Eye Exams For Infants and Children
First Eye Exams
At birth, infants vision is not fully developed; they only see blurred patterns of light and dark. Their vision improves as they grow. It becomes clearer, colour vision develops, and the eyes become more co-ordinated.
The first eye examination should happen at 6 - 9 months of age. This exam differs from an adult eye exam. The optometrist will check to make sure the eyes are developing properly. This includes testing eye alignment and co-ordination, a refraction (glasses prescription check) to ensure there is no large prescription or difference in prescription between the 2 eyes, and an assessment of the ocular health. Rare but serious conditions exist that can be detected at this first exam. If left unaddressed, these conditions can result in significant vision problems.
Toddlers and Pre-schoolers
The visual system continues to develop into the school years. Focus, tracking, convergence and depth perception improve throughout childhood. Children and parents of children frequently are unaware of a visual problem since children have a difficult time describing their vision. They don’t know if it differs from normal since they have nothing to compare to if they have never developed normal vision. The next eye examination is recommended at age 3. By age 3 a comprehensive exam similar to adults can be performed. They do not need to know letters to measure visual acuity; optometrists have many child-friendly tests that include pictures/matching.
80% of learning is related to vision.
As children grow, their eyes do as well which can result in more rapid visual changes than adults. Annual check-ups with an optometrist are recommended for children. OHIP covers all children’s eye exams (up to and including age 19).
Check out this article from Today's Parent about the importance of early detection and treatment of vision problems in children:
http://www.todaysparent.com/kids/kids-health/eye-health-report-kids-vision-check/
Eye See…Eye Learn Program
If your child is attending a Junior Kindergarten or Senior Kindergarten program, they can receive one free pair of glasses through the Eye See...Eye Learn Program!! This is available at our Simcoe location
Click here for an article about the importance of outdoor time for prevention of myopia in children.
