paediatric optometry
Both Dr Barnard and Mr Levit have specialist qualifications in Paedatric Eye Care. A large proportion of our patients are children. Babies should all have a routine eye examination at the age of about six months. A routine annual check up thereafter is advisable.
Myopia control
Having examined a short-sighted child, our practitioners shall be pleased to advise parents on whether any current methods of myopia control can be employed to try and stop or slow up the rate of progression of myopia.
Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and ADHD
Dr Barnard has a special interest in the visual aspects of learning difficulties. He receives referrals from teachers, educational psychologists, occupational therapists and paediatric physiotherapists from London and other area of the UK.
Dr Barnard also receives referrals of adult dyslexics from various Colleges and government agencies or education authorities.
Whilst it is unusual for a visual problem to be the whole cause of learning underachievement or dyslexia, ocular motor and binocular vision difficulties have been shown to have a strong association or correlation with some types of learning difficulties.
Some children can be helped with eye exercises, spectacles or other interventions.
A significant minority of children with learning difficulties can be assisted with coloured spectacle or contact lenses. As one of the few practices in the UK with the Intuitive Colorimeter, we offer this special test to those children who are suitable.
Children referred by an educational psychologist, occupational therapist or remedial teacher require full Visual Assessment which requires a one hour appointment.
Further, more detailed information is available on request.
Orthoptics, Vision Therapy and Behavioural Optometry
Orthoptics is the clinical science of exercising the eye muscles to treat muscle weaknesses including squint. Vision Therapy encompasses the improvement of eye movements and vision as well as muscle strength. Behavioural Optometry focuses on the person as a whole and takes a more holistic view of the patient
Dr Barnard has specialised in these areas and his doctoral research was in the field of eye movements and the effect of eye exercises. The practice specialises in treating ocular motor and sensory visual problems with eye exercises. Whilst many of these exercises are carried at home, regular visits to the practice are often required within the practice with one of our vision therapists.
Our Principal Optometrist, Miss Tejinder Panesar specialises in this field. Graduating with a First Class Honours degree in Optometry from City University Miss Panesar also has the distinction of being awarded two clinical prizes. Miss Panesar‘s main clinical interest is in the treatment of eye muscle and vision weakness using eye exercises and vision therapy.
