Kid's Vision FAQ

What Parents Need To Know!

Why is it important that my child have an eye examination before starting school? 80% of children in Alberta begin school without a comprehensive eye- health examination, yet vision problems are one of the major factors in limiting a child's ability to learn- good grades go hand in hand with good vision! 80% 0f learning is through vision!

My Child has an annual physical examination with the pediatrician or our family doctor; they usually have my child look at an eye chart, so I know my child has 20/20 vision- why should they have another examination?
This is probably the biggest misconception about vision and eye health. Do not assume that 20/20 vision means that your child has all the vision skills they need to learn, read and play successfully. A 20/20 vision score only means that your child can see at 20 feet what they should see at 20 feet- it does not relate to any of the vision skills needed for learning and is not a guarantee that your child's eyes are healthy and disease free.

Can a vision Problem Affect My Child's Learning Ability?
ABSOLUTELY! Many children with learning problems are mistakenly thought to be "learning disabled" or have behavioral challenges. It is estimated that 60% of students identified as having such difficulties have undetected vision problems.

How many kindergarten children have vision problems?
It is estimated that 1 out of 4 children begin grade One with an uncorrected or undiagnosed health or vision problems.

What vision problems could be detected by an eye examination?
Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are the most common vision conditions among children. The detection and treatment of lazy eyes and crossed eyes in a child's early years is critical as these conditions become more difficult and sometimes impossible to correct after the first 10 years of life. Poor visual skill performance is also common among young children, yet largely escapes detection if only 20/20 vision is being screened for. A comprehensive eye exam is required to determine visual skill performance problems, including poor eye coordination of the eyes, turned eye, eye-movement defects, below age level eye-hand co-ordination and focusing difficulties.

Won't my child tell me if they are having vision problems- wouldn't they mention headaches or blurry vision?
Most children rarely complain about blurred vision- they assume that the way their world looks is normal. Many times vision problems are not easily recognized by parents and children usually compensate by working harder, getting frustrated or avoiding tasks that are uncomfortable.

What will it cost to have my child's eyes examined?
The provincial government covers the cost of an eye- health examination for all children from age 0 to 18, inclusive in Alberta and from 0 to age 17, inclusive in Saskatchewan.

The information provided in this article and elsewhere on this website are for informational purposes only, and should NOT be considered a medical diagnosis or advice. When in doubt, please visit your local optometrist for a complete professional evaluation.