Did you know that there is a program that allows children in Junior Kindergarten to receive a free full eye exam and a free pair of glasses? This program is funded by the Ontario Association of Optometrists and the Government of Ontario with the goal of ensuring every child is visually ready for school.
The early years in school are very important as children are learning to read. Later we transition to using reading as a method of learning. This means that anything impeeding with learning at the early stages can have a significant impact on learning in the later years. 80% of learning is visual, and seeing 20/20 is not the only factor that indicates that vision is optimal for learning. A Doctor of Optometry will check at what level your child can see in the distance and at near, if the eyes are teaming together, if there is any prescription and if the ocular tissue is healthy.
The Eye See Eye Learn Program provides children born in 2011, in Junior Kindergarten, with a free full eye exam. You must see a Doctor of Optometry that is registered with the program, which you can find on the Ontario Association of Optometrists website. The program also offers free glasses for children in Junior Kindergarten that require them. The glasses are impact resistant, have all the coatings needed for children to get great vision, and even come with a warranty.
Did you know that children 19 and under are covered by OHIP for 1 full eye exam per year and any emergency examinations in between? It is critical that you bring your child in for a full exam as 1 in 4 children has a vision related problem. We often hear from parents that their child doesn’t complain, they can point to a plane in the sky, they’re healthy, so why bring them in? While your child may not complain and they may seem like they can see great, they may be doing so under high visual stress. Visual stress is when we are trying to focus over a prescription we have, or keeping your eyes aligned when their natural tendency is to turn inwards or outwards. When this system breaks down we can start to see blurry, double vision, words moving on a page, fatigue, headaches etc. Most children won’t complain of these symptoms as they are used to seeing this way and don’t realize that it is abnormal.
Ensuring your child has had a proper eye examination will allow you to ensure that they are fully prepared for school. Don’t hesitate to bring your child to a Doctor of Optometry. We recommend your child’s first eye exam be at 6 months of age. We customize our exams for your child’s age and needs, so even if your child does not know their letters yet we can still evaluate the vision. You can find the closest Doctor of Optometry by searching the Ontario Association of Optometrists website www.optom.on.ca.
Dr. Marina Ceaus is an Optometrist practising in Streetsville. She sees children starting at 6 months of age and is a big advocate of children’s eye exams. You can book an appointment with her through her website www.drceausoptometry.com.