Why are Children's Eye Exams Important?
While the answer to this question might seem fairly obvious, there may be a few reasons that surprise you. First and foremost your child's vision is critical to their safety. While we often hear about the importance of good vision when it comes to school performance, if your child has any vision problems it could put them in danger as they navigate this new and exciting world of theirs. Being able to see properly and having proper depth perception is extremely important when it comes to their safe mobility. In addition to being able to move around safely, health problems such as a lazy eye can be entirely corrected if it's found early enough and treated properly.
Now to the main one: your child's performance at school and ability to learn during crucial developmental years. Some of the vision skills your child will need to perform at their best include:
- Being able to see sufficiently at all distances
- Being able to move their eyes accurately
- Eye pairing skills that are comfortable and accurate
- Focusing skills that are comfortable and accurate
What are the Signs My Child Needs an Eye Exam?
As parents it's hardwired into our DNA to worry about our children and be vigilant about any changes in their behaviour. Chances are you'll know your child is having issues with their sight right away when they begin displaying uncharacteristic behaviour. Some of these include:
- Rubbing their eyes frequently
- Having issues maintaining eye contact
- Sudden performance issues at school
- Blinking excessively
You know your child best. If they begin displaying any of these behaviours you should call your NW eye doctor right away so they can examine your child's vision. Delaying the visit could lead to issues progressing further.
When Should My Child Have Their Eyes Examined?
Your Calgary kids eye doctor should see them annually once they're between the ages of 6 and 19. Younger children should see their NW eye doctor less frequently. For kids between the ages of 2 and 5 it's recommended they have at least one toddler vision test within that period, and newborns should have their first eye exam between 6 and 9 months. These guidelines have been determined by the Canadian Association of Optometrists, and because we like to think of ourselves as the best pediatric optomotrist Calgary has to offer, we adhere to them quite strictly.
How Much Does a Children's Eye Exam in Calgary Cost?
Nothing! Most new parents are quite surprised that Alberta Health Care covers the cost of comprehensive eye exams for all children before they turn 18. We do our best to inform parents of this so they don't see cost as a barrier to accessing the important vision care their child needs. Kindergarten-aged kids are also able to get a pair of glasses for free thanks to the Eye See ... Eye Learn program offered by the Alberta Association of Optometrists. There's no paperwork to fill out in order to access this program. All you have to do is call your Calgary childrens eye doctor and let them know you'd like to take part in the program. We'll handle the rest.
Alternatively, you can contact us at 403-286-4884 or fill in our online contact form.
