By school age, more than one in four children in Canada have a vision problem, a figure that is rising. To address this gap, Specsavers Canada is urging parents to make routine eye exams a regular part of their child's healthcare routine.
Vision Problems Common in Children
According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO), only about half of children under 19 receive eye exams as often as recommended. Many vision conditions are most effectively treated before age seven. The CAO recommends a first eye exam between six and nine months, a second between ages two and five, and annual exams thereafter.
The Wonder of Childhood Sight
"Kids experience the world with a unique sense of curiosity, imagination and wonder. Vision plays an important role in their development," said Naomi Barber, Clinical Services Director at Specsavers Canada. "Routine eye exams can help ensure they have the vision they need to learn and engage confidently with the world around them."
Regular exams can detect issues such as myopia (nearsightedness) early, allowing interventions to slow progression and support healthy vision.
Summer Campaign Launches
Specsavers Canada has launched a summer-long campaign celebrating how children see the world uniquely. Adapted from Specsavers UK's successful Wonder campaign, it highlights the statistic that more than 1 in 4 children have vision problems by school age. The campaign aims to encourage awareness of eye health from an early age.
"Many parents are surprised to learn how common vision problems can often be addressed when caught early," Barber added. "We want eye exams to feel like just another part of growing up so that kids get to fully experience the wonders of their world."
Accessible Eyecare Across Canada
Specsavers Canada, an optometrist-owned business that entered the Canadian market in late 2021, has opened more than 270 locations across nine provinces and one territory. Every location is equipped with optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology to detect sight-threatening conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease in their early stages.
For more information, visit specsavers.ca/kids.
