Children's Eye Exams in Montréal

Children rarely say that they see poorly. They assume everyone sees the way they do. A child who struggles to read the board, loses their place on a page or avoids reading may simply need an eye exam. At PrimeVision, our optometrists examine children and teens in an unrushed appointment, and explain the results to parents in plain language.

Is my child's eye exam covered by RAMQ?

Yes. RAMQ covers one complete eye exam a year for every child under 18 who holds a valid Québec health insurance card. Bring the card to the appointment and there is nothing to pay for the covered exam. RAMQ also offers a reimbursement toward glasses or contact lenses bought for a child under 18. Some additional tests, such as retinal photos, are not covered by RAMQ, and we will always tell you before doing one.

How often should a child have an eye exam?

We recommend an eye exam every year for children and teens. Eyes change quickly while a child is growing, and a prescription that was right last September can be wrong by the next school year. A yearly exam is also the only reliable way to catch nearsightedness early, when there is the most that can be done about it.

Signs your child may need an eye exam

Squinting, or sitting very close to a screen or a book
Headaches or tired eyes after school
Rubbing the eyes often, or covering one eye
Losing their place while reading, or using a finger to follow the line
Trouble seeing the board at school
One eye that seems to turn in or out
A parent or sibling who is nearsighted

A child with none of these signs can still have a vision problem, which is why the yearly exam matters more than the checklist.

What happens during a children's eye exam

The exam is adapted to the child's age. Younger children do not need to know their letters: we use pictures, shapes and instruments that measure the eyes without asking the child to answer questions.

History. We ask about school, screens, headaches and family eye history.
Vision and prescription. We measure how well each eye sees at distance and up close, and whether glasses would help.
How the eyes work together. We check alignment, focusing and eye movements, which matter for reading.
Eye health. We examine the front and the back of the eye.
Results. Your optometrist explains what we found and what, if anything, to do next.

If your child is nearsighted

Nearsightedness, or myopia, usually appears during the school years and tends to get stronger every year until the late teens. Regular glasses correct the blur but do not slow that progression. Special lenses designed for myopia control can. If your child's prescription keeps climbing, ask us about it during the exam, or read about myopia control at PrimeVision.

Glasses for children

If your child needs glasses, you can choose frames in our boutique right after the exam. We fit the frame to your child's face, cut the lenses to the prescription, and adjust the glasses free of charge for as long as your child wears them.

Book your child's eye exam

You can book online at any time with instant confirmation, or call us at 514-827-7463. PrimeVision is at 9520 Bd de l'Acadie, Suite 222, Montréal, near Marché Central. We are open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.