Neurovisual examination

The neurovisual examination is for children from the age of 6 if they are having persistent learning difficulties and/or problems concentrating or paying attention.

The neurovisual examination is part of a general approach and supplements the tests done by the paediatrician, the GP and other specialists: paediatric neurologist, paediatric psychiatrist, speech therapist, psycho-motor therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, neuropsychologist, etc.

Step 1: ophthalmological care

Ophthalmological care is always the first step before any neurovisual assessment as a corrected sight defect relieves any visual effort. Children often struggle to express visual disturbances. A preliminary in-depth ophthalmological examination should therefore involve measurement of refraction under cycloplegia. This measurement, which can be used on its own to reliably measure refractive errors, is taken after eye drops are put into the eye to relax refocusing and dilate the pupils. This examination is all the more important within the context of educational difficulties.

The optimum optical correction will then be prescribed and should be worn continuously for a month before the orthoptics appointment in order to release visual tension. Without this examination, part of the neurovisual examination will not be reliable.

Step 2: neurovisual examination

The neurovisual examination takes place over one or two sessions and can lead to rehabilitation if necessary. The examination is fun for the child and no eye drops are needed. The appointment starts with an interview in the presence of the guardian(s) before the child is examined on their own for about 90 minutes.

These free consultations are conducted on medical prescription. The request mentioning the reason for the consultation must be sent to the Orthoptics Service (Service d’orthoptie). The sessions take place at the Orthoptics Service sites in Luxembourg-Hamm and Esch-Belval.

The neurovisual examination is done by a qualified orthoptist who checks and measures:

  • eyesight
  • the parallelism of the eyes
  • the quality of binocular vision
  • ocular movements
  • visual perception

Rehabilitation sessions may be offered following the neurovisual examination. The child's timetable should not be overloaded with too many treatments at the same time. They should be spread out.

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