Behavioural Optometry and Classroom Learning with Amy Fortescue
When we talk about learning difficulties in the classroom, we often jump straight to attention, behaviour, or academic struggles. Yet one of the most influential factors on a child’s learning is something we cannot always see with the naked eye. Their vision. And we are not just talking about eyesight. Behavioural optometrist Amy Fortescue joined us on the podcast to unpack what Behavioural Optometry is, why it matters so deeply in education, and how even small visual challenges can show up as big hurdles in the classroom.
This blog post brings you the key ideas from our conversation and offers practical ways teachers can support students while keeping things simple, actionable and encouraging. There are rainbows ahead, and this knowledge will help you guide your learners with even more confidence.
What Behavioural Optometry Actually Is
Many parents assume an eye screening at preschool or an annual mall optometrist visit is enough to rule out visual issues. Amy explained that these checks often assess eyesight only. Behavioural Optometry looks at something much bigger. Vision.
Eyesight is the ability to see letters on an eye chart. Vision is how the brain interprets what the eyes take in. This includes how well the eyes work together, how efficiently they track across a page, how quickly they can shift from near to far focus, and how the brain processes and remembers visual information.
Behavioural Optometry takes a holistic view of how a child uses their visual system in real life. This makes it highly relevant for teachers who often see the first signs that something is not quite right.
The Hidden Signs Teachers Often Notice
Some children will rub their eyes, sit close to the board or lose their place when reading. These are the obvious signs. But Amy shared that the biggest red flag is often avoidance.
Avoidance of reading, writing or copying tasks can be a sign that a child is working far harder than their peers just to keep things clear and stable. For some children, especially those who appear capable but are not progressing as expected, visual efficiency rather than vision clarity may be the issue.
A child can have perfect 20 20 eyesight yet still struggle with visual tracking, visual memory, focusing flexibility or eye teaming. These challenges can affect reading fluency, comprehension, engagement and confidence.
It is no wonder some students appear distracted, disorganised or resistant when the visual component of learning is quietly draining their energy.
How Visual Processing Affects Learning
Behavioural Optometry also explores visual processing. This includes skills such as visual discrimination, visual memory, sequential memory and visual motor integration. These underpin almost every literacy and numeracy task in the classroom.
If a child cannot remember the order of letters, recognise patterns, hold visual information in their mind or coordinate what they see with how they write, learning becomes harder than it needs to be.
Amy shared the example of her husband who developed astigmatism as a child. Because the visual input was unclear, his visual memory never developed effectively, which later affected his spelling and reading fluency. It shows how easily a minor issue can grow into a long term challenge if not identified early.
Why Some Kids Struggle With Reading Even When They Can See Well
Reading is not a natural human skill. Amy reminded us that in the timeline of human history, we have only been reading for the equivalent of a few seconds. Some children will naturally pick it up, while others will require more support. Visual inefficiencies can make the reading process even more taxing.
For example, children who experience near point stress may appear capable but lose clarity when they feel overwhelmed. Their stress response pushes their focus into the distance when they need it up close. This leads to head movements, page avoidance and reduced comprehension.
These children benefit greatly from simple supports like correct reading distance, posture resets and calming breaths before beginning a task.
Practical Classroom Strategies Teachers Can Use
You do not need to diagnose vision issues. Your role is to observe, support and recommend next steps. Here are teacher friendly strategies Amy suggests:
• Seat students so they face the board directly.
• Use clear colours on whiteboards. Black, blue and purple are best. Avoid red and green since one in eight boys has colour vision difficulty.
• Maintain good lighting and reduce glare.
• Teach students to hold books at the correct distance using the fist to elbow rule.
• Encourage slow, deep breathing before reading to reduce stress and improve focus.
• Watch for tracking issues such as moving the head while reading.
• Gently suggest a Behavioural Optometrist assessment when progress does not match potential.
Small tweaks can have a big impact. They help remove barriers, strengthen confidence and support students who may never realise their eyes are working overtime.
Why Behavioural Optometry Should Be on Every Teacher’s Radar
Behavioural Optometry gives us another lens to understand why a child may be struggling. It shows us that learning difficulties are often not about effort or behaviour but about the visual foundation beneath everything we teach.
As educators, the more we understand the way children process the world, the better we can guide them. When we help students use their visual system more effectively, we open the door to improved reading, writing, engagement and wellbeing.
This area of learning support is often overlooked. Yet after listening to Amy, it becomes clear that Behavioural Optometry may be one of the most powerful tools teachers can keep in their back pocket.
If you want to learn more, check out the Australasian College of Behavioural Optometry or explore the simple tracking exercises Amy recommends for supporting visual efficiency. Every small step helps. Together, we can ensure our students thrive as readers, thinkers and learners. There are rainbows ahead, and together we are unstoppable.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Connect with Amy on Instagram @amyfortescueoptom
Learn more about behavioural optometry here
Find Amy’s eye exercises here
Listen to an episode about The Science of Reading here.
About Today’s Guest
Amy Fortescue is a behavioural optometrist based in Southern Sydney with a passion for paediatric eye care. She completed her Bachelor of Optometry and Bachelor of Science in 2010, earning top honours in children’s vision and binocular vision, an early sign of the career path she was destined to follow.
Amy’s journey into optometry began in her father’s practice in Ramsgate Beach, where she started helping out as soon as she was old enough to file record cards and fold newsletters. She continued working there until August 2025, building years of hands-on experience and deep community ties.
Since graduating, Amy has pursued extensive additional training in behavioural optometry and is now preparing to open her own practice in Autumn 2026.
