Protect Your Child’s Vision Growth
We know you do everything you can to help your child grow up happy and healthy. Your child’s eyesight and vision are crucial parts of their overall development and need proper care.
Having 20/20 is not enough to have normal, functional vision. We assess a child’s focusing, tracking and eye-teaming skills, as deficits in these areas will affect your child’s ability to learn, coordinate their body in their environment and their sports performance
Nearly 80% of a child’s learning in the classroom is visual. This means that confirming your child’s vision is in good shape before they enter school is a necessity. However, even from infancy, your child’s eyes play an important part in how they interact with the world.
How Often Should My Child Have an Eye Exam?
To say that children grow fast is an understatement. Monitoring your child’s vision is key to keeping tabs on any changes that may occur as they get older.
The Canadian Association of Optometry has laid out guidelines for your child’s eye exam visits.
Birth to 24 Months
It’s suggested that infants undergo an eye exam between 6 and 9 months. This builds an early picture of your child’s vision to get ahead of any problems that may arise. Early exams can also diagnose any eyesight or vision issues that may already be present.
2 to 5 Years
You should have your child’s eyes examined at least once in the preschool age range. Any changes that have occurred in their eyesight can be addressed before they enter the classroom full-time.
6 to 19 Years
An annual eye exam until adulthood is the current recommendation for children’s eye care. This ensures your child has good vision throughout their school years.
Learning Difficulties Related to Vision
Learning-related vision issues can arise when problems with eyesight go undiagnosed. Students may struggle to keep up with their peers both in class and socially. This can cause frustration that may lead to lowered self-esteem or behaviour problems.
Having your child’s eyes examined regularly can help build a fuller picture of their development. This may help ease stress related to learning at school.
Common Childhood Eye Issues
Nearsightedness
Myopia, which is more commonly known as nearsightedness, is an incredibly widespread condition worldwide. Studies show that in 2000, one-third of the world’s population was affected by myopia. Scientists project that half the population will struggle with myopia by 2050.
Someone with myopia can see objects close to them clearly, but objects in the distance do not come into focus. Myopia can be caused by the eyeball being too long or the cornea having too much curvature.
Though there is no known cure for myopia, there are several therapies that can slow its progression. Our myopia control clinic specializes in protecting and treating the vision of children with myopia.
Crossed Eyes
Strabismus is often related to improper neural signals to the extraocular muscles that control the eye or due to the improper insertion or position of a muscle. It is commonly misunderstood to be caused by a weak eye muscle. Strabismus can be treated with corrective lenses, prism lenses and/or vision therapy. In some cases your doctor may recommend surgical correction. At Bayside Eye Care, we offer State of the Art vision therapy to help address your child’s needs and in most cases avoid the need for surgery
At Bayside Eye Care, we offer a state-of-the-art vision therapy clinic to address your child’s needs.
Lazy Eye
Lazy Eye is also known as amblyopia. It occurs when there is an underdevelopment of the area of the brain that corresponds to the affected eye. This occurs when there are less than ideal conditions for proper development; such as, when the affected eye is misaligned or when the brain does not receive a clear image from that eye due to structural developmental anomalies like a congenital cataract. Since the brain will begin to rely on the stronger eye for its information, the problem will progress and the weaker eye will continue to deteriorate.
Amblyopia is easier to correct if it’s diagnosed before age 5 or 6, often with the use of lenses or corrective patches. When caught early, amblyopia can often be corrected completely. If you notice your child has one eye that wanders, they struggle with depth perception, or they tend to squint, shut one eye, or turn their head to see, it’s time to bring them for a visit.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is another common vision problem that presents in childhood. It is a refractive error caused when the cornea or the lens of the eye is irregularly shaped. If they are more oval or cylindrical than round, the result can be blurred vision and distorted images.
Nearly any level of astigmatism can be corrected using eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgery, or orthokeratology (Corneal Refractive Therapy). Talk to our team to see which method may be suitable for your child.
Frames Designed for Your Child’s Active Life
From school to sports to play, children keep busy. Find the perfect frames that fit your child just right. We carry specially designed children’s glasses made to withstand a child’s activity level and look good doing it.
Bring the Family for a Visit
Bayside Eye Care welcomes the whole family, and we are dedicated to serving your every eye care need. Your child’s ocular health is important to their overall wellness and development. Book an appointment for your child today.
Our Location
Visit Us
Just off Leacock Drive, find us in the strip mall next to O’Sullivan Animal Hospital.
- Phone: 705-728-3396
- 420 Leacock Drive, Unit I
- Barrie, ON L4N 5G5
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
OUR EYE CARE SERVICES
Myopia Control
Concussion Management
Comprehensive Eye Exams
Digital Eye Strain
OUR EYEWEAR BRANDS
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OUR BLOG
How Much is an Eye Exam in Barrie?
Eye ExamThe cost of an eye exam in Barrie can vary depending on several factors such as the type of doctor you visit, the complexity of your case, and whether or not you have insurance coverage. More broadly in Ontario, eye exam costs can range from $50 to $250, depending on the type of exam and individual circumstances
[…]
Can Dry Eye Cause Blindness?
Dry EyeEye ConditionsDry eyes alone don’t directly cause blindness, but the uneven corneal surface from ongoing dryness can lead to blurry and distorted vision.
While rare, leaving dry eyes unmanaged can lead to serious complications, like corneal ulcers, abrasions, and infections, which can severely damage the eyes, resulting in partial or complete vision loss.
[…]
How Do Miyosmart Lenses Work?
Eye HealthMyopia ControlRefractive ErrorsEnter MiYOSMART lenses, a myopia control lens designed to help manage myopia and slow its progression through special focusing technology. Although myopia cannot be cured, Miyosmart lenses have shown promise in their myopia-slowing capabilities. […]
How Much is an Eye Exam in Barrie?
The cost of an eye exam in Barrie can vary depending on several factors such as the type of doctor you visit, the complexity of your case, and whether or not you have insurance coverage. More broadly in Ontario, eye exam costs can range from $50 to $250, depending on the type of exam and individual circumstances
[…]
Can Dry Eye Cause Blindness?
Dry eyes alone don’t directly cause blindness, but the uneven corneal surface from ongoing dryness can lead to blurry and distorted vision.
While rare, leaving dry eyes unmanaged can lead to serious complications, like corneal ulcers, abrasions, and infections, which can severely damage the eyes, resulting in partial or complete vision loss.
[…]
How Do Miyosmart Lenses Work?
Enter MiYOSMART lenses, a myopia control lens designed to help manage myopia and slow its progression through special focusing technology. Although myopia cannot be cured, Miyosmart lenses have shown promise in their myopia-slowing capabilities. […]
- Dry Eye Clinic
- What is Dry Eye Disease?
- Our Dry Eye Treatments
- Vision Therapy Clinic
- What is Vision Therapy?
- Learning-Related Vision Issues
- Concussion Vision Rehabilitation
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Bayside Eye Care
- 420 Leacock Drive, Unit I
- Barrie, ON L4N 5G5
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P: 705-728-3396