Regular eye exams help catch vision problems early and keep your eyes healthy. OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) pays for eye exams once a year if you are: 

• 19 years old or younger  
• 65 years old or older  

OHIP covers the cost of one full eye exam every 12 months. This includes checking your eyesight and overall eye health. It also covers small tests if needed. If you are between 20 to 64 years old and have an eye condition, OHIP will pay for one full eye exam each year. It also covers follow-up visits for that condition. 

If you receive benefits from Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you and your family may get help paying for eye care. To use your Ontario Works benefits, talk to your caseworker. If you get ODSP benefits, call your ODSP office and ask for a vision care benefit authorization form. 

It is important to start eye exams early because it is not always obvious when a child is struggling with their vision. Children are often unaware of their eye troubles because they do not know what normal vision is. If not identified early, vision problems can affect a child’s learning.  

If your child is struggling to see well, they could have some of these symptoms: 

• Headaches 
• Covering or rubbing the eyes 
• Squinting  
• Tilting their head or unusual posture 
• An eye that frequently turns in or out 
• Losing their place or leaving out words when reading 
• Red, itchy or watering eyes 
• Sensitivity to light 

Even if you have no concerns, your child should have a complete eye exam at six months, before starting kindergarten, and annually throughout the school years to ensure optimal eye health and developmental progress. Call a local optometrist and ask about booking a free annual eye exam for your child. 

If your child is in junior kindergarten and requires glasses, they are eligible for a complimentary pair through the Eye See...Eye Learn program. 

Frequent use of digital devices (tablets, phones and laptops) can cause strain on the eyes and vision-related problems. Symptoms of eye strain may include: 

• Blurred vision 
• Dry eyes 
• Eye pain  
• Teary eyes 

Digital devices emit blue light, which can impact your eyes and your sleep cycle. Blue light can delay the production of sleep-inducing hormones, which is why screen time before bed is not recommended. It can also damage the light sensitive cells at the back of your eyes and increase the risk of developing macular degeneration later in life.  

To reduce the risk of eye strain from screens:  

• Position your screen about an arm’s length away from your eyes and at or just slightly below eye level. 
• Keep your screens clean and dust-free.  
• Make sure the room is well lit. The contrast from a dark room to a bright screen is too much strain for the eyes. 
• Minimize glare by using a glare-reducing screen protector or anti-reflective glasses.  
• Practice the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away.  
• Remind yourself to blink often to prevent dry eyes. When you are looking at a screen, you blink less than normal.  
• Limit your screen time.