“Children easily adjust to their surroundings and often don't realize they cannot see clearly because they assume everyone sees the same way they do,” explains Amber Fournier, registered optician. “Over three-quarters of visual learning happens in the first 12 years of a child's life, so back-to-school is the perfect time for parents to book an eye exam for their child. It's important that kids are able to see the chalkboard and any print and online materials to help them succeed in the classroom.”
Experts recommend that school-aged children receive an eye exam once a year. Most provincial health programs cover the cost of an annual exam for children up to 18. A regular eye exam can be the difference between success and failure for a child, and can even help explain learning difficulties. For example, 60 per cent of learning disabilities are thought to stem from undiagnosed eye problems, and 60 per cent of children with reading difficulties may have an undiagnosed vision problem.