Give Your Child the Vision Care They Need
Getting your child the right eye care starts with a thorough evaluation tailored to their unique needs. At Belle Vue Specialty Eye Care, we offer 2 primary types of exams for kids: the Comprehensive Eye Exam and the Visual Information Processing (VIP) Exam.
If your child is struggling in school or has been told they have dyslexia, a VIP exam might reveal vision-related challenges that could be impacting their learning.
Sometimes, vision problems can be mistaken for behavioral or learning difficulties. We can help you understand whether your child is best served with a comprehensive eye exam or a visual information processing (VIP) exam.
Contact us to schedule your child’s next exam today.
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Comprehensive Pediatric Eye Exams
Our comprehensive eye exams evaluate your child’s eye health, prescription, and functional vision skills. These exams are essential for all children and can detect issues before they affect learning or daily activities.
If your child is nearsighted, we’ll explain treatment options, including myopia control contacts and vision therapy designed to slow worsening prescriptions.
A comprehensive pediatric eye exam checks your child’s overall eye health, prescription, and basic visual function, while a VIP exam goes deeper by assessing how their eyes and brain work together to process and use visual information for learning and daily activities.
What Is a VIP (Visual Information Processing) Exam?
If your child is having trouble reading or learning, they may benefit from a VIP exam.
While our standard comprehensive eye exam evaluates a child’s visual acuity (how clear their vision is), how their eyes work together, and their eye health, our VIP exam is designed to evaluate your child’s functional visual skills as well as their visual information processing and visual perception skills.
In other words, it uncovers how their visual system and their brain work together.
This exam aims to evaluate your child’s ability to meet their academic, career, athletic, and daily life visual demands. 80% of classroom-based learning is visual, including close-up vision and the ability to process all that visual information. So having vision that is up to the task is critical for success.
When your child’s vision is compromised, it can hinder their ability to reach their full potential.
Our VIP exams test the following areas.
Spatial orientation: Spatial orientation refers to our ability to orientate our bodies and regulate our posture in relation to the surrounding environment. This is the foundation of all other visual skills. If their brain struggles to process spatial information, they might seem clumsy or have trouble writing in a straight line.
Ocular motor skills (also called tracking): As the name suggests, ocular motor skills refer to how well the eye moves. Smooth, easy movement is crucial for skills like reading.
Binocularity (also called fusing): Binocularity refers to the alignment and coordination of the eyes and determines how well they work together as a team. Good binocular vision is vital for depth perception.
Accommodation (also called focusing): How well our eyes can focus is vital for viewing both near and far objects clearly and smoothly shifting our focus between objects that are close by and far away.
Depending on how old your child is, their VIP exam may include a reading assessment.
We use computerized reading assessments to:
- Assess eye movements
- Determine how quickly your child recognizes words
- Determine how quickly your child can read
- Assess reading comprehension
- Evaluate how well your child’s eyes remain aligned while reading.
- Reversals: This refers to the ability to determine if a letter or number has been reversed.
- Visual memory: This refers to the ability to remember previous images that have been presented to you.
- Visual memory with output: This refers to the ability to both remember images that have been presented to you and draw or otherwise duplicate that image.
- Sequential visual memory: this refers to the ability to remember a sequence of visual graphics and recount that sequence accurately.
- Visual closure: This refers to the ability to see a large picture with minimal details.
- Figure-ground: This refers to the ability to see small details within a busy or cluttered background. A good example of this would be the Where’s Waldo books.
- Spatial relationships: This refers to the ability to see differences in forms regardless of orientation.
- Form constancy: This refers to the ability to see similarities in forms regardless of size or orientation.
- Auditory-visual: This refers to the ability to match a pattern of sounds to a visual stimulus.
- Visual–motor: This is the ability to interpret visual information and duplicate it in written form. This tests how well your vision and hands work together as a team.
This test is designed to assess your child’s functional peripheral (side) vision and determine how well their peripheral vision responds in stressful situations.
Different Approaches for Different Kids
We understand that every child is unique, and so are their vision needs. That’s why we offer a wide range of treatment and management strategies designed to address the specific challenges your child may face.
Whether your child struggles with focusing, tracking, eye teaming, or processing visual information, we tailor our approach to support their individual development and success.
No matter the challenge, our team works closely with you and your child to create a personalized plan that fits their lifestyle and goals, helping them see better and thrive in school, sports, and daily life.
Pediatric Eye Care
Our approach to pediatric eye care includes functional optometry eye exams and myopia control for nearsighted kids. During your child’s eye exam, we will evaluate the health of their eye structures, determine their prescription, assess their functional visual skills, and test their visual perception skills.
If your child is nearsighted—which is becoming increasingly common—we’ll walk you through all the options available. Most kids who are nearsighted will have worsening vision as their eyes continue to grow. With myopia control contacts and vision therapy, we can slow down changes in your child’s prescription.
Vision Therapy
Depending on the root cause of your child’s visual challenges, we may suggest vision therapy. Vision therapy works like physiotherapy for the eyes. We develop a personalized plan of exercises for your child to follow over the course of treatment to address their functional visual disorders.
Vision therapy can be used to address a variety of vision-related challenges, including:
- Vision-related learning challenges
- Reading and writing problems
- Binocular vision dysfunction
- Strabismus (crossed eyes)
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
Belle Vue Specialty Eye Care is home to dedicated vision therapists who work with our functional optometrists to create and facilitate a tailored treatment plan for your child.
Brain Injury Rehabilitation
The effects of brain injuries such as concussions can be far-reaching and impact your child’s ability to process visual information effectively.
To begin, one of our experienced functional optometrists will evaluate your child and craft a tailored treatment plan. Our evaluation is conducted using special neurodevelopmental lenses, which are used to assess your child’s balance and visual functions.
We also use precise testing techniques to evaluate your child’s eye movements and assess how well their brain and their eyes are working together as a team.
Once their evaluation is complete, we will explain next steps, which may include vision therapy, prism glasses, or other personalized recommendations.
Helping Your Child See & Succeed
Your child’s vision is key to their learning, confidence, and overall development. At Belle Vue Specialty Eye Care, we are dedicated to providing personalized, compassionate care that helps your child overcome visual challenges and reach their full potential.
If you’ve noticed signs of vision struggles or simply want to ensure your child’s eyes are healthy and functioning at their best, don’t wait. Early detection and tailored treatment can make a lasting difference in their academic performance and everyday life.
Contact us to schedule your child’s eye exam today. Our caring team is ready to guide you every step of the way.
Book Appointment
Visit Our Main Location
Our Address
- 7117 Highway 98, Suite 30
- Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Contact Information
- Phone: (601) 475-2020
- Fax: (800) 493-5956
- Email: hello@bellevuesec.com
Hours Of Operation
What Our Patients are Saying
Several years before seeing Dr. Lott our child had surgery to “correct” her particular eye issue. We were told by other doctors she needed same surgery again for the same issue, but instead we decided to try Vision therapy at Belle Vue. Best decision we ever made! Dr. Lott, Dr. Maples, and the staff at Belle Vue have worked wonders with our child’s vision. Wish we would have tried vision therapy from the very beginning. Our child’s vision & grades have greatly improved and now LOVES to read! Belle Vue is the BEST!!
MR
The best combination of professional expertise and caring, individual attention around! Dr. Megan and all the staff were incredibly helpful in providing direction and care for our newly adopted twins from China, and the time they spent making sure the kids felt comfortable was over-and-above what I ever expected. Cannot recommend them highly enough!
LM
My kids love coming here! They are very kind, caring, patient, and friendly. Love the staff and Dr. Lott!!!
BM
If your child has been struggling in school, I encourage you to bring them here before you do anything else. My daughter had vision issues beyond the usual 20/20 that were inhibiting reading comprehension, writing, and focus. When Dr Lott had measured tests with a plan to treat and improve each one my daughter’s challenges, I knew we had come to the right place. She just did her final evaluation, and her progress over twelve weeks of therapy was astounding. I’m so very grateful for the wonderful therapists at Belle Vue.
KW
Dr Megan Lott is amazing! My daughter has multiple disabilities and she did not once hesitate to treat her. We had been to two other pediatric ophthalmologists, one which wrote her off and one which advised us to go to the Low Vision clinic, before we found Dr Lott. Dr Lott understood what my focus was for my daughter’s vision and worked to come up with a plan to help her have the best use of her functional vision. We got her glasses this afternoon and she hasn’t stopped looking around and smiling and giggling since! Thank you from this mama’s heart for giving my daughter a whole new world!
CD
My son was struggling in school and had very little confidence in himself. Dr. Lott and the staff at Belle Vue were the help that he needed! The results of his vision therapy amaze me! Homework is no longer an ordeal and he is now an honor roll student. He is now very confident and doesn’t approach things with an “I can’t” attitude. I honestly believe that the vision therapy he received at Belle Vue will help him succeed in life!
AC
Dr. Lott and her staff at Belle Vue Specialty Eye Care are extraordinary. Along with being professional and very knowledgeable, they have such a sincere concern for all of their patients. I cannot thank Dr. Lott and her staff enough for what they have done for my family. The Hattiesburg area is so extremely fortunate to have them treating our children. I will always be grateful!
We love Dr Lott and everyone who works there. They are so nice!! Both of my boys went through vision therapy and the progress they made was remarkable. We can not thank them enough!!
NT
BVESC staff is always so welcoming to my children – even though having my children in the office can be chaotic. Beyond that, they provide in depth exams that go further than do you need a glasses prescription but to try to get to the root of the matter. They provide in-house therapy and refer out for therapy. My son no longer needs glasses due to their services!!!!
BH
Dr. Megan Lott is amazing! Her knowledge and expertise as an eye care specialist is second to none. We are so very grateful for the way she has helped our entire family. She spent countless hours preparing a plan for one of our grandsons and pouring encouragement into his heart and mind to help him overcome dyslexia. Dr. Meagan has our highest recommendation and support.
DR
My son was provided a thorough eye exam and vision testing per Dr. Lott. Outstanding, professional, knowledgeable service combined with superior excellence in listening, assessment and critical thinking skills. The entire staff is great with children (and mom 😉 ). As a mom of 4 kids (oldest is 23y.o., youngest is 9y.o.) and RN background, I admit this is super rare find! Very impressed with Dr. Lott and office staff. Thank y’all so much for caring!!
AM
If you are looking for exceptional service and expertise, this is it. Very knowledgeable, professional, and helpful! Our little guy had a great experience, and the service and eyeglass selection is phenomenal!
KV
Dr. Lott is amazing. After 2 other pediatric ophthalmologists simply dismissed my daughter and her vision deficits, we found Dr. Lott. She believed in Addison’s potential to increase her functional vision. Not only did Addison’s eye tracking improve but her head control all improved because she had a reason to look up now! Dr. Lott does whatever it takes to help a child see!
CD
The most amazing people work in this clinic. My son has been a patient with them for 6 months. He has Autism.
They have been a miracle for us. He is no longer on seizure medication, he wasn’t he having seizures. He couldnt see. His reading on a 8.2 reading level. He is 7. He is more social. ODD and OCD are not as bad.
They found what numerous Dr’s and therapist had missed.
LH
We thought my son had dyslexia because he had so many symptoms that pointed in that direction. Then we heard about Dr Lott! We immediately had him tested and started on therapy. I could see vast improvements in confidence and interest in physical activity. We just finished a second round of therapy and we were shocked at the difference in his testing. He had improved in so many areas.
My favorite thing to date is that he has almost finished reading a 150 page chapter book since yesterday!! He always hated reading before therapy. I couldn’t recommend Bellevue Specialty Eye Care enough!
KR
Dr. Lott was so thorough and took the time to sit and explain everything to me. It was well worth the 85 mile trip one way! There’s gonna be a 10 year old little girl that will see the best in her life from now on. Everyone was very welcoming and polite. Would definitely send people to her.
NC
About Us
Vision Therapy Programs
Children’s Eye Care
Eyewear & Lenses
Our Location
- 7117 Highway 98, Suite 30
- Hattiesburg, MS 39402
- Phone: (601) 475-2020
- Fax: (800) 493-5956
- Email: hello@bellevuesec.com
Southern Low Vision Therapy Location
1500 N I-55, Highland Village Suite 245
Jackson, MS 39211
Phone: (601) 487-1089
Email: hello@bellevuesec.com