Eye exams play an important role in a child's overall health

With the school year well underway there’s one appointment you don’t want to miss and that’s for your child’s eye exam.

Durham Region Health Department reminds parents that vision screening is a key part of your child’s overall health and plays an important role in their success in both school and in life.

Research shows that one in four school-aged children may have a vision problem and many of these concerns don’t have obvious symptoms. If left untreated, these issues can affect learning, development, and even lead to long-term vision loss. That’s why regular eye exams are so important.

The Ontario Association of Optometrists recommends that children should have their first eye examination at six-months old, another examination between two and three years old and then every year starting at age four. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan covers a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist every year for children and youth 19 years old or younger.

If you need help finding an optometrist, Durham Region Health Department has a list of local providers in every community. Just call the Durham Health Connection Line at 1-800-841-2729 or visit durham.ca/VisualHealth for more information.