The 17 Key Visual Skills

Our eyes may be one of the smallest organs we possess, but they are powered by intricate neurological pathways that allow us to process the world in bold, beautiful ways. Even when a child's vision appears to be fine, a visual skill that falls below their grade level will force them to work harder than others do to accomplish what comes naturally to their peers.

• Visual Memory describes our ability to remember the images and words we have seen in the past. Visual memory allows us to copy material on a board into our notebooks, or verbally describe an image we’ve seen in an email or document. Poor visual memory can interfere with academic success and workplace performance.
• Binocular Coordination occurs when our eyes are able to work together, in concert, in order to focus on the same thing at the same time. This skill is particularly helpful when reading. Binocular deficiencies can lead to the development of convergence insufficiency and a lazy eye.
• Eye Movement Control describes the ability to move your eyes together in order to focus on a person, picture, or object. This skill relies on the careful coordination of the six ocular muscles that control how the eyes work in unison. This particular skill helps us maintain clear, non blurry images when we read and write. 
• Pursuits are required in order for our eyes to maintain a smooth transition between two different points. This is a necessary skill when following or tracking a ball’s movement during sports. Deficits in this skill may indicate the presence of a brain injury or be the result of a trauma. 
• Convergence describes our eyes’ ability to work as a team, whether they are looking inward or focusing ahead. This skill is vital for professional, academic, and athletic performance. Convergence insufficiencies can be detected in patients who cover one eye to read or tilt their head to see clearly.

• Color Perception allows us to discern colors from one another. This is helpful in determining color coded systems such as traffic lights and safety warnings and discerning the movement of an object that is similar to its background color. For example, a white baseball flying across a white, hazy sky. 
• Fine Visual-Motor movements allow us to focus on activities that require small movements and attention to detail. Sewing, texting, and pixelated artwork rely on this skill. People who lack fine visual-motor skills often have messy handwriting and may be unable to dress themselves (e.g., difficulty fastening zippers and buttons)
• Visual Integration allows us to combine the stimuli we take in through all of our senses simultaneously. Examples of this skill are demonstrated when we cross the street while drinking coffee, looking at what we’re eating at a restaurant, and playing the piano while reading sheet music, taking notes about what the teacher wrote on the board while listening to the teacher speak. If someone has difficulty with visual integration they may day dream as a way of “turning off” overwhelming stimuli.
• Visual Perception describes our awareness of our environment and what is happening around us. This describes the sum total of what can be seen within the full breadth of our visual abilities. Challenges to visual perception can compromise fine motor movement and one's overall independence.