Angus Glen Optometry is a proud member of Eye See…Eye Learn®.   ESEL® provides comprehensive eye exams by local Doctors of Optometry to junior kindergarten students in participating school regions. The eye exams are covered under provincial health insurance (or OHIP) once annually when you show your child’s health card for ANY child. This means that there is no out-of-pocket cost for the eye exam.  If the child requires a pair of glasses, they will receive a FREE pair donated by Nikon Lenswear, OGI and Angus Glen Optometry. The value of the glasses is estimated over $250.

As a parent, when it comes to your child’s eye health, you want to make sure you know the signs of early vision problems.  If you think your child is might be having some trouble with their vision Book Your Appointment 

Q: At what age should a child get an eye exam?

We recommend having your child’s vision and eye health thoroughly checked at age 3 to assure they are seeing well by the time they start school.  However, should you notice any abnormal signs (squinting while watching TV, complaining about frequent headaches, noticeable eye turn) an earlier examination should be done.

Q: Doesn’t the school or pediatrician give eye exams?

NO. Pediatricians only perform a very basic screening, and also recommend an eye examination by an optometrist around age 3.  School screenings, though they are helpful in detecting some abnormalities, are not particularly thorough, and are not performed by doctors.

Q: Do you have to put dilation eye drops in and do they hurt?

Sometimes we use eye dilation drops that are gentle and can be administered by a spray mist for children who are a little nervous. Though the eye drops are not used in every eye examination, they can be extremely useful in determining the health of the back of the eye, as well as a child’s true visual acuity status.  The need for drops varies from patient to patient.

Q: Why is it so important for your baby or child to have their eyes checked?

The faster problems are detected, the better the treatment outcome. Also poor vision can affect a child’s learning and social development.  Often a child may be labeled as very shy or hyperactive because they have poor vision. Sometimes these labels and habits stay with a child even after their vision and behavior improves.