Orthoptic rehabilitation for ASD children

Your ophthalmologist has given your child a prescription in order to make an appointment with an orthoptist… but you are wondering exactly what are the objectives of orthoptic rehabilitation for ASD children? They can suffer from several vision problems, but also other eye conditions. This rehabilitation, necessary for visual well-being, is explained in this COP9 article !

Orthoptic rehabilitation for ASD children

What is

orthoptic rehabilitation for ASD children?

Generally speaking, visual rehabilitation in orthoptics is an approach which aims to improve visual function in people suffering from vision disorders such as strabismus, amblyopia, low vision, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, etc.

Orthoptic rehabilitation for ASD children generally involves a series of exercises and techniques aimed at:

  • strengthening the eye muscles;
  • improving eye coordination;
  • correcting refractive disorders: myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism;
  • stimulating the quality of vision. 

The objective is to maximize visual acuity, that is to say the clarity with which we perceive the details of an object, as well as the visual field. During the sessions, the orthoptist works with his young patient on the extent of what can be seen without moving the eyes, for greater daily comfort.

The visual assessment, the first step in

orthoptic rehabilitation for ASD children

Before beginning orthoptic rehabilitation, a thorough assessment is necessary to determine the specific needs of each young patient.

Those may include:

  • ophthalmological screening tests;
  • additional examinations, such as retinal angiography or functional explorations;
  • an orthoptic assessment. 

Once the orthoptic assessment is established, the orthoptist develops a personalized rehabilitation plan based on the visual problems detected.

Orthoptic rehabilitation for ASD children may include exercises to improve:

  • convergence ability to focus the eyes on a close point; 
  • color vision;
  • near vision; 
  • binocular vision (coordinated perception of both eyes).

Visual rehabilitation sessions can take place in an orthoptics practice, a vision center or the ophthalmology department of a hospital center.

Our COP9 office offers you the opportunity to meet in one place our ophthalmologist surgeon, Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger, our orthoptists and our psychomotor therapist, to offer you complete and personalized follow-up.

Before beginning orthoptic rehabilitation, a thorough assessment is necessary to determine the specific needs of each young patient.

Those may include:

  • ophthalmological screening tests;
  • additional examinations, such as retinal angiography or functional explorations;
  • an orthoptic assessment. 

Once the orthoptic assessment is established, the orthoptist develops a personalized rehabilitation plan based on the visual problems detected.

The visual assessment, the first step in

orthoptic rehabilitation for ASD children

Orthoptic rehabilitation for ASD children may include exercises to improve:

  • convergence ability to focus the eyes on a close point; 
  • color vision;
  • near vision; 
  • binocular vision (coordinated perception of both eyes).

Visual rehabilitation sessions can take place in an orthoptics practice, a vision center or the ophthalmology department of a hospital center.

Our COP9 office offers you the opportunity to meet in one place our ophthalmologist surgeon, Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger, our orthoptists and our psychomotor therapist, to offer you complete and personalized follow-up.

How does orthoptic rehabilitation work for ASD children ?

Orthoptic rehabilitation often requires regular commitment and active participation from the young patient.

Exercises and techniques can be performed at home, between sessions, to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. It is important to follow the orthoptist’s recommendations and consult regularly to evaluate progress and adjust the rehabilitation plan if necessary.


It is important to note that visual rehabilitation in orthoptics for ASD children cannot cure ocular pathologies, but it can improve visual abilities and reduce annoying symptoms.

In conclusion

Orthoptic rehabilitation for ASD children aims at improving the visual capacity of the young patient (strengthening the eye muscles, improving eye coordination, etc.). Accompanied by the orthoptist during the sessions, the child carries out exercises that can be reproduced at home. Regular and diligent monitoring will contribute to reinforce the effectiveness of the sessions followed. These exercises are selected by the specialist based on the results of the visual examinations and the orthoptic assessment.

Our multidisciplinary COP9 office specializes in welcoming ASD children, do not hesitate to consult the articles below to find out more!

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