About

Smita Trivedi

Hello and welcome to my website. I am a Behavioural Optometrist based in London providing vison therapy for adults and children. With over 40 years of experience, I spent my early career working in the independent sector and the Contact Lens Department in Moorfields Eye Hospital. In 1991 I opened my own practice in London and in 2000 began my journey specialising in behavioural optometry alongside regular optometry. Over the years I have continued to pursue my passion and develop my specialism of providing a holistic approach to vision therapy integrating vision with all the senses using lenses, prisms, tints, nasal/binasal occlusion, relaxation and movement.

I began my career in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Optometry at Bradford University. Following my graduation in 1983, I did my pre-registration training year (putting my skills into practice seeing patients)at the London Refraction Hospital(now the Institute of Optometry), City University contact lens department, Moorfields contact lens department and low vision clinic enabling me to gain a vast array of experience. Since then I have completed my diploma in contact lens practice and vision therapy courses in Behavioural Optometry provided by the British Association of Behavioural Optometrists (BABO. I am also in the process of obtaining the Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) fellowship.

My Journey: I had my eyes tested when I was 12 years old as I had difficulty seeing the
blackboard and was given glasses to correct my blurry distance vision. My first
pair of glasses were on the NHS and the frames not very fashionable so I only
wore them in the classroom for the board. Then my dad treated me to a pair of
modern frames which I loved so much that I started to wear them all the time
including for close work. Unknown to me at the time but this was the reason my
glasses needed updating every six months as my myopia continued to increase
until I was -4.00 in my right eye and -5.00 in my left eye with slight
astigmatism and then stabilised. I continued to wear my glasses all the time
and would put them on as soon as I woke up. I didn’t like reading books as a
child and only read books required to get me through my subjects for my “O” and
“A” levels whilst wearing my distance pair of glasses. I was not a natural and
had to study hard to get through my examinations.

I went on to do my degree in Optometry and continued with my learning all at near
whilst wearing my distance glasses. I was in my early twenties when I learnt
how to drive. After passing my driving test, I was misjudging the space around
me and hated motorway driving. Unknown to me at the time this was because of my
strong minus lenses to correct my myopia had compressed my volume of space and
I had lost my spatial awareness. This meant that I didn’t know where I was and
hence driving had been so difficult.

Twenty years later I began my journey in behavioural optometry and realised that by wearing my distance glasses for all close work it had made me tunnel in my vision. I also discovered I had convergence insufficiency which I had as a child and this explained why I disliked reading and only read for studying not for pleasure. I began vision therapy and worked with a doctor in the States and had to do home practices. I have come a long way and still continue doing daily practices. I no longer wear my glasses during the day and only need them for night driving. My myopia has reduced significantly and having worked on my convergence insufficiency I now read books for pleasure. I hope by sharing some of my personal journey, if any one is experiencing similar or other visual problems, I would love to be able to help you on your journey.