Eye Health

Vision and eye health is important for a child’s overall health and well-being. Good vision helps children move, play, learn and be independent. If vision and eye problems are not treated, they can become serious and stop a child from reaching their full potential.

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Comprehensive eye exams

Children may not know they have vision or eye health problems because they think everyone sees the same way they do. Some eye issues also don’t have symptoms. Treating vision or eye health problems early helps prevent them from getting worse or harder to treat later. A comprehensive eye exam by a registered optometrist (eye doctor) is the best way to check for vision and eye problems.

A comprehensive eye exam looks at the child’s vision and eye health. This includes:

  • Checking the child’s health, school history, and family history of eye problems
  • Looking at the eyes for:
    • Seeing far and near
    • Depth perception (how far away things are)
    • Eye alignment (if the eyes look in the same direction)
    • Eye focusing and eye teaming (how well the eyes work together when reading or looking far away)
    • Eye health (checking for cataracts, glaucoma, and other problems)

After the eye exam, the eye doctor will be able to:

  • See if the child’s vision is developing like other children their age
  • Decide if the child needs glasses or other treatments

Learn more about why eye exams for children are important.

How often should infants and children get an eye exam?

The Ontario Association of Optometrists recommends that all children have their first eye exam at six months old, followed by once a year after that, or as recommended by the eye doctor.

Children and youth (0-19 years old) are covered for a free eye exam by an eye doctor every 12 months through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

Learn more about infants and children eye health exams on the Ontario Association of Optometrists website.

Find an eye doctor

You can find an optometrist (eye doctor) in your area using the College of Optometrists of Ontario Public Register.

If you need help finding an eye doctor in your area, please call Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-575-4400.

When you go to the appointment, remember to bring your child’s Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card. Children and youth (0-19 years old) are covered for a free eye exam by an eye doctor every 12 months through OHIP.

Free prescription glasses for children

The Eye See…Eye Learn®  program offered through the Ontario Association of Optometrists is available to children in Junior or Senior Kindergarten. If needed, Eye See…Eye Learn® will give eligible children one free pair of glasses, courtesy of participating optometrists and corporate partners.

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