Children’s Eye Exams | Mississauga

Maintaining Healthy Vision in Children

Children should have regular eye exams, too. Not only is it vital to monitor their eye health and make sure they receive an eyeglass prescription if necessary, but eye exams also check for healthy visual development to make sure your child is meeting important milestones.

Children often struggle to express vision problems, as they may lack the knowledge of what clear and healthy vision looks like. They may believe that everyone sees the way they do.

Sometimes kids show signs of vision problems, such as tilting their head or covering an eye to see, or frequent squirting, eye rubbing, or complaints of headaches. Other times, you might not notice any signs of behaviour, but your child still may be experiencing a visual problem.

The most effective way to rule out, diagnose, and manage vision conditions is through routine comprehensive eye exams. Book your child’s appointment with us today.

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When Does My Child Need an Eye Exam?

Children should have regular eye exams, just like adults. Many vision problems emerge during childhood, like nearsightedness or farsightedness, as well as lazy eye (amblyopia) or crossed eyes (strabismus). Regular eye exams help identify these concerns and make sure your child’s eyesight is clear and comfortable.

We follow the guidelines set out by the Canadian Association of Optometrists, which recommend that children receive their first eye exam between 6 and 9 months old, at least one more exam between 2 and 5 years old, and annual eye exams after starting school.

In Ontario, children 19 years old and younger have annual eye exams covered by OHIP.

Common Vision Problems in Children

Children can experience issues with their visual acuity (how well their eyes see at a distance), from nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia). However, they may also experience other visual problems that require a comprehensive eye exam to detect, not just a vision screening.

Eye coordination issues, focusing difficulties, and tracking problems can lead to difficulties developing hand-eye coordination, smooth reading skills, depth perception, and spatial awareness.

A comprehensive eye exam at Arora Optometry includes checking their visual acuity, how well their eyes work together, whether they are meeting visual development milestones, and screening for amblyopia or strabismus. The earlier these vision problems are detected, the sooner we can treat or manage them.

Myopia and hyperopia are refractive errors, meaning they affect how light is focused in your eye. In individuals with myopia, distant objects appear blurry while close objects appear clear. The opposite is true for hyperopia, where distant vision is clearer than close vision.

Myopia, in particular, is becoming increasingly prevalent amongst children globally and is affecting children at younger ages. As part of our preventive approach to eye care, we provide myopia management to slow its progression during childhood.

Strabismus is a vision condition caused by eye muscles that are not properly aligned. Strabismus, also known as crossed eyes, can cause double vision or suppression of the image from the affected eye, impacting depth perception and spatiality.

Strabismus may cause one or both eyes to turn in, out, up or down. You might notice signs of strabismus in your child, but in some cases, the condition is more subtle. Diagnosis and treatment from an eye care professional are necessary to correct the problem and restore clear vision; strabismus does not get better on its own.

Amblyopia, commonly referred to as lazy eye, may occur as a result of untreated strabismus or a significant difference in prescriptions between the eyes. Over time, the connection between the affected eye and the brain weakens, resulting in amblyopia in that eye.

Amblyopia requires intervention from an optometrist to correct. Correction for amblyopia may include correcting vision with glasses and patching the stronger eye to reestablish and strengthen the connection between the weaker eye and the brain. In some cases, we may refer your child to a vision therapist.

How Vision Impacts Learning and Development

Children rely on their vision throughout classroom learning and general development. Whether they are learning how to read or write, adapting to social cues, or learning how to catch a ball, vision is involved.

When children experience vision problems, they can fall behind their peers in different skill sets. They may struggle to learn to read or track their eyes along the page. They may experience difficulties focusing their eyes while switching between the whiteboard and the worksheet on their desk. Or they may find sports difficult due to hand-eye coordination issues.

In each of these cases, an annual comprehensive eye exam can help. This exam allows your optometrist to review your child’s eye health, visual clarity, and visual function. By making sure your child’s vision is functioning well, you can help them achieve success in school, sports, or other extracurricular activities.

How Does Screen Time Impact Kids’ Vision

The increasing use of digital devices has an impact not only on our eyes but also on our kids. As devices become more integrated into schools, leisure time, and homework, it is important to understand the effects and help mitigate the problems that your children could face.

Children’s screen time should be monitored and limited to prevent issues like digital eye strain and poor sleep quality. Additionally, studies have shown links between children’s screen time and an increased risk of developing myopia.

However, we understand how difficult it can be to limit screen time. Dr. Arora is a parent herself and has experienced similar conversations with her child, who enjoys video games. She can relate to children and explain to them the importance of protecting their eyes while balancing time for games they love. She can provide tailored advice depending on the age of your child and the types of screens they typically use.

Protecting Their Vision for the Future

Routine eye exams for children are a vital part of their preventive healthcare plan. These exams can monitor and detect vision problems early for easier and more effective correction. It can also allow for vision-preserving treatments like myopia management, which helps to slow changes to their prescription and maintain their eye health long-term.

If it has been more than 1 year since your child’s last eye exam, it’s time for another one. Book their appointment with us today.

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