Here’s why The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends a child’s first eye exam to be between age 6-9 months. A comprehensive eye exam is more than just checking vision and reading letters (which we know your baby can’t do!). By looking inside your eyes, an optometrist can help detect potentially seriously health conditions such as brain tumours, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
May is Vision Health month!
Dr Lee is representing the Ontario Association of Optometrists at the Pri-Med Canada Exhibit, one of the largest medical conferences in Ontario. We’re meeting family physicians, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners and sharing the importance of eye health and vision care!
I have seen many kids who need glasses but the parents had no idea. They don’t tell you, because they don’t know what things are supposed to look like! That’s why it’s important to have a comprehensive eye exam because an optometrist can measure how light focuses in their eyes, even if they can’t read the letters.
All kids under the age of 20 are covered for one yearly exam under OHIP. Through the Eye See Eye Learn program, children in JK can receive a complimentary pair of glasses donated by Nikon and OGI.
Get your child’s eye tested and make sure they are well equipped for learning
Call (905) 666-4848 to book an appointment today!
Screen Addiction is Taking a Toll on Children
I see lots of kids in the exam room being handed a parent’s cellphone to entertain themselves when they should be observing the world around them, interacting with caregivers, and learning how to behave in public. Parents are just grateful to keep them calm, but are unaware of the potential harm from so much time spent in the virtual world.
Before age 2, children should not be exposed to any electronic media. Young children learn best by interacting with people, not screens. Older children and teenagers should spend no more than 1-2 hours per day with entertainment media, and should spend more free time playing outdoors, reading, doing hobbies, and using their imagination in free play. (Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics)
“[Kids] need time to daydream, deal with anxieties, process their thoughts and share them with parents, who can provide reassurance” – Dr. Steiner-Adair. “We’re [..] giving them distractions rather than teaching them how to self-soothe, to calm themselves down”
Read more on the NY Times blog:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/screen-addiction-is-taking-a-toll-on-children/
UV can cause some serious eye damage! Protecting your skin from sunburn and skin cancer is a no brainer, and it’s just as important to protect your eyes. Overexposure to UV rays has been linked to a variety of eye problems, including cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, corneal sunburn, and eyelid skin cancer. Here are some tips for staying safe in the sun:
Book an annual eye exam to identify early signs of UV damage to the eyes, and take the necessary precautions to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Dr. Lee can make recommendations to help you make sure your eyes are well-protected.