Ocular Motor Skills

When the Eyes Can't Support the Brain

By the time a child is expected to read, write, sit still, and pay attention, we assume their visual system is ready. After all, prior to entering school, they are required to get a vision screening. They passed. They can see the board. We can check that off our list.

Or so we think - until we understand the difference between sight and vision. One of the most misunderstood contributors to learning struggles and behavior challenges is the difference between the two.

Sight is the ability to see clearly. It’s acuity. “20/20 vision”.

Vision is what your brain does with what your eyes see. It is a brain process – it involves movement, coordination, timing, and interpretation. The eyes are extensions of the brain, and their movements reflect how well the brain is organized.

A child can have perfect 20/20 eyesight and still struggle profoundly with learning. Vision screening measures acuity. They do not assess how well the eyes move, work together, or feed information to the brain. Learning does not depend on how well a child sees an object. It depends on how well the eyes move and coordinate while seeing the object. This is a critical distinction.

The eyes lead the body. Every time we move, our eyes lead the way. If you reach for a cup, your eyes find it first. If you read a word. Your eyes tell the brain where to focus.

The eyes are active participants in the learning process. Accurate ocular motor skills are crucial in proper development. In order to be a successful learner, the eyes must be able to fixate on a target (fixation), track smoothly across space (smooth pursuits), jump accurately from one point to another (saccade), work together as a team (convergence/divergence), and adjust focus as distance changes (accommodation).

The ocular motor system links vision and movement. It develops on top of stable body movement, balance, and mind-body awareness. These skills are learned – not given. They develop with early movement experiences - crawling, spinning, and coordinated body movements, reflex integration, and sensory maturity – not flashcards or screens.

Fixation

Smooth Pursuits

Fixation is the ability to hold the eyes steady on a target without drifting or shaking. Good fixation allows the brain to take in information clearly and efficiently.

Smooth Pursuits

Tracking (smooth pursuits) is the ability to follow a moving object smoothly and accurately. Good tracking skills aid in reading across a line of text accurately, watching a teacher write on a board, and coordinating eye and body movement

Saccades

Smooth Pursuits

Convergence/Divergence

Saccades are quick precise movements that allow the eyes to jump from one point to another. A good example of this would be moving from the end of one line to the beginning of the next line in a reading passage.

Convergence/Divergence

Convergence is the ability of the eyes to turn inward together for near tasks, such as reading and writing. Divergence is the ability to turn outward together for distance viewing.

Accomodation

Convergence/Divergence

Accomodation

Accommodation is the eye’s ability to change focus quickly and accurately when shifting between distances. It allows the visual system to adjust from near to far and back again without strain, delay, or fatigue

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Ocular Motor Skills

When the Eyes Can't Support the Brain

Fixation

Smooth Pursuits

Smooth Pursuits

Smooth Pursuits

Smooth Pursuits

Smooth Pursuits

Saccades

Smooth Pursuits

Convergence/Divergence

Convergence/Divergence

Convergence/Divergence

Convergence/Divergence

Accomodation

Convergence/Divergence

Accomodation

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