7 Reasons Your Child Needs an Annual Eye Exam

I got my first pair of glasses when I was in grade 3.  Once I put them on, my life changed, as I was able to see the world around me with a clarity I hadn’t realised I was missing out on.

When my 4-year-old, Keira, was born 11 weeks prematurely, the doctors worried about her eye health (among a multitude of other potential health issues.) As a result, Keira has been seeing a doctor of optometry (optometrist) regularly since she was born. By the time she turned two, she was prescribed glasses to correct her vision. We have continued to make annual trips to the optometrist, so when she started junior kindergarten this year, I was confident that she was ready to learn, unhindered by vision problems.

October is Children’s Vision Month and what better time to start taking your child’s vision more seriously. In fact, I just set up an eye exam for my 2-year-old, Ava as I want to ensure she is seeing the world as it is meant to be seen.

Does Your Child Need an Annual Eye Exam?

The answer is yes! This is why:

Children are Visual Learners. In fact, 80% of learning is obtained through vision.

Healthy visual skills enable your children to get the most out of play, learning and socialising.

Children don’t know what “normal” vision is, and won’t know there is a problem if they don’t have a comprehensive eye exam.

1 in 4 school-age children has a vision problem with no easy-to-detect symptoms.

Your child’s eye exam is likely covered in some form by your province.

Eye exams are a part of keeping your child healthy. Even if your child doesn’t have any vision problems, an annual eye exam can help detect eye problems in their early stages.

An annual eye exam from a doctor of optometry is the very best way to ensure your child’s vision is problem-free and developing normally.

When Should You Start?

Children should have their first exam by 6 months of age, once between the ages of 2 and 5 and then annually once they start school. Of course, it’s never too late to start if you weren’t aware of this recommended schedule.

Simply book an eye exam with a doctor of optometry and help your child reach their full potential!

WIN a $500 gift card set in celebration of Children’s Vision Month

Enter the Family Eye Health Share to WIN for a chance to win a VISA/Chapters Indigo gift card set! Ends Nov 2, 2016 at 12 PM EST. 
 

Disclosure: This post has been generously sponsored by the Canadian doctors of optometry, the opinions and language are my own.