As a parent, you do everything you can to support your child’s development—physically, emotionally, and academically. But what if your child’s struggles with reading, attention, or coordination weren’t behavioural or cognitive at all… but visual?
At Opto-Mization in Victoria, we offer a specialized evaluation that many families don’t even know exists: functional vision testing. Unlike traditional eye exams that simply check for visual clarity (like whether your child needs glasses), our Comprehensive Eye Exam—when booked with any of our optometrists—assesses how your child’s entire visual system works, including how the eyes move, focus, and communicate with the brain.
Because even a child with “20/20” vision can still be held back by visual skill deficits that affect learning, behaviour, and confidence.
This video offers a powerful illustration of how vision problems can affect daily life—and how the right approach can make all the difference.
What Makes a Functional Eye Exam Different?
When most people think of an eye exam, they imagine reading letters on a wall. That’s helpful for checking sharpness of sight, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Vision is more than eyesight. It’s a dynamic process that involves coordination, processing, memory, and motor control. A child may pass a standard screening and still struggle to:
- Track words on a page
- Focus from the whiteboard to their notebook
- Stay comfortable and engaged during reading
- Understand what they’re seeing
Our Comprehensive Eye Exam evaluates 17 essential visual skills that play a key role in your child’s success at school and in life.
The 17 Visual Skills We Assess at Opto-Mization
Each of these skills contributes to how your child interacts with the world:
- Central Visual Acuity – The ability to see clearly at near and far distances
- Peripheral Vision – Awareness of things happening outside the direct line of sight
- Depth Perception – Accurately judging distances and spatial relationships
- Color Perception – Differentiating and recognizing colours correctly
- Eye Movement Control – Smooth, coordinated eye movements without strain or delay
- Binocular Coordination – Ensuring both eyes work together as a team
- Saccades – Quick eye movements used when reading or scanning
- Pursuits – Following moving objects smoothly (critical for sports and attention)
- Convergence – The eyes’ ability to turn inward for close-up tasks
- Accommodation Flexibility – Quickly shifting focus between near and far
- Accommodation Endurance – Maintaining focus for long periods without fatigue
- Visual Memory – Remembering what was just seen (key for spelling and comprehension)
- Visual Thinking – Interpreting visual input and turning it into understanding
- Gross Visual-Motor Skills – Coordinating vision with larger body movements
- Fine Visual-Motor Skills – Using vision to guide small, precise movements
- Visual Perception – Making sense of what is being seen
- Visual Integration – Connecting what we see with other senses, like hearing and movement
If even a few of these skills are underdeveloped, a child may experience frustration that shows up in ways that are misdiagnosed as attention problems or behavioural issues.
Real-World Examples of How Visual Skills Affect Daily Life
Here’s how a visual skill issue might look in real life:
- A child who skips lines while reading may have difficulty with saccades
- A student who reverses letters or misreads words might be struggling with visual memory or integration
- Headaches during or after school? That could be a sign of weak accommodation endurance
- If your child avoids homework or “hates reading,” it may not be a motivation problem—it could be convergence or binocular coordination making near work uncomfortable
These are not issues a regular eye exam is designed to detect—and that’s exactly why our comprehensive assessments go deeper.
Who Should Consider a Functional Eye Exam in Victoria?
If you’ve ever wondered why your child is struggling even though they’re smart, curious, and hardworking… you’re not alone. We see many families who’ve tried tutoring, speech therapy, even behavioural support, only to discover the root of the problem was visual.
Here are some common signs that your child could benefit from a Comprehensive Eye Exam:
- Reading slowly or avoiding it altogether
- Losing place while reading, using a finger to track
- Difficulty copying from the board
- Frequent blinking, rubbing eyes, or complaints of blur
- Short attention span with near tasks
- Poor handwriting or trouble staying within lines
- Frustration with puzzles, building toys, or drawing
- Poor coordination or “clumsiness” in sports or play
- Trouble remembering what they just saw or read
Even subtle signs, like slouching over the desk or tilting the head while working, can indicate a visual skills problem.
How Opto-Mization Approaches Functional Eye Exams
At our Victoria clinic, we’ve created an environment where children feel comfortable, understood, and heard.
Here’s what families can expect from a Comprehensive Eye Exam at Opto-Mization:
- Warm welcome & personalized intake – We take the time to hear your concerns and understand your child’s challenges
- In-depth assessment – Using state-of-the-art tools, we evaluate all 17 visual skills in a way that’s engaging and age-appropriate
- Clear explanation of findings – You’ll receive detailed feedback, easy-to-understand results, and a chance to ask questions
- Next steps tailored to your child – If support is needed, we may recommend vision therapy, glasses designed for functional improvement, or coordination with other specialists
Important: When booked with any of our optometrists, our Comprehensive Eye Exam includes the full functional testing described here. If you’re seeing Dr. McCrodan, functional and medical testing are completed across two doctors on the same team.
We believe parents deserve clarity—not just a checklist or a rushed diagnosis.
Why Early Detection Matters
Functional vision problems don’t usually go away on their own. In fact, untreated visual skill issues can:
- Delay reading and academic progress
- Affect self-confidence and motivation
- Lead to unnecessary frustration at home and in class
- Be misdiagnosed as ADHD, dyslexia, or learning disorders
The earlier we catch and treat these issues, the better the outcomes. Vision therapy, for example, can help children build the skills they need to thrive—in school, sports, and beyond.
Not Sure If This Is Right for Your Child?
Worried your child might be struggling with more than meets the eye? Book a Comprehensive Eye Exam with our Victoria team today and get answers that can truly make a difference.
📞 Call (250) 590-7384
📍 Visit us at 200-775 Topaz Avenue, Victoria
💻 Book online: Book a Comprehensive Eye Exam in Victoria
Our Difference: Real Results, Real Understanding
Opto-Mization is one of the few clinics in Canada offering this level of specialized visual assessment. Our team is led by Dr. Cameron McCrodan, OD, FCOVD, whose background in both optometry and engineering shapes a results-driven approach that families deeply appreciate.
We’re not just focused on helping your child see clearly—we’re focused on helping them live confidently and comfortably.
What Parents Say About Functional Eye Exams at Opto-Mization
“We’d tried everything—from tutoring to occupational therapy—and no one had ever mentioned vision. After working with Opto-Mization, my daughter is reading at grade level for the first time.” – Amanda S., Victoria
“My son’s teacher thought he had attention problems, but after the functional exam, we discovered it was his visual tracking that was the issue. Everything changed after that.” – David L., Saanich
Schedule Your Child’s Comprehensive Eye Exam in Victoria
We understand the stress and worry that comes with not having answers. That’s why we’re here to help you uncover what’s really going on—so you can finally move forward with confidence.
📞 Call us today at (250) 590-7384
📍 Visit us at 200-775 Topaz Avenue, Victoria, BC V8T 4Z7
✉️ Email: [email protected]
💻 Book online: Book Now
Let’s work together to unlock your child’s full potential—starting with their vision.
