Welcome to Eye Spy Kids Clinic – where modern pediatric eye care meets a warm, family-friendly experience!
We know that children’s vision plays an important role in how they learn, grow, and experience the world around them. Vision is critical for learning: Vision is connected to over 80% the of brain for a reason! That’s why our clinic provides thorough, specialized eye care for children – from routine eye exams to more complex vision needs. We’ve created a welcoming environment where both children and parents can feel comfortable and supported. Our team combines advanced technology, specialized pediatric care, and a gentle approach to help every child receive the attention their vision deserves.
Whether your child needs their first eye exam, myopia management, support for visual therapy, or ongoing complex vision care, we’re here to guide your family every step of the way with compassion, expertise, and care.
Your Child’s First Eye Exam
At Eye Spy Kids Clinic, we know a child’s first eye exam can feel like a big milestone for parents. Our goal is to make the experience comfortable, welcoming, and stress-free for both you and your child. Pediatric eye exams are designed to be engaging, gentle, and tailored to your child’s age and developmental stage, even for babies and non-verbal children.
Children should have their first infant comprehensive eye exam between 6-12 months of age, again between 2-5 years old, and annually once they begin school, unless otherwise recommended by the doctor.
You may want to book an exam sooner if you notice:
- Eye turning or drifting
- Frequent rubbing of the eyes
- Sitting very close to screens
- Squinting or head tilting
- Sensitivity to light
- Delayed developmental milestones
- Concerns from teachers, caregivers, or physicians
- A family history of eye conditions or strong prescriptions
Absolutely! Children do not need to know their letters, numbers, or even speak to have a complete eye exam. Our doctors use specialized pediatric equipment and age-appropriate testing methods to assess your child’s vision, eye health, focusing ability, and visual development. We can evaluate vision in babies, toddlers, shy children, and non-verbal children through observation, pictures, lights, movement tracking, and child friendly testing techniques.
What can parents expect during the visit?
Every child’s eye exam is personalized, but a first visit may include:
- Discussion of developmental and medical history
- Visual tracking and eye movement testing
- Assessment of prescription and focusing ability
- Eye alignment and binocular vision testing
- Eye health evaluation
- Possible dilation drops, depending on age and exam need
Our team takes a patient and supportive approach, allowing children time to warm up and explore the environment comfortably. We aim to keep the experience positive and pressure-free.
How to prepare your child for their eye exam
A few simple steps can help you child feel more comfortable before their visit:
- Talk positively about the appointment
- Avoid saying things like “don’t be scared” or “it won’t hurt”
- Let them know the doctor will check how healthy their eyes are
- Bring glasses or previous prescriptions if applicable
- Bring comfort items for younger children if needed
- Choose a time of day when your child is usually well-rested and fed
Most importantly… Relax! Children often take cues from their parents, and our team is experienced in helping even the littlest patients feel comfortable during their exam.
Eye see eye learn program
Starting school is exciting, and good vision plays a big role in helping children learn and succeed. At West 5 Optometry, we believe early prevention plays a vital role in a child’s growth and development. That’s why we are proud participants in the Eye See…Eye Learn® program, a program funded through a combination of provincial government plans and generous corporate partnerships. This helps young patients get the vision support they need at an early age. With children’s eye examinations covered under OHIP until 20 years of age, families can easily access the care needed to support their child’s visual health and success. Through the Eye See…Eye Learn® program, eligible children in kindergarten qualify for a complimentary pair of eyeglasses, helping them start their learning journey with clear, comfortable vision.
Children often don’t know when they’re having trouble seeing—schedule a comprehensive eye exam today to ensure their vision is ready for learning, growth, and success.
Binocular Vision
What is Binocular Vision?
Binocular vision is the ability of both eyes to work together as a team. When the eyes are properly aligned and coordinated, the brain combines the information from each eye into a single, clear image. This allows us to focus comfortably, judge distances accurately, and perform visual tasks efficiently. Good binocular vision is essential for many everyday activities, including reading, writing, using digital devices, sports, and classroom learning.
Signs Your Child May Have a Binocular Vision Problem
Children do not always realize that their vision is different from what it should be, which is why we recommend regular eye examinations even for children without vision complaints. However, there are some common signs of binocular vision difficulties that you can look out for including:
- Losing their place while reading
- Difficulty concentrating on or avoiding near work
- Frequent headaches or eye strain
- Double vision complaints
- Poor depth perception & clumsiness
- Excessive blinking or rubbing of the eyes
- Eye turning or drifting
How Binocular Vision Affects Learning
Reading requires the eyes to move accurately together across a page while maintaining clear and comfortable focus. When the eyes struggle to coordinate, children may work harder than their peers to complete visual tasks, leading to fatigue, frustration, and reduced academic performance. A binocular vision problem is not a learning disability, but it can create visual challenges that affect learning and classroom success.
What We Evaluate
During a binocular vision assessment, we evaluate how well your child’s eyes:
- Work together as a team
- Track moving objects
- Focus at different distances
- Maintain alignment during near tasks
- Process depth and spatial information
These tests provide information beyond a standard vision screening and help identify problems that may not be detected by checking eyesight alone.
Treatment Options
Depending on the findings, treatment may include:
- Prescription glasses
- Prism lenses
- In-Office & Home-Based Vision therapy
- Monitoring and follow-up care
Our goal is to help your child develop comfortable, efficient visual skills that support success in school, sports, and everyday life.
concussions and Binocular Vision
Even a mild concussion can affect the way the eyes and brain work together. Following a concussion, you may experience difficulties with focusing, tracking, and visual processing. These challenges can make reading, sports, and screen use more difficult.
Common visual symptoms after a concussion include:
- Headaches during near tasks
- Blurred or double vision
- Difficulty concentrating
- Eye strain or fatigue
- Sensitivity to light
- Loss of place while reading
- Dizziness or motion sensitivity
- Reduced reading speed and comprehension
Because many post-concussion vision problems are not detected by standard vision screenings, a comprehensive binocular vision assessment may be recommended when symptoms persist.
Our office evaluates visual skills that are commonly affected by concussion, including eye alignment, focusing ability, eye movements, and binocular coordination. Identifying and treating these visual issues can be an important part of recovery and return to everyday activities.
Myopia Control
What is Myopia?
Myopia (commonly called nearsightedness) is a condition where distant objects appear blurry while close-up objects remain clear. It usually develops in childhood and can continue progressing through the teenage years. It is estimated that by 2050 over 50% of the world’s population will be myopic! In myopia, the eye grows too long from front to back, or the cornea is too curved. This causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. While conventional glasses and contact lenses can correct blurry vision, they do not slow the progression of myopia.
Common signs of Myopia to look out for in children include:
- Squinting to see far away
- Sitting very close to screens or the TV
- Difficulty seeing the classroom board
- Frequent headaches or eye strain
- Holding books or devices very close
Higher levels of myopia increase the lifetime risk of serious eye health conditions, including:
- Retinal detachment
- Myopic Macular Degeneration
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
The good news is that with myopia control, we can slow down the progression of Myopia during childhood to help reduce the risk of future eye health issues.
How do we monitor myopia progression?
Myopia can change quickly so it is often recommended that children who are being monitored for myopia have appointments with their Optometrist every 3-6 months. At these appointments, Myopia progression can be monitored by assessing for changes in their glasses prescription or by measuring changes in the length of the eye with axial length measurements using technology like the MYAH Corneal Topographer & Biometer.
Axial length measurements with the MYAH are easy, quick, and non-invasive. Studies show that measuring for changes in axial length of the eye is more accurate at mapping progression than assessing for changes in eyeglass prescription alone. This technology can be an excellent predictor to assess the risk of a child, even if they are not currently near-sighted (myopic), or developing myopia.
How can we control the progression of myopia?
Lifestyle Tips for Myopia Control
Healthy visual habits are very important in Myopia management:
- Spend 2+ hours outdoors each day
- Limit recreational close-up screen time
- Children under the age of 2 should not have close-up screen time
- Children 2-5 years old should have a maximum of 1 hour of screen time per day
- Children 5-12 years old should have a maximum of 2 hours of screen time per day
- Encourage desktop or television screens over handheld devices (eg: watch movies/videos on TV instead of Ipad/Phone)
- Take regular breaks from near work and screens
- For every 1 hour spent on screens, a 5-minute break is recommended
- Optimize your reading/close work environment
- Hold screens & books at least 14-16 inches from your face (at least elbow distance away with your hand on your chin)
- Always read in well lit environments
- Avoid lying down while using screens or reading as this naturally brings materials too close to your face
- Prioritize nutrition
- Limit refined carbohydrates & sugar
- Focus on including Omega-3, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, & Vitamin E in your diet
- Make your plate colourful!
- Encourage healthy, regular sleep patterns
- Have annual comprehensive eye examinations
Specialized Myopia Control Glasses
There are specific optical lenses that have been designed to both correct vision and slow myopia progression. They are a non-invasive way to slow down progression of Myopia. Studies have shown that some lenses can slow down the progression of Myopia by 50-60%.
Soft Myopia Control Contact Lenses
Alternatively, there are specialized contact lenses that are designed to help slow down myopia progression and eye growth. Most Myopia control contacts are daily replacement contact lens which are the safest and easiest way to wear contact lenses. A trained team member would start your child confidently on their journey to learn how to put in a contact lens, take out a contact lens, and how to properly maintain their contact lenses before being sent home with them. Contact lenses would only be considered for responsible children who show good organizational & self-care practices.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Ortho-K contact lenses are not currently available at West 5 Optometry, but we work in conjunction with other optometrists in London if interested in this modality of Myopic Control. Ortho-K lenses are special hard contact lenses that are worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea while sleeping so vision is clear during the day without glasses or soft contact lenses. Learn more by asking one of our Optometrists at your next appointment.
Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops
Atropine drops have been in use in eyecare for decades but have shown great effectiveness in low percentages in myopia control. Custom prescription Atropine eye drops are used nightly, show minimal side effects and can be used in conjunction with other Myopia control therapies.
Early Prevention Makes A Difference
The earlier myopia progression is identified and managed, the better the opportunity to slow its progression and protect long-term eye health.
If your child is showing signs of blurry distance vision or their prescription is changing quickly, speak with your eye care provider about myopia control options.