NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE MUSKOKA DISTRICT HEALTH UNIT
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Comprehensive eye exams by an optometrist are recommended for children beginning at a young age so that vision issues can be found and corrected early.
“Regular eye exams in childhood are important because not every child will show signs of vision problems,” said Debby Oakley, Program Manager, Oral Health and Vision Screening, at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. “Undetected and untreated vision issues can have a negative effect on children, especially once they get to school where so much of learning is visual.”
Undetected eye problems can result in learning issues, poor achievement in school and social isolation. It’s estimated that 80 per cent of learning in school is visual.
Eye exams are recommended for children beginning when they are between six and nine months of age, again between two and five years old, and every year after starting school. Eye exams are free with an OHIP card for children 19 years of age and under.
For more information, check the health unit’s website at www.smdhu.org or call Health Connection weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 705-721-7520 or toll free at 1-877-721-7520.
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