Focusing on Your Family
It’s never too early to focus on your children’s eye health and vision. Their sense of sight is important at every age and every stage of development.
Our optometrists are experienced with children and can put them at ease. Many kids even think their eye exams are fun! And, if your child does need glasses, we offer a wide selection of colours and styles that will make them smile. We can also help address common vision concerns in children, like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes).
Book their appointment today to help set them up for success—and a lifetime of healthy vision.
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When Do Children Need Eye Exams?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that children have:
- A comprehensive exam to establish a baseline between the ages of 6 and 9 months
- Another comprehensive exam as they grow and develop between the ages of 2 and 5
- Annual, comprehensive exams from age 6 and continuing until adulthood
Proper vision can be beneficial for your child's success—in life and in academics. Beyond just seeing what’s in front of them at school, visual skills are needed for social, cognitive, and motor skill development.
Book your child’s eye exam today!
Book AppointmentValuable Visual Skills
Children aren’t born with the visual skills they need—they develop them over time.
Good visual skills can help set your child up for success. Whether it’s reading, interacting with other kids, throwing a ball around outside, or seeing what the teacher writes on the board, eyesight is involved.
Children who start school with undiagnosed vision problems may struggle to keep up in class. They may be misdiagnosed with ADHD or another behavioural disorder.
Undiagnosed vision problems can also lead to:
- Learning at a slower rate than their peers
- Behavioural and disciplinary problems
- Higher risk of dropping out of school
Stages of Sight
There are many milestones in a baby’s visual progression. Here’s what to expect at some important stages:
- Birth to 1 Month: Your baby should be staring at bright lights or faces, albeit for a short period.
- 1 to 3 Months: They’ll begin to look toward sounds and follow objects horizontally.
- 3 to 5 Months: Babies begin to reach for objects and see differences between colours.
- 5 to 7 Months: Hand-eye coordination will begin to develop, and your baby should start looking at distant objects.
- 7 to 12 Months: Depth perception, focusing, and other visual skills should be developed, and your baby might begin to copy facial expressions they see.
As children get older, you can help encourage their healthy visual development by playing look-and-find games like Where’s Waldo, doing word searches and maze games together, and limiting their screen time.
To help your child develop healthy visual skills, be sure to bring them in for comprehensive eye exams.
How Do I Know If My Child Needs Glasses?
If they are experiencing a vision issue, children are often unable to articulate the problem—they might not even know there is a problem. Unlike adults, children have not established a baseline of what proper vision looks like for them.
Kids can experience signs or symptoms that may not seem visual—like tiredness, poor concentration, or difficulty keeping their place while reading. They may develop vision problems standard glasses can’t correct alone, like strabismus (eye-turn) or amblyopia (lazy eye), which can affect how their vision develops.
Bringing your child for regular eye exams lets us establish that baseline so we take the time to evaluate their symptoms. By detecting vision problems early on, we can give them appropriate support—whether they need glasses or other personalized care. Book their appointment today!
Book AppointmentVisit Our Location
We have convenient parking right out front. We’re just down the block from BMO Bank.
Our Address
- 5113–50 Avenue
- Ponoka, AB T4J 1N5
Contact Information
- Phone: (403) 783-0191
- Fax: (403) 783-0190
- Email: info@hometownvision.ca
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
In-Depth Eye Exams
& Great Glasses
At Hometown Vision, Dr. Stephanie Rowland cares deeply for every patient who entrusts her with their vision. Your eye exam always revolves around your needs.
Dr. Rowland will listen to any concerns you have, check your prescription, assess your eyes’ health and function, and walk you through the results of your noninvasive retinal imaging. Every step of your exam is designed to serve your vision and give you peace of mind.
We’re here for you. Stop in for your eye exam or book an appointment with us soon.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that our eye clinic and our hometown are built on Treaty 6 territory, the traditional lands of First Nations and Métis people. We respectfully share responsibility for caring for our land and our community.
- Eyewear & Contacts
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Hometown Vision
- 5113–50 Avenue
- Ponoka, AB T4J 1N5
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P: (403) 783-0191
F: (403) 783-0190
info@hometownvision.ca
