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.
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. We can also help address common vision concerns in children, like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes).
Book their appointment today to help 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:
- 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 can be beneficial for your child’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 your child’s eye exam today!
Valuable Visual Skills
Children aren’t born with the visual skills they need—they develop them over time.
Good visual skills can help set your child up for success. 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.
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 help your child develop healthy visual skills, 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.
Kids can experience signs or symptoms that may not seem visual—like tiredness, poor concentration, or difficulty keeping their place while reading. They may develop vision problems standard glasses can’t correct alone, like strabismus (eye-turn) or amblyopia (lazy eye), which can affect how their vision develops.
Bringing your child for regular eye exams lets us establish that baseline so we take the time to evaluate their symptoms. By detecting vision problems early on, we can give them appropriate support—whether they need glasses or other personalized care. Book their appointment today!
Request AppointmentVisit Our Location
Find us on the corner of Douglas and Alpha, just north of the Mayfair Shopping Centre.
Our Address
- 3196 Douglas Street
- Victoria, BC V8Z 3K6
Contact Information
- Phone: 250-361-4444
- Fax: 250-361-4424
- Email: [email protected]
Our Hours
Hours
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
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Ask the Doctor
EducationQuestion: My mother sees an ophthalmologist a few times a year to monitor her glaucoma. We have a strong family history of this disease on both sides of the family, but I do not have any signs of developing it yet. Should I be seeing an ophthalmologist or my family optometrist for routine checkups in […]
What is the difference between cheap sunglasses and optical- quality sunglasses?
Sun GlassesQuestion: What is the difference between cheap sunglasses and optical- quality sunglasses? Answer: Inexpensive sunglasses and optical-quality sunglasses may look similar at first glance, but there are some key differences between the two. One of the main differences is in the quality of the lenses. Optical-quality sunglasses use high-quality lenses that are designed to protect your eyes […]
I have never worn contact lenses before
Contact LensesQuestion: I have never worn contact lenses before, but would like to wear them when I am exercising. How do I go about finding the right ones for me? Answer: Contact lenses are an excellent option for those who require a prescription, but cannot or do not want to wear glasses. There are many factors that go […]
Ask the Doctor
Question: My mother sees an ophthalmologist a few times a year to monitor her glaucoma. We have a strong family history of this disease on both sides of the family, but I do not have any signs of developing it yet. Should I be seeing an ophthalmologist or my family optometrist for routine checkups in […]
What is the difference between cheap sunglasses and optical- quality sunglasses?
Question: What is the difference between cheap sunglasses and optical- quality sunglasses? Answer: Inexpensive sunglasses and optical-quality sunglasses may look similar at first glance, but there are some key differences between the two. One of the main differences is in the quality of the lenses. Optical-quality sunglasses use high-quality lenses that are designed to protect your eyes […]
I have never worn contact lenses before
Question: I have never worn contact lenses before, but would like to wear them when I am exercising. How do I go about finding the right ones for me? Answer: Contact lenses are an excellent option for those who require a prescription, but cannot or do not want to wear glasses. There are many factors that go […]
Land Acknowledgement
We respect and acknowledge the lək̓ʷəŋən People, a subset of the Coast Salish, also known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, on whose territory we do our work. Our clinic recognizes the colonization, attitudes, and systems that have been put in place that have drastically altered Indigenous Peoples relationship with the land.
We as a team recognize the importance of educating ourselves on the systemic oppression of settler generations that has greatly changed the lives of Indigenous Peoples. We place the utmost importance on reconciliation and will continue to aid in this effort however we can.
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Mayfair Optometric Clinic
- 3196 Douglas Street
- Victoria, BC V8Z 3K6
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P: 250-361-4444
[email protected]