5 Topic Commentaries

Adapting Eye Exams for Neurodivergent Patients

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  Deborah Amster, OD

  Pediatric Optometry

  •

  SUNY College of Optometry

  To help kids prepare for the exam and decrease anxiety, we are working on creating social stories that will provide the child with a pictorial and narrative description showing what to expect from start to finish in advance of the eye exam.

  Source
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  Amanda L. Ely, MD

  Pediatric Ophthalmology

  •

  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

  I think of examining a child like playing a game with the child. I will call various pieces of ophthalmologic equipment funny names like “fancy flashlights,” the “eye doctor motorcycle” and even “the crazy hat.” I try to focus on the child’s needs and even developmental level to customize my exam techniques to each patient.

  Source
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  Nicholas Karbach, OD

  Optometry (Disability & Accessibility)

  •

  Salus University

  This clinic is important to have because patients with disabilities unfortunately often have a higher prevalence of ocular disease, whether it by high myopia, strabismus, amblyopia, or glaucoma. It's important that these patients not only have routine eye exams, but they also have a place where they can go when they do have ocular disease or complications and they’re able to be managed appropriately.

  Source
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  Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA

  Ophthalmology

  •

  Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine

  Children in an eye care setting have stress. Having these activities in our waiting area makes their care easier because they are less anxious about their visit.

  Source
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  Debora Lee Chen, OD

  Binocular Vision & Neuro-Optometry

  •

  UC Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science

  We have certain patients who are brain injured or they’re elderly or who have autistic spectrum disorder, who can’t tolerate extended time in an MRI tube. But eye movement is so accessible and easy to capture. From a clinical standpoint, that’s the dream come true.

  Source