenses for myopia control. MiYOSMART lenses can slow myopia progression in children by up to 60% (per the BHVI/Hoya clinical study).
- Follow-up monitoring. Regular reassessment to track progress and adjust the plan.
A treatment plan is recommended after the assessment, not before, and depends on the visual skills identified.
Is Behavioural Optometry the Same as Developmental Optometry?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Both refer to optometrists who assess and treat the visual skills that affect learning, reading and development, beyond standard sight testing. The Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists (ACBO) uses “behavioural optometrist” as its preferred term in Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a behavioural optometrist do?
A behavioural optometrist assesses the visual skills that affect how a child reads, learns and concentrates, alongside the standard sight and eye-health checks. The assessment covers eye tracking, eye teaming, focusing, visual processing, depth perception and visual-motor skills. Treatment can include developmental glasses, lenses or a structured vision therapy program, depending on what the assessment finds.
Can behavioural optometry help with dyslexia?
Behavioural optometrists do not diagnose dyslexia. They identify vision problems that may be affecting a child’s reading ability. Treating those vision problems can help many children read more comfortably, but vision is one piece of the puzzle alongside language and learning assessments. A formal dyslexia diagnosis sits with a psychologist or educational specialist.
At what age can children start behavioural optometry?
A child can be assessed at any age, including infants. Most behavioural assessments are done from around age 5 onwards, once children are reading regularly and any reading or learning difficulties become observable. If there are earlier concerns, such as a noticeable eye turn, head tilt, or family history of vision problems, an earlier appointment can be appropriate.
Is behavioural optometry covered by Medicare?
In Australia, Medicare rebates may apply to children’s eye examinations, including comprehensive assessments by an optometrist. The exact rebate depends on the child’s age and the type of assessment. Many families also use private health fund extras to cover part of the cost of vision therapy programs and follow-up care.
Do I need a referral to see a behavioural optometrist?
No. In Australia, parents can book a behavioural optometry assessment for their child directly, without a referral from a GP. Many parents do come on the recommendation of a GP, paediatrician, teacher, school nurse or maternal and child health nurse, but a referral is not required.
Book a Behavioural Eye Test for Your Child in Melbourne
Eye Care for Kids is a paediatric and behavioural optometry practice with two Melbourne locations. Marvin Janet has 20+ years of experience in children’s vision and is highly experienced in behavioural optometry, with training across South Africa, the United Kingdom and Australia.
For a step-by-step look at what happens at a behavioural assessment, see our behavioural optometry service page.
Narre Warren clinic: Suite 5, 26-28 Verdun Drive, Narre Warren VIC 3805. Serving Casey, Berwick, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Hampton Park.
Caulfield clinic: Suite 7, 242 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield VIC 3161. Serving Malvern, Armadale, Elsternwick, Brighton and St Kilda.
Phone: (03) 9972 2722 (both locations)
Book online via Cliniko or call (03) 9972 2722 to arrange your child’s behavioural eye test.
This content is for general information only and does not constitute clinical advice. Individual assessment findings and treatment outcomes vary for each child.
