Focusing on Your Family
It’s never too early to focus on your children’s eye health and vision. Their sense of sight is important at every age and every stage of development.
Our optometrists are experienced with children and can put them at ease. Many kids even think their eye exams are fun! And, if your child does need glasses, we offer a wide selection of colours and styles that will make them smile. We can also help address common vision concerns in children, like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes).
Book their appointment today to help set them up for success—and a lifetime of healthy vision.
When Do Children Need Eye Exams?
We recommend that children have their eyes examined annually so we can check their vision as they grow. The Canadian Association of Optometrists suggests the following timeline for comprehensive eye exams:
- A comprehensive exam to establish a baseline between the ages of 6 and 9 months
- Another comprehensive exam as they grow and develop between the ages of 2 and 5
- Annual, comprehensive exams from age 6 and continuing until adulthood
Proper vision can be beneficial for your child’s success—in life and in academics. Beyond just seeing what’s in front of them at school, visual skills are needed for social, cognitive, and motor skill development.
Book your child’s eye exam today!
Functional Binocular Vision Assessment
A functional binocular vision assessment evaluates how well the eyes work together, which is crucial for those with reading, learning, or sports challenges.
Optometrists trained in vision therapy and rehabilitation can diagnose and treat conditions like eye misalignment, helping improve eye coordination and focus. Early treatment can greatly enhance visual function and quality of life.
Stages of Sight
There are many milestones in a baby’s visual progression. Here’s what to expect at some important stages:
- Birth to 1 Month: Your baby should be staring at bright lights or faces, albeit for a short period.
- 1 to 3 Months: They’ll begin to look toward sounds and follow objects horizontally.
- 3 to 5 Months: Babies begin to reach for objects and see differences between colours.
- 5 to 7 Months: Hand-eye coordination will begin to develop, and your baby should start looking at distant objects.
- 7 to 12 Months: Depth perception, focusing, and other visual skills should be developed, and your baby might begin to copy facial expressions they see.
As children get older, you can help encourage their healthy visual development by playing look-and-find games like Where’s Waldo, doing word searches and maze games together, and limiting their screen time.
To help your child develop healthy visual skills, be sure to bring them in for comprehensive eye exams.
How Do I Know If My Child Needs Glasses?
If they are experiencing a vision issue, children are often unable to articulate the problem—they might not even know there is a problem. Unlike adults, children have not established a baseline of what proper vision looks like for them.
Kids can experience signs or symptoms that may not seem visual—like tiredness, poor concentration, or difficulty keeping their place while reading. They may develop vision problems standard glasses can’t correct alone, like strabismus (eye-turn) or amblyopia (lazy eye), which can affect how their vision develops.
Bringing your child for regular eye exams lets us establish that baseline so we take the time to evaluate their symptoms. By detecting vision problems early on, we can give them appropriate support—whether they need glasses or other personalized care. Book their appointment today!
Book AppointmentVisit Our Location
Visit Us
We’re located on Devonshire Road just off the highway, tucked in behind the tennis courts at Lakeshore Recreation and across the road from Unleash the Pawsitive.
Please visit Google for any other hours of operation changes.
Our Address
- 643 Devonshire Road
- Port Elgin, ON N0H 2C3
Contact Information
- Phone: 519-832-5511
- Fax: 519-832-3278
- Text: 519-832-5511
- Email: hello@ssfeyecare.com
Our Hours
- Monday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Thursday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
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We’re closed on all stat holidays & weekends.
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Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Town of Saugeen Shores is located on the traditional lands and treaty territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, which consists of the Chippewas of Saugeen and the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. We understand this land holds immense significance to the people of Saugeen Ojibway Nation. We appreciate those who live and work alongside us today and who continue the traditions of their ancestors as stewards of the land we are privileged to inhabit. We thank them for their contributions in caring for the land and shaping this community.
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Saugeen Shores Family Eye Care
- 643 Devonshire Road
- Port Elgin, ON N0H 2C3
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P: 519-832-5511
hello@ssfeyecare.com