Children's Eye Exams
Children’s Eye Exams in Kelowna
Family eye care with a difference
Mission Creek Optometry · Kelowna
Looking for a kids’ eye exam in Kelowna? At Mission Creek Optometry, we welcome children of all ages. A children’s eye exam checks much more than whether your child can read the eye chart — we check how clearly they see, how their eyes work together, and the health of their eyes, then explain the scans and findings to you.
Children’s eye exam — $45 with MSP. Please bring your child’s BC Services Card. We can direct-bill many insurance plans — please bring your coverage card as well.
Why children’s eye exams matter
Children do not always know that what they see is blurry, and they may not have the words to explain it. Clear, comfortable vision supports learning, reading, coordination, sports and confidence. A comprehensive eye exam can find concerns early, when many are easier to manage.
A school or daycare screening is useful, but it is not a complete eye exam. A screening may check distance vision only and can miss focusing or eye-teaming concerns, eye-health concerns, and some prescription changes.
When should my child have an eye exam?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends:
- 6 to 9 months — a first eye exam.
- 2 to 5 years — at least one eye exam.
- 6 to 19 years — an eye exam every year.
Book sooner if you notice a concern, if your child’s vision seems to change, or if the optometrist advises a shorter interval.
Signs it may be time to book
- Squinting, closing or covering one eye.
- Sitting very close to screens, or holding books and devices close.
- Frequent eye rubbing, headaches, or tired eyes.
- Losing their place while reading, or avoiding reading and close work.
- An eye that turns in or out, or eyes that do not seem to line up.
- Trouble seeing the board at school.
What happens at a children’s eye exam?
Your child’s visit starts with pre-testing suited to their age. We may start with an autorefraction, check their current glasses on the lensometer if needed, and take Optos retinal images. A gentle puff of air checks eye pressure as part of glaucoma screening.
The optometrist then checks your child’s prescription and visual acuity, how their eyes focus and work together, and the health of their eyes. We explain the images and findings to the parent.
Plan on about 30 to 40 minutes, including pre-testing. Very young children sometimes need a little extra patience, and that is fine.
Why we check the back of the eye — the fovea
At the centre of the retina is the fovea, the tiny spot that gives us sharp, detailed vision. For a child’s sight to develop properly, a clear image has to land on the fovea, so the eye and the brain learn to see together. That is why the exam checks the health of the back of the eye, not just the chart — a problem there is one a letter chart alone would miss, and a child’s visual system is still developing.
Three tests, three different jobs
These tests check different things. Depending on your child’s age and needs, one or more of them may be used.
Snellen chart — how clearly your child sees
The familiar chart has rows of letters that get smaller. It measures visual acuity — how clearly your child can see at a distance.
School-age children usually use this chart. Younger children often start with the picture chart below.
Illustration only — in the clinic, the chart is the correct size and used at the correct distance.
Picture chart — shapes, not letters
For children who do not know their letters yet, this chart uses simple shapes and pictures that get smaller row by row. Your child can name the shape, or match it on a card they hold.
Picture-symbol tests — LEA Symbols is a well-known one — are made for preschool children, so an eye exam does not have to wait until your child can read.
Illustration only — in the clinic, the chart is the correct size and used at the correct distance.
Ishihara test — colour vision
The colour-vision test uses plates made of coloured dots, with a number or path hidden in the dots. It screens mainly for red–green colour-vision deficiency, often called colour blindness.
Sample plate for illustration only. Screen colours and room lighting vary, so a picture online cannot diagnose colour vision. In the clinic, the test is done with proper plates and lighting.
If your child is becoming nearsighted
Myopia (nearsightedness) often starts in school-age children and can keep changing as they grow. Glasses and contact lenses correct the blur, but myopia control aims to slow how fast it progresses. We offer myopia management including Ortho-K overnight lenses, MiSight 1 day contact lenses, and MiYOSMART spectacle lenses.
Learn more about Myopia Control & Ortho-K.
If your child needs glasses, the fit matters
Children’s faces are still developing. Their nose bridge is not fully formed, so a child’s frame does not sit on the face the way an adult’s does. Children’s frames are made for that — with bridges and nose pads designed to hold the lenses in the right place on a small, growing face.
- The right position: if frames slip down the nose, your child ends up looking over the top of the lenses instead of through them, and the glasses cannot do their job.
- Comfort: glasses that pinch, slide, or feel heavy come off. A frame that fits properly is one your child will actually keep on.
- Activity: kids run, play, and drop things. The right size, temples that sit properly behind the ears, and sturdy, flexible frames help glasses stay put and last.
Fit changes as your child grows. If the glasses start to slip or sit crooked, bring them in — we can check the fit and adjust them.
What to bring
- Your child’s current glasses — and an older pair, if you have one.
- Contact lens information or packaging, if your child wears contacts.
- Your child’s BC Services Card.
- Your insurance coverage card.
- A list of your child’s medications.
Questions parents ask
My child passed a school screening. Do they still need an eye exam?
Yes. A screening is a useful first check, but it is not a complete eye exam. It may only check how clearly your child sees at a distance and does not replace checking the prescription in detail, how the eyes work together, and the health of the eyes.
What if my child cannot read letters yet?
That is not a problem. We can use pictures, symbols or matching, and measurements that do not depend on your child reading an eye chart. Your child does not need to know the alphabet for an eye exam.
How often should kids have an eye exam?
Children and teens should have an eye exam every year from age 6 to 19 — sooner if the optometrist advises it, or if you notice a change. Younger children should have a first exam at 6 to 9 months and at least one more exam between ages 2 and 5.
Can I get a copy of my child’s prescription and test results?
Yes. Your child’s prescription can be emailed to you. The Optos retinal images from the exam can be emailed too, which makes it easy to transfer records if you move, or if your child needs to see a specialist or your family doctor.
Mission Creek Optometry has cared for Kelowna families since 2008 — first from our clinic on Gordon Drive, and since 2023 from our clinic on Ambrosi Road.
Ready to book your child’s eye exam?
BOOK AN EYE EXAM250-717-0086 · 1820 Ambrosi Rd #101, Kelowna, BC
Mon–Fri, 9–5