Eye See…Eye Learn® provides comprehensive eye exams by local Doctors of Optometry to junior kindergarten students in participating school regions. The eye exams are covered under provincial health insurance (or OHIP) when you show your child’s health card. This means that there is no out-of-pocket cost for the eye exam.
If the child requires a pair of glasses, they will receive a FREE pair donated by Nikon Lenswear, OGI and your participating Doctor of Optometry. The value of the glasses is estimated over $250. The Eye See...Eye Learn® program was developed to raise awareness among parents of the importance of having their children's eyes checked upon starting school. Each year thousands of children start school without ever having an eye exam. Children may not know that they have a vision problem. They can't always tell you what they see. ! out of 4 children have a significant eye problem that can interfere with learning and development.
It wasn't until my 4 year old daughter started her first year of kindergarten , that we realized she had trouble with her eyesight. Up until that point, she had her eyes checked several times and hadn't shown any issues with being able to see. In fact even until this day she can identify letters and numbers standing from a few feet away.
I myself wear glasses. My eyesight is horrible. As a child , wearing glasses was not common, an definitely not the fashion statement it is today. With the technology of the times, they were unable to make my glasses any smaller or the lenses thinner. I suffered a barrage a insults from other children for needed to wear them. Don't get me wrong children being -well children, I'm sure if not my glasses , it would have been something else to make fun of . It was normal then kids were mean. But no one jumped up and called kids those days bullies. Unless they were in fact a "bully". Which in this humble Moms opinion is too often misused, and overused these days.
The one eyed wink had become a sort of signature move of hers, she would do it quite often. When she started school she began to do it even more. I spoke to her teachers . They were not noticing that she was having any difficultly with her vision. She had of course winked at them, but along with myself, thought it was Sophia being her cutesy self.
My Husband and I decided to watch her very carefully. After a few weeks time , we were convinced there was definitely a problem. In hindsight we should have just brought her in when we initially noticed there might be an issue, I think my fear of having her go through the same type of treatment as I did made me procrastinate the issue.
After her Exam, and subsequent follow-up, we ordered her first pair of glasses.
As The doctor knelt on the floor at her eye level and adjusted her new glasses, her first words while truly having clear vision ? " Big Head" with a giggle.
Of course my shocked reaction to this "name "calling was to tell her that wasn't nice. It had taken me a moment to realize she wasn't calling her a name. She was seeing things as they are for the first time.
Thankfully Sophia thinks wearing glasses is cool. She was very excited to get them. It meant she was special - different. What a great way of thinking, a lesson my 4 year old taught me.
Vision Checklist - Can your child see?
To find out more about the Eye See Eye Learn Program in Ontario - The program will be expanding to Northern Ontario in June 2015
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
