The Importance of Children’s Eye Exams
Early eye exams also are important because children need the following visual skills that are essential for optimal learning: Excellent visual acuity at all distances. Accurate and comfortable eye teaming skills. Accurate eye movement skills.
A brief examination of your child’s eyes by a pediatrician or family practice doctor is not a substitute for an eye exam performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Only ODs and OMDs have the advanced training and clinical tools to perform a thorough evaluation of your child’s eyes and vision.
According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO):
- Infants and toddlers should undergo their first eye examination between the ages of 6 and 9 months
- Preschool children should undergo at least one eye examination between the ages of 2 and 5 years
- School children aged 6 to 19 should undergo and eye examination annually
In Alberta children under 19 yrs. of age are covered for one complete eye exam, one partial exam, and one single diagnostic procedure per benefit year.
Be sure to tell your eye doctor if your child has or displays any of the following:
- A history of prematurity
- Delayed motor development
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Excessive blinking
- Failure to maintain eye contact
- Inability to maintain a gaze ( fixation ) while looking at objects
- Poor eye tracking skills
Vision and Learning
Classroom learning islargely visual, so a comprehensive eye examination is essential to provide thefull assurance of vision and eye health that a simple eye-chart test or avision screening cannot.
While vision screening tests the ability to see clearly at a distance, a comprehensive eye exam looks at all aspects of a child’s vision function, including how well the eyes focus up close, how the eyes work together and the overall health of the eyes. 20/20 vision doesn’t mean perfect eye health!