If I Missed This Important Change In My Son, You May Miss It Too

This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Ontario Association of Optometrists #OntarioESEL sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.

I have always been a mom who takes her kid to the doctor for regular check-ups. To the dentist, starting at 2 to make sure teeth were coming in as they should, and also to an Optometrist to have his vision checked, also starting at age 2.

When Mr. K went for his 3rd visit to the Optometrist, we discovered his prescription was +4.50 – that is pretty high for a 4 year old – and had we not scheduled this routine visit, we would not have known. He did not complain of headaches, he didn’t squint or hold things super close to his face. He gave us absolutely no indication that he was having any trouble seeing. I was shocked with the drastic change, and learned that kid’s eyes grow and change quite quickly when they are young, which is an important reason to have their eyes examined annually.

We went straight to pick out his glasses (I gave him free reign with what he wanted, I needed HIM to like them and want to wear them). He chose two pairs that he liked and we ordered them.

After he started wearing his new glasses he was watching a show on TV. He turned to me and said “Mommy, with my glasses eyes, I see the TV really good – my plain eyes don’t” – it just about broke my heart that he had been struggling for so long and yet he didn’t realize that it wasn’t normal. It’s amazing how the body can adjust and cope when it needs to.

Eye exams are covered for children through OHIP (in Ontario) until they are 19 years old, which means that Ontario parents don’t have to pay anything to have their kids` eyes examined. Nearly 25 % of kids have some sort of vision problem, and often parents (like us) have no idea, which is why having your child seen by an optometrist at a young age is important to catch any problems you may not have been aware of.

I am so thankful that we take the kids in for annual eye exams.

Mr. K wearing glasses like his mom!

If you visit an optometrist and discover that your child needs glasses, there is a great program for those of us in Ontario and some other provinces called the Eye See…Eye Learn® program that is run through the Ontario Association of Optometrists. It is available to all junior kindergarten students. As of July 1st, this program will be available across Ontario through participating Doctors of Optometry.

Take a look at this short video for more info about the program:


What does that mean? It means that any student who will be entering JK in September is eligible for their OHIP covered eye exam, as well as a pair of glasses (if needed) at NO CHARGE to the parents. The amazing thing about this program is that there is NO cost to participate in it.

For more information on the ESEL program, you can visit EyeSeeEyeLearn.ca, or connect with them on Facebook or Twitter.

Start your child’s school year off right like this mom did by taking part in the Eye See…Eye Learn program in Ontario. This program provides OHIP-insured eye exams and complimentary glasses for Junior Kindergarten students who are starting school in September.