Children’s Eye Exams | Oakville, ON

Vision Protection for Your Children’s Future

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and every village needs a qualified eye care professional.

At Bronte Village Eye Care, we provide comprehensive eye care tailored to the needs of little eyes. Whether your child is nearsighted and needs myopia control or is ready to get glasses or contact lenses for the first time, we’re committed to providing exceptional care for all their needs.

Book your child’s eye exam today.

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How Often Does My Child Need an Eye Exam?

We follow the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) recommended exam schedule for children, which states:

Infants should have their first eye exam between 6 and 9 months old.
Children should have a second eye exam between the ages of 2 and 5.
Once they start school, children should have annual eye exams.

Your child’s recommended exam frequency may vary if they have any vision problems. If you notice your child squinting, holding objects close to their face, or complaining of a headache, you should bring them in for an exam.

Why Do Children Need Eye Exams?

Regularly scheduled eye exams are just as vital for children as they are for adults. Taking your child for comprehensive eye exams helps monitor their vision and detect any potentially serious conditions before they can damage their eyesight.

Many vision problems are easily mistaken for learning disabilities. Children may struggle to explain their vision problems. In fact, they may not even recognize that they have a problem, since they may not know what healthy vision looks like.

Since 80% of what children learn is visual, regular eye exams represent an investment in their future success. We recommend taking your child in for their first eye exam when they are 6 months old. This will allow their optometrist to diagnose any ocular health problems or visual issues and deal with them effectively. We recommend bringing your child in sooner if you have any concerns about their vision.

What Happens During Children’s Eye Exams?

When you bring your child for an eye exam, we will typically:

Ask questions about their personal and family medical history to identify risk factors. Depending on the age of your child, this conversation may be directly with you or with you and your child together.
Test their visual acuity, refraction, binocular vision, and the overall health of their eyes. We use the Plusoptix Autorefractor to measure your child’s prescription, even as an infant or toddler. This allows us to provide your child with clear vision even before they can read or speak!
Identify and prescribe any vision correction devices or medication that your child needs.
Teach you and your child about eye health and how to safeguard it.
Respond to any other questions or concerns that you or your child has.

When you take your child to their exam, don’t forget to bring any pair of glasses or contact lenses that they currently use, so we can prescribe replacements if necessary.

What’s the Deal with Childhood Myopia?

You may have heard the term myopia control and wondered what it is. Myopia control is a preventive technique designed to slow the progression of myopia during childhood.

Myopia is the medical term for nearsightedness, which is a common vision problem seen in children and adults across Canada and the world. Despite how common nearsightedness is, it’s not harmless.

In nearsighted children, myopia can affect how the eye grows and develops. Often, childhood myopia leads to the eyeball growing too long, which worsens vision and increases the risk of vision-threatening conditions later in life.

Myopia control is designed to slow the progression of myopia and prevent the eye from growing as rapidly. This not only helps preserve your child’s vision but also reduces their risk of future eye conditions.

Myopia control cannot reverse changes to your child’s vision; it can only prevent and slow future changes. Therefore, it’s most effective when started as soon as signs of myopia appear. If your child is nearsighted, ask us about our myopia control options at their next exam.bring any pair of glasses or contact lenses that they currently use, so we can prescribe replacements if necessary.

Learn More About Myopia Control

Give Your Children the Gift of Strong, Healthy Vision

Comprehensive eye exams are a critical part of helping your children grow up happy, safe, and prepared for success. At Bronte Village Eye Care, our friendly team uses methods to keep your child comfortable and at ease while accurately assessing the health of their eyes.

Help your child see clearly for many years to come. Book their appointment with our practice today.

Book Appointment