Clear vision and healthy eyes play a critical role in your child’s development. Children rely on their vision to learn; both inside and outside the classroom, so undiagnosed vision problems could impact their development.
By taking your child for annual eye exams, their optometrist can detect and track small changes in your child’s vision and eye health that may indicate something is amiss.
When was your child’s last eye exam?
Is Your Child Due for an Eye Exam?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that children undergo their first eye exam between the ages of 6 and 9 months old. Children should have their eyes examined at least once more between the ages of 2 and 5 years old and then visit their optometrist annually until they turn 19.
Children under the age of 18 who live in Alberta are entitled to one complete eye exam, one partial eye exam, and one diagnostic procedure per year at no cost, through Alberta Health Care Coverage.
Childhood Vision Problems
Young children in particular, are not always able to effectively communicate when something is wrong, and may not even realize they are experiencing vision problems. As such, it is up to parents and other caregivers to look for signs of trouble.
Your child may be experiencing vision problems if they:
- Have a misaligned eye
- Squint frequently
- Blink excessively or frequently rub their eyes
- Often cover one eye
- Frequently tilt their head when looking at things
- Sit too close to the whiteboard or the television
- Avoid reading or doing other activities that require clear near vision
- Frequently lose their place while reading
- Need to use their finger as a guide while reading
- Complain of double vision, blurry vision, or frequent headaches
If you suspect that your child is experiencing vision problems, you should make an appointment with their optometrist as soon as possible.
We Support the Eye See… Eye Learn Program
To help ensure all kindergarten children in Alberta who require glasses can get them, regardless of family income level, Eyesis Eyecare Center is a proud supporter of Eye See… Eye Learn.
