Children's Eye Exams Are Important

Going to the optometrist is just as important as going to the dentist!

Vision plays such a crucial role in a child’s development that it is essential to keep up to date with eye exams.

Does my child have a vision problem?

• Is my child squinting or frowning when trying to spot near or far objects? 

• Does my child rub his/her eyes or blink excessively?

• Is my child exhibiting poor eye tracking skills? 

• Does my child have trouble with coordination? Hand-eye or body-eye coordination during physical activities such as a game of catch or riding a bike can arise from difficulty seeing.

When your child has vision problems 

For children, a new school year can be overwhelming. Imagine having to learn a new routine, make friends, all while not being able to see?! If a child is experiencing visual challenges they will have to work harder to be able to focus on studying, resulting in increased fatigue, headaches and crankiness.

Facts about your child’s Eyes:

• Retinoblastoma is the most common type of eye cancer in children and counts for approximately 3% of all cancers occurring in children younger than 15 years of age

• Children should have their first eye exam at 6 month of age, in addition to the standard pediatrician’s exam.

• 1 in 4 children starting kindergarten already show signs of eye strain

• Studies have shown that there are high error rates in school eye exams and approximately 40% of children with vision problems still pass this vision screening test.

Children from 6 months to 19 years old need an eye exam every year, some prescriptions require more frequent testing due to rapid changes in eye development. Remember to book an appointment with your optometrist, from a scratched eye to blurry vision we are always happy to see you in case of eye emergencies.

Did you know school screenings provide less than 4% of the information generated during a comprehensive eye exam and they miss up to 75% of children with vision problems?