Educating children and youth on vision health is important as it is especially crucial during childhood and teenage years as eyes are growing and changing rapidly during this time.
Good vision is also key to social and emotional development. Healthy eyes and good vision are essential to carry out basic daily activities such as learning to read and write, playing sports, completing schoolwork, and staying safe.
Many vision problems begin at young ages; therefore, children should be getting regular eye exams to ensure their eyes are healthy and functioning properly. It is recommended that infants should have their first eye exam done between 6 to 9 months of age, then at 2-5 years old their second eye exam, followed by an eye exam every year after to ensure problems can be caught early if they arise. The cost of an annual eye exam for children and youth (aged 0 to 19 years) is covered under OHIP, if the child has a valid OHIP card. To find an optometrist in your area, visit the Ontario Association of Optometrists.
In Canada, nearly 25% of school-aged children have vision problems (Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO), 2019). Each year in Ontario, approximately 3% to 5% of children (4000 to 7000) experience vision loss and left untreated can lead to poor performance in school. Some Canadian studies suggest that about 1 in 5 children aged 3–6 years have a visual problem such as amblyopia (lazy eye) or significant refractive errors (i.e., myopia or astigmatism) (Nishimura, Wong, Dimaris, and Maurer, 2020). Yet only 14% of Ontario children under six years of age access government funded comprehensive eye exams (CAO, 2019).
Parents and teachers can help children with being aware of common vision problems. There are 4 relatively common vision problems seen in children. These include refractive errors, amblyopia, strabismus, and convergence insufficiency.
Using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework, schools, school boards, parents and community partners can work together to develop healthy school environments that promote and support student well-being.
Vision health resources and supports are organized below following this framework.
Resources & Information for:
Lessons and Activities
- American Optometric Association – Resources for Teachers: Provides teachers with information on why students may be struggling to read in the classroom. Also provides free classroom handouts and exercises, and activity sheets.
- Kids Health in the Classroom: Provides lesson plans, activities and quizzes on vision health for all grades (pre-school to high school)
- Wise About Eyes – Vision and Eye Health Resources: This provides two classroom curricula options, both of which allows teachers to provide their students age-appropriate eye health and safety information and to help them begin to adopt healthy lifestyle choices related to their eyes.
- National Eye Institute (NEI) for Kids: A fun interactive website providing children with eye health and safety information, games, and videos on how their eyes work.
Resources
- Seeing Smart: Your Child’s Vision: An infographic that outlines key information about caring for their child’s vision health
- Canadian Association of Optometrists’ Eye Health Library: A variety of articles and videos on vision issues that may be helpful to parents.
- Children and their Vision: What parents and Teacher Need to Know – Vision Institute of Canada: Provides parents with tips to promote their child’s vision health, myths and facts about vision, and a timeline that their child should be following in regard to their vision development.
- McMaster Children’s Hospital – Ophthalmology Clinic: Provides parents with resources on various vision health topics including glaucoma in children, opening tear passages, wearing an eye patch.
Community Programs
- OHIP – Free Eye Exam: Children and youth 19 years old and younger are eligible for one comprehensive eye exam annually covered under OHIP.
- Eye See…Eye Learn Program: In Ontario, children starting junior or senior kindergarten, who need glasses, may qualify for one free pair of glasses. An eye exam is required and must be with a participating optometrist. If required, the child will be provided with one pair of glasses, at an estimated value of over $300 courtesy of participating optometrists and corporate partners.
To learn more about the program and how to enroll visit: www.EyeSeeEyeLearn.ca (Information available in several languages including Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and others)
Resources
- Seeing Smart: Your Child’s Vision: An infographic that outlines key information about caring for their child’s vision health
- Canadian Association of Optometrists’ Eye Health Library: A variety of articles and videos on vision issues that may be helpful to parents.
- Children and their Vision: What parents and Teacher Need to Know – Vision Institute of Canada: Provides parents with tips to promote their child’s vision health, myths and facts about vision, and a timeline that their child should be following in regard to their vision development.
- McMaster Children’s Hospital – Ophthalmology Clinic: Provides parents with resources on various vision health topics including glaucoma in children, opening tear passages, wearing an eye patch.
Community Programs
- OHIP – Free Eye Exam: Children and youth 19 years old and younger are eligible for one comprehensive eye exam annually covered under OHIP.
- Eye See…Eye Learn Program: In Ontario, children starting junior or senior kindergarten, who need glasses, may qualify for one free pair of glasses. An eye exam is required and must be with a participating optometrist. If required, the child will be provided with one pair of glasses, at an estimated value of over $300 courtesy of participating optometrists and corporate partners.
To learn more about the program and how to enroll visit: www.EyeSeeEyeLearn.ca (Information available in several languages including Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and others)
Resources
- Seeing Smart: Your Child’s Vision: An infographic that outlines key information about caring for their child’s vision health
- Canadian Association of Optometrists’ Eye Health Library: A variety of articles and videos on vision issues that may be helpful to parents.
- Children and their Vision: What parents and Teacher Need to Know – Vision Institute of Canada: Provides parents with tips to promote their child’s vision health, myths and facts about vision, and a timeline that their child should be following in regard to their vision development.
- McMaster Children’s Hospital – Ophthalmology Clinic: Provides parents with resources on various vision health topics including glaucoma in children, opening tear passages, wearing an eye patch.
Community Programs
- OHIP – Free Eye Exam: Children and youth 19 years old and younger are eligible for one comprehensive eye exam annually covered under OHIP.
- Eye See…Eye Learn Program: In Ontario, children starting junior or senior kindergarten, who need glasses, may qualify for one free pair of glasses. An eye exam is required and must be with a participating optometrist. If required, the child will be provided with one pair of glasses, at an estimated value of over $300 courtesy of participating optometrists and corporate partners.
To learn more about the program and how to enroll visit: www.EyeSeeEyeLearn.ca (Information available in several languages including Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and others)