80% of a child’s learning occurs through their eyes

A child’s vision is constantly changing and developing from birth all through their school years making the children’s eye exam imperative to success and development. The eyes are a child’s most important learning tool and if it’s not functioning properly learning becomes difficult and stressful. This gets worse as a child progresses through the education system and school becomes more visually demanding. Your child may not always know that they have a vision disorder, that’s what we’re here for.  We use the latest non-invasive equipment at Market Mall to make the children’s eye exam fun for kids.

10 Signs Your Child May Have A Vision Disorder

  • Short attention span.

  • Frequent blinking or eye rubbing.

  • Sitting close to television.

  • Headaches.
  • Holding objects or reading close to their face.
  • Underachieving in school.
  • Tilting of the head and/or squinting while reading.
  • Covering an eye.
  • Losing place while reading.
  • Poor performance playing sports.
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Children’s Eye Exam for Infants

Doctors of Optometry Canada recommend that infants have their first eye exam at six months old and annually thereafter. Your local Market Mall optometrists have the ability to conduct a thorough pediatric children’s eye exam even if your child hasn’t learned numbers or the alphabet yet. We use pictures, shapes and other child-friendly ways to assess eye health. These are two conditions in infants that we can screen for at 6 months of age.

  1. Strabismus – Or crossed eyes need to be treated with glasses, contact lenses, surgery or vision therapy after 6 months of age. Left untreated the affected eye may lose its functionality.
  2. Lazy Eye – Low vision quality or loss of vision in one eye due to uncorrected prescription. It can be treated successfully and completely if detected and treated before eight years of age, treatment becomes difficult later on. Left untreated lazy eye can lead to blindness in the affected eye. Treatment options include vision therapy, eyeglasses, contact lenses, or patching.
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Children’s Eye Exam for TODDLERS

Doctors of Optometry Canada recommend that toddlers get an eye exam before starting kindergarten, and annually thereafter to ensure peak eye health and development. Between ages one and two it’s critical children develop depth perception along with hand-eye coordination. Here are some activities that can help their visual development.

  • Painting.

  • Playing with building blocks.

  • Sorting and assembling.

  • Drawing and coloring.

These activities are essential to your toddlers’ visual development. Remember the 10 symptoms of visual problems and book an appointment with a pediatric optometrist in Calgary if you notice these symptoms.

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School Aged Childrens’ eye exam

It is crucial that parents monitor their child’s vision during school age. As school becomes more visually demanding you must keep an eye out for symptoms of visual disorders as children may not notice these changes. Conditions that may develop at this age include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These conditions can greatly affect your child’s potential if left untreated. A children’s eye exam with your pediatric optometrist in Calgary includes:

  • Visual acuity – Determining the clarity of your child’s vision using letter charts.
  • Color test – Objects hidden in patterns and colors are a non-intrusive way to test for color blindness.
  • Slit lamp – A powerful microscope allowing your Calgary optometrist to view the cornea, iris, lens and blood vessels.
  • Phoropter – Testing of your child’s vision by allowing them to view objects using different lenses to determine if glasses are necessary.

  • Stereopsis – A variety of tests to determine if your child’s eyes are working together.

  • Binocular Vision Testing – A variety of tests determining functionality of the extraocular muscles.

Notice Symptoms of Eye Disorder In Your Child?

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