UV Protection and Children

Keep Kids' Eyes Healthy. Children should wear sunglasses for UV protection.

The structures at the front of a child's eyes allow more UV transmission to their retinas than an adult. Children also typically spend more time outdoors on average compared to adults. Because of this, children have been estimated to get 80% of their lifetime UV exposure to the retinas at the back of their eyes by the time they are 18 years old. Excessive UV exposure may increase a child's chance of developing cataracts and macular degeneration later in life.

Neuroplasticity and Children

Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the neurological system to change and develop in response to various stimuli in the environment. The neuroplasticity of the oculo-visual system is believed to peak at about 3 years of age. This is one of the primary reasons why it important to examine and monitor children at a very young age. If required, early intervention such as to treat amblyopia (lazy eye) is much more successful.

Children's Vision

Every Child, Every Year!

It is recommended by the Canadian Association of Optometrists that all children have their first eye examination by 6 months of age.

It is our belief that vision is a critical and integral component to a child's overall well-being and development. Many parents are often unaware that the early detection of eye conditions such as strabismus (turned eye) or amblyopia (lazy eye) allows for better outcomes of the management of these conditions. For this reason, we recommend oculo-visual examinations for every child, every year beginning at 6 months of age. The child should be examined sooner if any problems are noticed or there is a significant family history of eye conditions. Children do not have to be able to read or even to speak to have an eye exam.

Infants and Toddlers (birth to 2 years 11 months)

When examining your baby careful observation is made of their eye movements, eye coordination, and eye power. The internal and external eye health is also evaluated. An infant eye exam assesses similar oculo-visual systems to an adult's eye exam but with modified techniques and methods appropriate for a baby.

While a child's developmental changes occur most rapidly from birth to age two, the later toddler stage also sees many new skills learned. Vision integrates with the other senses to help toddlers explore their world. Methods of examination at this age may be different depending on your child's visual skills and abilities. Findings are assessed in relation to age-related developmental milestones of the oculo-visual system.

Pre-School Children (3 years to 5 years 11 months)

The visual system of pre-school children should be developing towards adult levels of visual ability and function. By this age children can be examined with methods very similar to those used during an adult examination with modifications as needed depending on their individual abilities. For example, visual acuities (the size of detail that can be seen) can usually be measured fairly accurately using special children's charts.

School Age Children (6 to 18 years old)

The school years can be very demanding on the visual system, both when learning to read and when reading to learn. Visual problems can greatly impede a child's progress in school. One estimate is that one out of every six children has a learning difficulty that can be attributed to a vision problem. As learning can be greatly affected by vision, we recommend comprehensive oculo-visual examinations for every child, every year to help ensure their success and maintain their ocular health.