According to studies if your child is having developmental delays or trouble in school there could be an underlying vision problem. Proper learning, motor development, reading, and many other skills are dependent upon not only good vision, but your eyes functioning together.
Children that have problems with focusing or hand-eye coordination will often experience frustration and may exhibit behavioral problems as well.
Often they will not understand nor know that the vision they are experiencing is abnormal so they aren’t able to express that they need help.
Many conditions are much easier to treat when they are caught early while the eyes are still developing, so it is important to diagnose any eye health and vision issues as early as possible.
In Ontario, if you are 19 years and younger you will be covered by OHIP for a routine eye examination provided by an optometrist once every 12 months plus any follow-up assessments that may be required.
Eye exams for children are very important to insure your child's eyes are healthy and have no vision problems that could interfere with school performance and potentially affect your child's safety.
Early eye exams also are important because children need the following visual skills that are essential for optimal learning:
Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age and also they should have their eyes examined at the age of 3 and yearly subsequently. School-aged children should have an eye exam at least every year if no vision correction is required. Children who need eyeglasses or contact lenses should be examined annually or as recommended by their eye doctor.
Many factors will influence the frequency of optometric examinations and only the examining optometrist, upon the analysis of all factors, can determine when a particular patient should return for another examination. Your eye doctor may recommend coming in more frequently.
Not all children are able to make it in for their first exam until they start to have problems at school. In many cases, the school nurse will do an annual screening where a child has to read an eye chart in the office. This is not an eye exam and only catches problems well after they should have been treated. Regardless, there are some signs to keep an eye out for.
Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age and also they should have their eyes examined at the age of 3 and yearly subsequently. School-aged children should have an eye exam at least every year if no vision correction is required. Children who need eyeglasses or contact lenses should be examined annually or as recommended by their eye doctor.
Not all children are able to make it in for their first exam until they start to have problems at school. In many cases, the school nurse will do an annual screening where a child has to read an eye chart in the office. This is not an eye exam and only catches problems well after they should have been treated.