{"id":19267,"date":"2026-06-26T11:34:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T11:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/?p=19267"},"modified":"2026-06-26T11:34:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T11:34:37","slug":"19267","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/?p=19267","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Understanding Orthoptics: Caring for Your Binocular Vision<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Nagle and Associates Optometrists, we believe that good vision isn\u2019t just about seeing clearly \u2014 it\u2019s also about how well your eyes work together as a team. That\u2019s where <strong>Orthoptics<\/strong> comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is an Orthoptic Assessment?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An <strong>Orthoptic assessment<\/strong> is a series of specialised tests used to check your eyes\u2019 ability to work together as a pair \u2014 known as <strong>binocular vision<\/strong>. This ability allows your eyes to stay aligned, move smoothly, and create a single, clear 3D image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your brain plays a huge role in this process. It constantly fuses the images from both eyes and coordinates the movement of <strong>six muscles in each eye<\/strong> to keep everything in perfect sync.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Is Binocular Vision So Important?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Binocular vision helps us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep our eyes properly aligned<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See objects in <strong>three dimensions (3D)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follow moving objects smoothly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid symptoms like double vision, headaches, and eye strain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the binocular system is affected, the brain struggles to combine the two images into one, leading to discomfort or visual problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Causes Binocular Vision Problems?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are many possible causes for problems with binocular vision:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Congenital conditions<\/strong> (present from birth)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Muscle weaknesses or defects<\/strong> in the eye muscles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Refractive errors<\/strong> (uncorrected need for glasses)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Amblyopia (lazy eye)<\/strong>, where the brain ignores input from one eye<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Neurological conditions<\/strong> like strokes, brain lesions, or systemic diseases such as diabetes or thyroid disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Injuries<\/strong> that affect the muscles or nerves controlling the eyes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These issues can appear at any stage of life \u2014 from childhood through adulthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Common Symptoms of Binocular Vision Problems:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Blurred vision<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Double vision<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eyestrain<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Frequent headaches<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A noticeable change in head posture<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These symptoms are sometimes subtle and easy to overlook, so regular eye exams are important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Treatments Are Available?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the problem. Options may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Orthoptic exercises<\/strong> to strengthen and train the eye muscles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prescription glasses or contact lenses<\/strong> with adjustments to improve eye control<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prisms<\/strong> added to glasses or contact lenses to help align the eyes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Surgical options<\/strong> for certain cases where other treatments aren\u2019t enough<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If necessary, we\u2019ll refer you to a trusted <strong>Ophthalmologist or Neurologist<\/strong> for further investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Do We Monitor These Conditions?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We use precise measurements in your Orthoptic assessment to track progress over time. In some cases, we may use a <strong>Lees screen for Hess chart plots<\/strong> \u2014 a specialised tool to record and monitor eye movements, particularly useful for diagnosing and following neurological or muscular eye conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who Performs the Orthoptic Examination?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Nagle and Associates, Orthoptic assessments are carried out by <strong>Connan Tam<\/strong>, a dual-qualified <strong>Orthoptist and Optometrist<\/strong>. Connan completed his Orthoptics degree at <strong>Liverpool University in 2003<\/strong> and has since combined his expertise in Orthoptics with Optometric care. His specialised background ensures thorough, skilled assessments for patients of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When Should You Book an Orthoptic Assessment?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you or your child are experiencing any symptoms of binocular vision problems \u2014 or if you\u2019ve been referred by your doctor or ophthalmologist \u2014 it\u2019s worth booking an Orthoptic examination. Early diagnosis and the right treatment can make a huge difference in your quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ready to book your Orthoptic assessment?<\/strong><br>Contact Nagle and Associates Optometrists today \u2014 we\u2019re here to help keep your eyes working perfectly together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understanding Orthoptics: Caring for Your Binocular Vision At Nagle and Associates Optometrists, we believe that good vision isn\u2019t just about seeing clearly \u2014 it\u2019s also about how well your eyes work together as a team. That\u2019s where Orthoptics comes in. What Is an Orthoptic Assessment? An Orthoptic assessment is a series of specialised tests used [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"saved_in_kubio":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19267"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19268,"href":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19267\/revisions\/19268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nagleandassociates.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}