Children's Eye Exams in Montréal, from Age 4

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, we see children from age 4 and teens for an unrushed eye exam in Montréal, and we explain the results to parents in plain language. Book your child's eye exam online or call 514-827-7463.

Your child's exam is done by a PrimeVision optometrist in Montréal, a member of the Ordre des optométristes du Québec. Our optometrists examine children in English and in French.

Exams are done by our optometrists: Rebecca Neacsu, O.D., Nesrin Kutaich, O.D., and Margot Lichet, O.D., members of the Ordre des optométristes du Québec.

Is my child's eye exam covered by RAMQ?

Yes. RAMQ covers one complete eye exam a year for children under 18. Bring your child's valid Québec health insurance card to the appointment. 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. For the details, see our page Who pays for your eye exam.

Eye exams for kids: what age to start and how often

When should a child have their first eye exam?

The Ordre des optométristes du Québec (OOQ) recommends an exam around age 3, and another before your child starts school, around age 4 or 5. Don't wait for those ages if one of your child's eyes crosses or turns, even occasionally, after the first few months of life: plan an eye exam then. At PrimeVision, we see children from age 4.

How often should a child have an eye exam?

From age 4, 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 also catches nearsightedness early. That matters, because the younger the child, the faster myopia tends to progress. If your child's last exam was more than a year ago, book the next one online.

Does a school vision screening replace an eye exam?

No. According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO), a school vision screening is not enough. A farsighted child can often read the letters on a distance chart with ease, so vision screenings, like those sometimes done at school, generally miss hyperopia. Quick screenings are also not enough to assess the health of the eyes. And a child may not notice that one eye sees better than the other, yet amblyopia (lazy eye) responds better to treatment before age 7 or 8.

Signs your child may need glasses or an eye exam

These signs don't always mean your child needs glasses, but they are worth an eye exam, even if your child says they see fine.

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
Tiring quickly when reading, or mixing up certain letters
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. If you notice any of these signs, book an eye exam online.

What happens during a children's eye exam

The exam follows the same steps as all eye exams in Montréal at PrimeVision, 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.

Most young children are mildly farsighted: as the eye grows longer, that mild hyperopia shrinks or disappears. During the exam, the optometrist may use drops that temporarily relax the eye's focusing (a cycloplegic exam) to measure the hyperopia the child is compensating for.

What to bring

Your child's valid health insurance card, their glasses or contact lenses if they wear them, and any previous prescription.

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. The CAO notes that it now starts as early as age 6 or 7, earlier than in previous generations.

Regular glasses correct the blur but do not slow that progression. Special lenses designed for myopia control can: at PrimeVision we fit MiyoSmart, by Hoya, and Stellest, by Essilor. Results vary from one child to another, and no treatment stops myopia completely or undoes it.

According to the CAO, a child with a nearsighted parent is more likely to become nearsighted, and their myopia tends to progress faster. The risk is higher when both parents are nearsighted. If your child's prescription keeps climbing, ask us about it during the exam, or read about myopia control at PrimeVision.

Screens and time outdoors

A role for screens in myopia is possible but has not been proven. The evidence for time outdoors is stronger: it is linked to less myopia. The OOQ recommends at least 45 minutes a day outdoors, and at PrimeVision we recommend about two hours a day outside. Outdoor time lowers the risk; it does not prevent every case.

At a screen, we blink less, which dries the surface of the eye, and the eyes work harder to focus. A few habits help:

Regular breaks from screens and close work, for example with the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet (6 metres) away for at least 20 seconds
Books and devices held at a comfortable distance rather than close to the face
Screens off at least an hour before bed, a guideline the CAO gives for all children

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) finds no evidence that blue light from screens damages the eye. As a precaution, the CAO still recommends monitoring and limiting children's screen exposure. If your child's eyes often feel tired, dry or burning after screen time, mention it at the exam.

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 for as long as your child wears them.

With new glasses, allow a few days to adjust, and follow the optometrist's wearing schedule, especially if amblyopia is being treated.

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., so you can plan the exam without your child missing school.