Focusing on Your Family
It’s never too early to focus on your children’s eye health and vision. Their sense of sight is important at every age and every stage of development.
Not to worry if your child is nervous about their eye exam. Our optometrists are experienced with children and can put them at ease. Many kids even think their eye exams are fun! And, if your child does need glasses, we offer a wide selection of colours and styles that will make them smile.
Book their appointment today to set them up for success—and a lifetime of healthy vision.
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When Do Children Need Eye Exams?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that children have exams at the following intervals:
- A comprehensive exam to establish a baseline between the ages of 6 and 9 months
- Another comprehensive exam as they grow and develop between the ages of 2 and 5
- Annual, comprehensive exams from age 6 and continuing until adulthood
Proper vision is essential for children’s success—in life and in academics. Beyond just seeing what’s in front of them at school, visual skills are needed for social, cognitive, and motor skill development.
Book their eye exam today!
Book AppointmentValuable Visual Skills
Children aren’t born with the visual skills they need—they develop them over time, just like they develop the ability to walk and talk.
Good visual skills are essential to learning. Approximately 80% of what children learn happens through their vision. Whether it’s reading, interacting with other kids, throwing a ball around outside, or seeing what the teacher writes on the board, eyesight is involved.
If you want to set them up for success, it’s essential that visual skills develop normally. Children who start school with undiagnosed vision problems may struggle to keep up in class. They may be misdiagnosed with ADHD or another behavioural disorder.
Undiagnosed vision problems can also lead to:
- Learning at a slower rate than their peers
- Behavioural and disciplinary problems
- Higher risk of dropping out of school
Stages of Sight
There are many milestones in a baby’s visual progression. Here’s what to expect at some important stages:
- Birth to 1 Month: Your baby should be staring at bright lights or faces, albeit for a short period.
- 1 to 3 Months: They’ll begin to look toward sounds and follow objects horizontally.
- 3 to 5 Months: Babies begin to reach for objects and see differences between colours.
- 5 to 7 Months: Hand-eye coordination will begin to develop, and your baby should start looking at distant objects.
- 7 to 12 Months: Depth perception, focusing, and other visual skills should be developed, and your baby might begin to copy facial expressions they see.
As children get older, you can help encourage their healthy visual development by playing look-and-find games like Where’s Waldo, doing word searches and maze games together, and limiting their screen time.
To ensure your child is developing visual skills at the appropriate pace, be sure to bring them in for comprehensive eye exams.
How Do I Know If My Child Needs Glasses?
If they are experiencing a vision issue, children are often unable to articulate the problem—they might not even know there is a problem. Unlike adults, children have not established a baseline of what proper vision looks like for them.
Bringing your child for regular eye exams can help establish that baseline. We can help detect any vision problems early on. Book their appointment today!
Book AppointmentVisit Our Location
Come see us in the Crossroads Plaza shopping centre! Free parking is available in the large lot just outside our front doors.
Our Address
- 11-1070 Innisfil Beach Rd.
- Innisfil, ON L9S 4T9
Contact Information
Direct Line: 705-294-2020
- Phone: 705-300-2633
- Fax: 705-294-5445
- Email: [email protected]
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: Open some Saturdays*
- Sunday: Closed
*Please call to confirm availability.
Our Brands
Your eyeglasses can sharpen your vision and your style. The spectacle selection at Alcona Eye Care Centre offers something for everyone. From updating your child’s prescription for back-to-school or trying a new look to express yourself, we’ll be your guide to eyewear fashion and fit.
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Our Blogs
How Often Should You Get an Eye Exam?
Eye Exams, Eye HealthDo you know when your last eye exam was? Chances are, if it’s been more than a year or two, you are due for a visit with your eye doctor. In general, it is recommended that most people get a comprehensive eye exam every 1-2 years. However, depending on your individual vision and health needs, […]
How Do Contact Lenses Work?
Contact LensesContact lenses are a vision correction devices placed directly on the eye’s surface. They alter the way light enters the eyes to provide clear vision. They have become increasingly popular over the years due to their convenience and ability to provide clear vision without needing to wear eyeglasses. Contact lenses can be safe and easy […]
Vitamins for Dry Eye: Supplements for Relief
Dry Eye, Eye HealthNearly 30% of Canadians will experience dry eye symptoms due to various contributing factors. A dry eye condition can result in some discomfort in your eyes, making it challenging to carry on with your daily tasks. Supplements containing Vitamins A, B12, or D, have been known to help relieve dry eye symptoms, making them attractive […]
How Often Should You Get an Eye Exam?
Do you know when your last eye exam was? Chances are, if it’s been more than a year or two, you are due for a visit with your eye doctor. In general, it is recommended that most people get a comprehensive eye exam every 1-2 years. However, depending on your individual vision and health needs, […]
How Do Contact Lenses Work?
Contact lenses are a vision correction devices placed directly on the eye’s surface. They alter the way light enters the eyes to provide clear vision. They have become increasingly popular over the years due to their convenience and ability to provide clear vision without needing to wear eyeglasses. Contact lenses can be safe and easy […]
Vitamins for Dry Eye: Supplements for Relief
Nearly 30% of Canadians will experience dry eye symptoms due to various contributing factors. A dry eye condition can result in some discomfort in your eyes, making it challenging to carry on with your daily tasks. Supplements containing Vitamins A, B12, or D, have been known to help relieve dry eye symptoms, making them attractive […]
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Alcona Eye Care Centre
- 11-1070 Innisfil Beach Rd.
- Innisfil, ON L9S 4T9
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P: 705-300-2633
F: 705-294-5445
[email protected]