Children's Eye Exam Calgary
Gentle, kid-friendly eye exams from 6 months of age. Alberta Health Care covers a yearly exam, and every visit ends with a fruit snack.
Walk-Ins
Welcome
No appointment, no problem! Come by during our operating hours and we’ll squeeze you in.
Convenient
locatioN
3rd floor of the Core Shopping Centre, inside LensCrafters, steps from the C-Train.
Flexible
Scheduling
Busy weekdays? We're open Saturdays, so you can book an exam around work.
DIRECT BILLING
AVAILABLE
We bill your insurance directly, so you skip the paperwork and the wait for reimbursement.
Children's Eye Exam in Calgary
Book a children’s eye exam in Calgary at Core Eye Care, inside the Core Shopping Centre downtown. We see children from 6 months of age and check vision, focusing, and eye health.
Alberta’s health plan fully covers a routine eye exam each benefit year for patients 18 and under. We also handle your insurance through direct billing, so you don’t have to.
Your child’s exam is a comprehensive eye exam, adapted to their age. Some tests, like Optomap imaging, are optional.
Why parents book at Core Eye Care
- Downtown Calgary since 2016, right off the CTrain line.
- Two optometrists: Dr. Cynthia Du, OD, and Dr. Alyshah Hassam, OD.
- No pressure. We recommend only what fits your child.
- We take time to explain your child’s results, so you understand their eye health before you leave.
- Your optometrist walks you through your results, and we book extra time for anyone who needs it.
Pediatric Eye Exams for Kids
A pediatric eye exam checks more than whether your child can read a chart. Your optometrist checks vision, eye health, focusing, and how your child’s eyes work together as they grow.
Children rarely say their vision is off. They assume everyone sees the way they do. A kids eye exam can find a problem early, so you can act on it.
Why Children's Eye Exams Matter
Vision problems can make reading, writing, and schoolwork harder. Many children never mention blurry vision, so a parent may not notice.
A vision screening is a quick check. It does not replace a full pediatric eye examination with an optometrist.
What a Pediatric Eye Exam Can Find
Your optometrist checks for common eye health problems, including:
- Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These refractive errors blur vision at different distances.
- Lazy eye (amblyopia). One eye does not develop full vision.
- Misaligned eyes (strabismus). The eyes do not point the same way.
- Focusing and eye teaming problems. The eyes struggle to focus or work together.
What's Included in a Children's Eye Examination?
Your optometrist decides which tests fit your child’s age and needs.
Getting Your Child Ready
- Bring your child’s current glasses, if they wear any.
- Bring your child’s Alberta Health Care number. We need it at the visit.
- Tell them it is not a test they can fail.
Children's Vision Testing
Your optometrist measures how clearly your child sees, near and far. This children’s eye test, also called a children’s vision test, shows whether your child needs glasses.
Eye Alignment and Focusing
Your optometrist checks that both eyes point the same way and work together. They also check how well your child’s eyes focus.
Eye Health Assessment
Your optometrist examines the front and inside of your child’s eyes for signs of eye conditions. We recommend Optomap retinal imaging as an optional add-on, which costs an additional $30.
Prescription Check
If your child needs glasses, your optometrist writes the prescription and explains the options.
Age-Appropriate Testing
Your optometrist adapts the tests to your child’s age. Children do not need to read letters or speak. We rely on objective measures instead.
We shine a light into your child’s eyes to estimate their refractive error. We also use special instruments to look at the health of their eyes.
We use cartoons, pictures, and symbols for children to look at. Children get fruit snacks after their exam.
We're Here for You, Too
We know you want to understand what’s happening with your child’s eyes. Your optometrist explains the results in plain language and answers every question, big or small. If your child needs glasses or a follow-up, we walk you through the next steps before you leave.
When Should Children Have an Eye Exam?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends eye exams at set ages. Here is what it advises.
Infant Eye Exams: 6 Months to 2 Years
Infants and toddlers should have a first eye exam between six and nine months of age. This is often called an infant eye exam or infant eye test. Dr. Du and Dr. Hassam both see children from six months of age.
Preschool Children: Ages 2 to 5
Children should have at least one eye exam between ages two and five. Your child does not need to know the alphabet.
School-Aged Children: Ages 6 to 17
School-aged children should have an eye exam every year. Book before the school year starts, or any time you notice a change.
Your optometrist may suggest more frequent visits if your child’s nearsightedness changes quickly.
Teens 15 and older who have had type 1 diabetes for 5 years or more also need a yearly diabetic eye check.
Signs Your Child May Need an Eye Exam
- Squinting to see the board, a screen, or a book.
- Frequent headaches.
- Sitting very close to screens or the TV.
- Trouble reading, or losing their place on the page.
- Rubbing their eyes often.
- Avoiding schoolwork or reading.
- Complaints of blurry vision.
- An eye that turns in or out.
Nearsightedness in Children
Nearsightedness, also called myopia, often begins in childhood. Dr. Du and Dr. Hassam both have a clinical focus on myopia control, and we offer myopia control to help manage nearsightedness in children.
How to Book Your Child's Eye Exam
We welcome families from across Calgary and the surrounding area, and the mall’s underground lot makes parking easy.
Looking for a children’s eye doctor in Calgary, or a pediatric optometrist in Calgary? Dr. Cynthia Du and Dr. Alyshah Hassam examine children’s eyes at Core Eye Care, and you can meet the team before your visit.
Three ways to book:
- Book online. It runs through LensCrafters, the eye clinic is located in the back.
- Call us. Phone 403-290-1535.
- Walk in. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours, subject to doctor availability.
Booking Online, Step by Step
- Click Book My Appointment and Choose “Comprehensive Eye Exam.” That includes medical eye exams and exams for adults, seniors and children. Only choose “Contacts” if you need a contact lens exam or fitting.
- Pick a time that works for you.
- Enter the patient’s name, birthday and email. We use the birthday to set up the right exam for their age.
Booking for yourself or a grandparent too? We also offer eye exams in Calgary for adults, and eye exams for seniors 65 and older.
Frequently Asked Questions - children's eye exam
When should my child have their first eye exam?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends a first eye exam between six and nine months of age. If your child is older and has never had an exam, book one now.
How often should children have eye exams?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends at least one exam between ages two and five. It recommends an exam every year from ages six to 18. Your optometrist may suggest more frequent visits based on your child’s eyes.
What happens during a pediatric eye exam?
Your optometrist checks vision, eye alignment, focusing, and eye health, using tests that fit your child’s age. They then explain the results and answer your questions.
Are children's eye exams covered in Alberta?
Alberta’s health plan (AHCIP) fully covers one routine eye exam each benefit year for patients 18 and under. The benefit year runs July 1 to June 30.
Bring your child’s Alberta Health Care number to the visit. We recommend optional Optomap retinal imaging, which costs an additional $30, paid at your visit by credit card or debit.
We also handle your insurance through direct billing.
What are signs my child may need glasses?
Common signs include squinting, headaches, sitting close to screens, trouble reading, and eye rubbing. Some children show no signs. Book an exam if you notice any of these, or if it has been a year.
Do infants need eye exams?
Yes. The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends a first exam between six and nine months of age. This applies even when nothing seems wrong. Dr. Du and Dr. Hassam both see children from six months of age.