In Ontario, children and youth 0-19 are eligible for a FREE comprehensive eye exam every 12 months through OHIP.

Posted March 2, 2020

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health

March 2020

WDG Public Health is pleased to provide elementary and secondary schools with up-to-date information on health topics for their monthly newsletters and announcements to parents. Please find below an insert you can include in your school newsletter and/or announcements if you wish. Images can be included or excluded as they meet your needs. If you have any questions please contact us at

1-800-265-7293 ext. 4111 or email [email protected]

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Information from Public Health:

Visual health is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. The Ontario Association of Optometrists recommends that children have their first eye exam at 6 months-old, again at 3 years old, yearly after that, or as recommended by an eye doctor. In Ontario, children and youth 0-19 are eligible for a FREE comprehensive eye exam every 12 months through OHIP.

Parents may be the first to identify a potential vision issue. If you notice your child showing any of these signs, book a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doctor.

  • Headaches or irritability
  • Avoiding near or distance work
  • Covering or rubbing the eyes
  • Tilting of the head or having unusual posture
  • Using a finger to maintain place while reading
  • Losing place while reading
  • Leaving words out or confusing words when reading
  • Not doing as well as they could in school

Information for Junior Kindergarten

If required, children in JK qualify for one pair of free glasses through the Eye See…Eye Learn® program. Children born in 2015 are eligible for the Eye See…Eye Learn® program until June 30, 2020. CLICK HERE for more information.

Information for Senior Kindergarten

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health offers free school-based vision screening for SK students. Vision screening does not replace the need for a full exam by an eye doctor on a yearly basis or whenever there is a concern. CLICK HERE for more information.

If you need help finding an eye doctor, you may search for one at www.findaneyedoctor.ca or call our Let’s Talk Parenting line at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 3616 for he

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