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GLOSSARY

PHYSICAL EYE CONDITIONS

Acuity
Clearness of vision. Standard is 6/6 which means the individual sees at 6 metres what they should see at that distance. Metric equivalent of 20/20 vision.

Accommodation
Ability to change and control the focusing of the eye.

Astigmatism
Condition where vision is distorted because the front of the eye is not totally spherical ie. it is shaped more like a rugby ball than a soccer ball. Clear vision is restored by an appropriate lens.

Binocular
Using both eyes together.

Convergence
Turning of the eyes inward to see closer.

Fusion
Ability to perceive objects seen with the two eyes as a single object.

Hyperopia
Long-sightedness. It is easier to see in the distance than close up. A small amount of long-sightedness is normal in children but may affect their comfort and concentration at close distances ie. reading and writing.

Myopia
Short-sightedness. It is easier to see close up than in the distance.

Motilities
Movement of the eyes following a moving target.

Multifocal
A lens with an upper area for seeing in the distance and a lower area with a different prescription for close work.

Perception
Interpreting the information received by the eyes.

Plus Lens
(Convex) Changes the path of light so that it focuses closer. Given to correct long-sightedness.

Minus Lens
(Concave) Changes the path of light so that focus is farther away. Given to correct short-sightedness.

Refractive Condition
Long-sightedness (hyperopia), short-sightedness (myopia) and astigmatism (see above).

Stereopsis
Ability to see depth and judge distance.

Vergence
Turning of the eyes to see singly at a given distance.
Visual processing and perception skills
Perception is the capacity to interpret or give meaning to what is seen. The following are specific perception skills. A "form" is a piece of visual information like a letter, number or shape.

Visual Discrimination
The ability to match or determine exact characteristics of two forms when one of them is among similar forms ie. "find the pair".

Visual Memory
The ability to remember for immediate recall (after 4-5 secs) all of the characteristics of a given form and being able to find this form from an array of similar forms.

Visual Spatial Relationships
The ability to determine from among five forms of identical configuration the one single form or part of single form that is going in a different direction from the other forms.

Visual Form Consistency
The ability to see a form and to find that form even though the form may be smaller, larger, rotated and/or hidden.

Visual Sequential Memory
The ability to remember for immediate recall a series of forms from among four separate series of forms.
Visual Figure Ground The ability to perceive a form visually, and to find this form hidden in a conglomerated ground of matter eg. "Where's Wally".

Visual Closure
The ability to determine, from among four incomplete forms the one that is the same as the stimulus form (the completed form).