It’s never too early to have your child’s eyes examined.
Children may struggle in school if they cannot clearly see the teacher, see the writing on the whiteboard, have difficulty changing their visual focus from far to near distance, or have problems following words in a book or on a tablet. It is important that children have a chance to achieve their full learning potential, beginning with the best vision possible.
Having the best vision possible is very important for learning and development. Unfortunately, as many as 1 in 4 children have a vision problem that may impair their ability to learn. Many children are unable to identify whether they have a vision problem due to not knowing what “normal” vision is.
The Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists facilitates an awareness program to educate teachers, children, and parents/guardians on the importance of identifying and treating vision problems early so that children have a better chance to learn and develop. Saskatchewan Health covers the cost of annual eye exams for all children under the age of 18.
Find an Optometrist
Recommended Frequency of Eye Exams
| Birth – 2 years | Infants and toddlers should undergo their first eye examination between the ages of 6 and 9 months |
| 2 – 5 years | Preschool children should undergo at least one eye examination between the ages of 2 and 5 years |
| 6 – 19 years | School children aged 6 to 19 years should undergo an eye examination annually |
| 20 – 39 years | Adults aged 20 to 39 years should undergo an eye examination every 2 to 3 years |
| 40 – 64 years | Adults aged 40 to 64 years should undergo an eye examination every 2 years |
| 65 years+ | Adults aged 65 years or older should undergo an eye examination annually |
Resources
Children’s Vision & Screen Time
Jordan’s Principle