What to know
- CNIB has launched a national Back-to-School Eye Exam campaign encouraging parents to book comprehensive eye exams for their children.
- About 25 per cent of school-age children have vision problems, according to CNIB, but many conditions can go undetected because children may not realize or be able to explain that they are having trouble seeing.
- Vision problems can affect concentration, reading and classroom learning, and may sometimes be mistaken for behavioural or learning issues.
- A CNIB expert says early detection is important because some common childhood eye conditions are most successfully treated at a young age.
- CNIB recommends a first eye exam as early as six months, another by 24 months, one before starting school between ages two and five, and annual exams from ages six to 19.
- In Ontario, OHIP covers annual eye exams for children and youth up to age 19, regardless of whether they have an eye condition.
As summer vacations come to an end, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) is warning parents that bringing their children for an eye exam should be at the top of their back-to-school checklist.
The non-profit organization has launched a national Back-to-School Eye Exam campaign to inform parents about the importance of regular eye exams to their children’s development and education.
Why should parents bring their children for eye exams?
Suzanne Decary, the senior vice president of programs at CNIB, tells Now Toronto that while 25 per cent of school-age children have vision problems, a recent study revealed that only a small percentage of them had an eye exam before they entered kindergarten.
Meanwhile, 61 per cent of Canadians said they believe they would know if their children were having vision problems, the reality is that many might go undiagnosed, according to the expert.
“Many eye conditions don’t really have a lot of signs and symptoms in the early stages, and that’s why it’s so important to get a comprehensive eye exam,” Decary said.
“Many kids have trouble seeing, but they don’t know that they’re having trouble seeing because they don’t have the language for that yet to be able to express it, or they don’t know that other kids are able to see things further in the distance than they are.”
Eye conditions can get on the way of school development
According to the CNIB, up to 80 per cent of classroom learning is visual, making healthy eyesight an important part of their school experience.
A lot of the time, Decary said visual impairments are first observed in school, including through behaviour issues or learning disabilities.
“Teachers will notice things like the child is distracted, the child loses concentration quickly. Maybe [they are] talking to their friends and not paying attention,” she said.
“A lot of people might assume that there’s something else going on, but that could really be that they’re disengaged because they’re not able to see the board, or they’re straining to read the textbook that’s in front of them, or from the computer screen that’s in front of them.”
By bringing their children to an eye exam before the school year starts, parents can also help set up their children for academic success by allowing them to address any conditions and access needed support.
Early detection is critical
In addition to making a difference in their school success, early detection of eye conditions can make a big difference in the success of the treatment.
According to the non-profit organization, many common eye conditions are most successfully treated by the age of seven. One of these common conditions is amblyopia, popularly known as lazy eye, which can be completely treated by that age.
“The treatment for that is a patch over the eye to work the muscles to bring the line of vision back to where it needs to be,” Decary said.
“If you wait until after the age of seven, the treatment is not as effective, and in many cases, you can have some permanent visual impairment as a result of it. But it can be pretty much completely corrected before the age of seven.”
Eye exams are safe and covered
Another common misconception about eye exams, according to Decary, is that they can be uncomfortable for children. However, the expert says the exam is safe and often even fun for kids.
“It’s their favourite medical appointment that they have. It can actually be very relaxing. You’re in a dark space and you’re being asked to [test] the visual acuity, so you’re looking to see how far in the distance a child can see,” she said.
The exam usually consists of checking children’s eyes, testing their vision, checking for tunnel vision, and even looking at the back of their retina for any alarming signs.
How frequently should eye exams happen
According to Decary, eye exams should be a common item in children’s annual back-to-school checklist.
The CNIB recommends parents bring their children for their first eye exam as early as six months after birth and at least once by 24 months of age.
They should then have another eye exam before they enter school, between the ages of two and five.
After they start school it is recommended they come back for an eye exam every year between six and 19 years old.
As explained by the expert, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) covers the cost of annual eye exams for children up to 19 years old, regardless of condition. The plan can also help parents deal with treatment and glasses costs.
“Make sure that your child is having a yearly eye exam. Ensure that they have an eye exam before they enter school for the first time, and then every year after,” Decary said. “It’s your most important back to school item on that checklist.”
