Pediatric Eye Care
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends children have their eyes examined in:
The first year of life
Before starting pre-school
Each year thereafter
Children are our most precious asset. Experts report that 80% of learning is visual, however, most children will not verbalize that they cannot see well. Poor vision is simply an unnecessary barrier to learning. Very early detection and treatment of poor vision in children is important for visual development.
Children's eye examinations are covered by OHIP until 19 years of age. Our optometrists have completed residency (post-doctoral) training programs in pediatric optometry and binocular vision.
COMMON VISION PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN
Nearsightedness (or myopia)
occurs when the length of the eye or the curvature of the cornea (front of eye) is too great, preventing light from focusing on the retina. This leads to distance blur.
Astigmatism
occurs when the cornea (front of the eye) is oblong-shaped instead of round like an orange. This leads to distance and near blur.
Farsightedness (or hyperopia)
occurs when the length of the eye or the curvature of the cornea (front of eye) is less than normal, preventing light from focusing on the retina. This leads to near blur.
Strabismus
is a condition in which the eyes do not line up with one another. In other words, one eye is turned in a direction that is different from the other eye. Under normal conditions, the six muscles that control eye movement work together and point both eyes at the same direction. Eye alignment is critical for clear and comfortable vision.
Binocular and Functional Vision Assessment and Vision Therapy
Having 20/20 vision in each eye alone is not enough for comfortable and functional vision. We offer binocular and functional vision assessments which evaluate how patients use their day-to-day vision skills.
Functional vision focuses on how the patient can see, how the patient uses the two eyes together (eye teaming) and the efficiency of their visual system.
Our optometrists can make recommendations that can help caregivers and educators understand the extent of the patient’s visual abilities, even if the patient is non-verbal, and make appropriate modifications. Children with certain types of disabilities may be at greater risk for vision problems and should be thoroughly assessed with a functional vision assessment. Treatment options can vary and may include specialty glasses, vision therapy or a combination of treatments.
What is a Binocular Vision Assessment?
Nearly 10% of children suffer from eye conditions such as lazy or crossed eyes, eye coordination difficulty or even damage to the eye tissue. However, the symptoms associated with these conditions are not readily recognizable and most children will not verbalize that they are struggling.
A binocular vision assessment can identify such eye conditions and allow optometrists to intervene with vision therapy. Unlike traditional techniques, modern day vision therapy looks beyond the eyeballs to understand how vision works with the rest of the body. Various methods such as free space orthoptics or computerized orthoptics may be used to improve vision and visual function. Our optometrists will design a custom eye exercise program for your child to improve how their eyes work together. Our programs are solely rooted in evidence-based, scientific research. Vision therapy can improve the following eye conditions:
- Eye focusing
- Accommodative dysfunction
- Lazy eye (Amblyopia)
- Eye teaming
- Binocular dysfunction
- Vergence dysfunctions
- Eye tracking
- Oculomotor dysfunction
- Double vision (Diplopia)
- Strabismus (either eye turns in, out, up or down)
- Traumatic brain injury
- Concussion or stroke
