Children’s Eye Exam Overview (Ages 0-12)
Routine eye exams by an optometrist are important to ensure that your child is seeing and performing their best at school. Uncorrected vision problems can lead to headaches, excessive day dreaming, struggling to keep up at school and poor reading comprehension.
For teenagers ages 12-18, please visit our Teenage Eye Exam section.
Children's Eye Examination
Cost: Covered under Alberta Health Care*
Frequency: Annually
Eye Examination includes:
- Detailed patient history
- Visual acuity
- Colour vision screening
- Depth perception screening
- Binocularity testing
- Prescription for eyeglasses
- Eye health evaluation
Book your child's eye exam now >>>
Infants & Toddlers (Age 0-3)
Kids should have their first eye exam by the age of 3. If you or your child’s pediatrician has any concerns or there is a strong family history of eye problems, our optometrists will happily see patients of any age – even babies!
Kindergarten – Free Eyeglasses
A very special program called Eye See… Eye Learn provides one pair of free eyeglasses to children in Kindergarten if they are prescribed by an eye doctor. Eye See… Eye Learn is provided by the Alberta Association of Optometrists, the Government of Alberta, and eye-bar optometrists to ensure all kids have the vision correction required to see, learn and excel in school. Consider this fact: 25% of grade school children have vision problems that limit their potential and that 1 out of every 4 children begin grade one with an uncorrected or undiagnosed eye health or vision problem.
If your child is entering or enrolled in kindergarten, look for the Eye See...Eye Learn package in your childs welcome package. Book an eye exam for your child with an eye doctor at eye-bar.
Kids (Ages 4-12)
Every kid should have an annual eye exam (these eye exams are covered by Alberta Health Care). Routine eye exams are essential because kids rarely complain about vision problems because they assume everyone sees like them. For example, a child with excess farsightedness may easily spot a Toys R’ Us a mile away, but struggle with reading or seeing the puck in a hockey game. Uncorrected vision problems can lead to headaches, excessive day dreaming, struggling to keep up at school and poor reading comprehension. Beyond testing a child’s visual system, routine eye exams may identify weaknesses and health issues that need to be addressed during important developmental years.
Sunglasses for your Kids: An Absolute Must
Until we reach our 20s, our eyes let in way more damaging light than older eyes. Ultraviolet light is the main culprit (primary sources are the sun and reflected sunlight on water, sand, snow and roads). This makes sunglasses essential for protecting young eyes. Every child should have a pair of quality sunglasses.
* If you do not have Alberta Health Care, standard professional fees apply
