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Seeing is Believing How an eye exam can maximize your childs potential Make sure your child is prepared to succeed by having their eyes examined before they start school. The role of vision in learning ?Your childs vision is vital in developing skills such as: ? U H D G L Q J ? F R S \ L Q J ? K D Q G H \ H F R R U G L Q D W L R Q ? V R F L D O V N L O O V ?More than 80 per cent of learning is done through the eyes. ?Children with poor vision often find it difficult to focus on their work and may be misdiagnosed as having a learning or behavioural disability. One in six children has a vision problem significant enough to impair their ability to learn. Focusing on Healthy Development Regular eye exams can detect health problems and conditions such as a turned or lazy eye in the early stages. These conditions may be treated successfully if an optometrist diagnoses them early in a childs life; if they go undetected, they can lead to permanent sight loss. When should children have their eyes examined? To help children maintain healthy vision, they should have their eyes examined at six months of age, at three years of age and then every twelve months or as recommended by your optometrist. What if my child cant read yet? Eye examinations can be done at any age, even before your child knows how to speak let alone knows the alphabet. Wont my child have a vision screening in school? Vision screening programs are no longer a common practice, and are not a replacement for a comprehensive examination by an optometrist. In fact, as many as 43% of children with vision problems are able to pass a vision screening. How would I know if my child cant see well? Often, there are no signs that a child has a vision problem, making regular eye examinations very important. Young children do not have the experience necessary to know what is normal as far as their vision is concerned; they often assume that everyone sees things the way they do. Your Childs Eye Care Team While optometrists, ophthalmologists, family doctors, and pediatricians all play a role in examining childrens eyes, optometrists are the primary providers of eye care to patients of all ages. In Ontario, children 19 years of age and under are covered by OHIP for an eye exam every twelve months. DR. JOHN W. POND & ASSOCIATES Optometrists 372 Queen Street East Unit 5 Acton, Ontario (in the Sobeys Plaza) 519-853-4300 Hours: M-F 9:30-5:30 Evenings and Saturdays by Appointment Quality & Vision In Sight Eye Exams Arranged GEORGETOWN 280 Guelph St., Georgetown Market Place 905-873-3050 Serving Halton Hills for the past 18 years BOLTON 12612 Hwy. 50 905-857-5556 New Patients Welcome Dr. Bruce Foley 905 873 2077 Suite 101 - 83 Mill St. Georgetown, L7G 5E9 Comprehensive vision and ocular health examinations Laser co-management Fashionable eye wear Contact Lenses OPTICAL Parenting, Friday, October 24, 2008 3