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Healthy Vision

Child wearing glasses.

Take your child for a free eye exam

Yearly eye exams with an optometrist (eye doctor) are free for children with an Ontario health card.

An eye exam is recommended at 6 months, 3 years, then every 12 to 24 months.

Find an Optometrist

Child looking through eye exam machine.

Does your child need glasses?

Find help to pay for glasses

Free glasses for kindergarten: Eye See...Eye Learn

The Eye See…Eye Learn program gives free glasses to kindergarten students after an eye exam with a participating optometrist. Check with your eye doctor before your appointment to see if they participate in this program. Learn more about Eye See Eye Learn.

This program ends June 30, 2023

Your optometrist

Some eye clinics may be able to offer you a payment option to help cover the cost of new glasses.

City of Kingston MyBenefits

The City of Kingston offers extended health benefits for low-income families to cover adult dental care, vision care, glasses or contact lenses, and prescription medications. Learn more about My Kingston Health Benefits.

Ontario Disability Support Program

If you are receiving income support from the Ontario Disability Support Program, you may be able to receive assistance with the cost of prescription glasses through the Vision Care benefit. Learn more about the Vision Care benefit.

Ontario Works

If you are an Ontario Works client you and your family may be eligible for certain health-related benefits: Ontario Works Health Benefits. Contact your local Ontario Works office to find out what is available to you.

As many as 1 in 4 children has a vision problem serious enough to impact their learning and development, including language delays. Regular eye exams can identify health problems and conditions such as a turned eye or lazy eye. These conditions may be treated if they are found early in a child's life.

Tips for your child's eye health

Eat an eye-healthy diet

Nutrition is a great way to support your child’s eye health and make healthy habits for life. Parents can help by offering eye-healthy foods that are high in protein to help strengthen developing tissues, and have vitamins like C and E to repair tissues and offer immune support, such as:

Leafy, green vegetables: spinach and kale
Oily fish: tuna, salmon, and mackerel
Citrus fruits and berries: blueberries, oranges
Vegetables: carrots, broccoli, and beets
Seafood and meat: oysters and pork
Protein (non-meat options): beans, nuts, seeds, and eggs

Get enough sleep

Healthy sleep for your baby and child is important. Getting enough sleep helps the whole body, including the eyes. Healthy sleep habits start from birth.

Every child is different; some sleep a lot and others much less. This chart (from the Canadian Paediatric Society) is a general guide to the amount of sleep children need over a 24 hour period, including nighttime sleep and daytime naps.

Infants (4 to 12 months) - 12 to 16 hours
Toddlers (1 to 2 years old) - 11 to 14 hours
Children (3 to 5 years old) - 10 to 13 hours
Children (6 to 12 years old) - 9 to 12 hours
Teenagers (13 to18 years old) - 8 to 10hours

Go outside

Outdoor play has many benefits, including children’s eye health.

Research shows that spending time outdoors supports good health and helps avoid eye problems like myopia (nearsightedness).

Learn more about sun safety including sun safety tips and what to look for in children’s sunglasses.

Limit screen time

Limit screen time
Take a break every 30 to 60 minutes
Encourage outdoor activity over screen time
Position the screen to avoid eye strain
Avoid using a screen one hour before bedtime
Ensure your child has regular eye exams

Get a regular eye exam

Not all eye conditions are easy to notice. See your optometrist for regular eye appointments to help detect vision issues early, deal with any eye health problems, and keep your child’s vision healthy.

Take your child to an eye doctor (optometrist) for a complete eye exam at an early age. A regular eye exam is recommended at 6 months, 3 years then every 12 to 24 months. An annual eye exam with an optometrist is free for children and youth up to 19 years of age with a valid OHIP card.

Find an Optometrist in your area.

Child making pretend glasses on their face with their fingers.

Vision development

Your child’s vision begins to develop at birth. These developmental milestones describe typical vision development and the progress of young children as they grow. Watch for any signs that your baby is not meeting these milestones and talk to your health care provider if you have any concerns.

By six weeks

Stares at surroundings when awake
Briefly looks at bright lights and objects
Blinks in response to light
Eyes and head move together

By three months

Eyes glance from one object to another
Eyes follow a moving object or person
Stares at your face
Begins to look at hands and food

By six months

Eyes move to inspect surroundings
Eyes move to look for source of sounds
Swipes at or reaches for objects
Looks at more distant objects
Smiles and laughs when they see you smile and laugh

By 12 months

Watches activities for longer time periods
Eyes turn inward as objects move close to the nose
Looks for dropped items
Visually inspects objects and people
Moves toward favourite toy

By two years

Looks at simple pictures in a book
Points to objects or people
Looks for and points to pictures in books
Looks where they are going when walking and climbing
Guides reaching and grasping for objects with their vision

What to look for

Even if your child is meeting the normal milestones for vision development, continue to monitor their eye health. See your doctor or have your child's vision checked if you observe any of the following:

Swollen or encrusted eyelids
Bumps or sores on or around the eyelids
Drooping eyelids
Does not make eye contact with you by three months of age
Does not watch or follow an object with the eyes by three months of age
Haziness or whitish appearance inside the pupil
Frequent wiggling, drifting, or jerky eye movements
Eyes that turn in or cross
Lack of coordinated eye movements
Drifting of one eye when looking at objects
Turning or tilting of the head when looking at objects
Squinting, closing or covering of one eye when looking at objects
Often tearing when not crying
Blinking, squinting, or rubbing eyes often
Sensitive to bright lights

How to get help

If you have concerns about your child's vision, don't wait. Make an appointment with your doctor or optometrist. The sooner a problem is identified the sooner your child can have the help he or she needs for the best opportunity for healthy eyes and healthy development.

For more information about child vision, talk to your doctor or contact KFL&A Public Health.