Eye Exams
Every child deserves the best vision possible. Better vision and eye health can help safeguard your child’s physical, social and academic development.
Yet few parents realize that eye exams, conducted by a Doctor of Optometry, are critical to their child’s health. They may assume that their child is too young for an exam, or that the screenings their child receives at school are sufficient, or that they need to wait until they notice something wrong before making an appointment.
The truth is that children need to have their eyes examined when they are as young as six months old, even if their eyes seem healthy and their vision appears normal, and even if there is no family history of eye problems. They should also be examined at three years of age, then again before they enter school, and regularly thereafter to ensure eye disorders and underlying health issues do not go undetected.
Vision screening is not enough
Unlike an optometric eye exam, screenings do not test for common vision conditions or assess eye health. While school vision screenings provide a valuable service, they are inadequate.
A thorough eye examination includes:
- A review of your child's health and vision history.
- Tests for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, colour perception, lazy eye, crossed-eyes, eye co-ordination, depth perception and focusing ability.
- An eye health examination.
Because a change in vision can occur without you or your child realizing it, have your child's eyes examined every year. Your care and concern for your child's vision can enrich his or her future while helping develop eye care habits for a lifetime of good vision. Contact your local BCAO member Doctor of Optometry today.
