Health Department encourages parents to book eye examinations for school-aged children

Whitby, Ontario – Durham Region Health Department is reminding parents of school-aged children to book an appointment for their child with a local optometrist as vision screening is an important component of a child’s visual health.

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 (OHIP) covers a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist every year for children and youth 19 years old or younger.

“One in four school-age children may have a vision problem that, if left untreated, can affect their learning and development. Some of these problems can only be treated if found while children are young,” said Annette Mollon, a public health nurse with Durham Region Health Department.

Research has found that vision problems in young children may be hard to recognize, with 61 per cent of parents mistakenly believing they would be able to identify if their child was experiencing a vision or eye problem.

With the increased use of digital devices, it’s important to encourage regular breaks using the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, have your child look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

The Health Department has compiled a list of local optometrists in each Durham Region community to help parents find the support they may need. To obtain the list or for more information on the importance of eye examinations for children, please call Durham Health Connection Line at 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729. Information is also available at durham.ca/VisualHealth.

- 30 -

For more information please contact the Health Department.