Vancouver Children’s Eye Exams at Eye Contacts

Your child’s vision plays a significant role in how they learn, grow, and experience the world. Eye Contacts provides pediatric eye care tailored, gentle, and rooted in decades of trust with East Vancouver families. From infancy through adolescence, we support kids’ visual development with a calm, caring approach and help parents understand what their children need to see clearly and thrive.

Whether it’s their first eye exam or just part of your back-to-school checklist, we’re here to make sure your child’s visit is positive, stress-free, and helpful from start to finish.

Book Appointment

A man in a white coat is examining a woman's eyes with an ophthalmoscope in a clinic setting.

A girl wearing glasses and a yellow shirt is sitting at a desk with a book, a notebook, and some colored pencils.

Why Your Child’s Eye Exam Matters

Children rely on clear, comfortable vision to read, play, learn, and explore. Because young kids may not recognize or describe vision problems, it’s important to check their eyes regularly, before issues affect school, coordination, or confidence.

Routine eye exams allow us to spot signs of nearsightedness, eye alignment problems, or focusing issues early on, when they’re most treatable. With the right care in place, we can help your child avoid unnecessary frustration and support strong vision development at every stage.

When Should My Child Have Their First Eye Exam?

We recommend a child’s first eye exam around 6 months, followed by another at age 3, and then annually once they start school. Even if everything seems fine, early exams can detect issues that might not show obvious symptoms.

MSP covers eye exams for children under 19 in British Columbia, making it easier for families to stay on top of their children’s vision needs. If you have questions about timing, we’re always happy to talk through what’s best for your child’s age and development.

A woman holding a baby who is examining an ophthalmoscope

What Parents Can Expect at Their Child’s Eye Exam

Our team is experienced in caring for young patients, and we make sure kids feel safe, heard, and included during every visit. We use age-appropriate tests, gentle equipment, and a lot of encouragement to guide your child through the exam at their own pace.

For infants and toddlers, we assess how their eyes develop, how well they focus and track, and whether both eyes work together. For school-age children, we check visual acuity, eye coordination, and how well their eyes adapt to classroom tasks like reading and screen use.

Vision Problems We Often See in Kids

Trouble Seeing Far Away (Myopia)

Children with myopia have trouble seeing distant objects clearly, such as whiteboards or signs. We provide clear, age-appropriate vision correction and offer myopia control options when needed.

One Eye Stronger Than the Other (Amblyopia)

Amblyopia happens when one eye develops better vision than the other. Early detection often allows successful treatment using glasses, patching, or other strategies.

Eye Turn or Misalignment (Strabismus)

When eyes don’t align properly, it can affect depth perception and visual comfort. We evaluate eye alignment and provide referrals or co-management for further care if needed.

Reading or Focusing Struggles

Kids who struggle with reading or visual tasks may have trouble with how their eyes move and focus. Our exams can help identify these concerns and guide the next steps.

A young girl wearing glasses and an eye patch is standing in front of an eye chart.

A child lies on a white surface surrounded by a variety of colorful glasses, smiling and wearing red glasses.

Helping Kids Feel Comfortable With Eye Care

A big part of pediatric eye care is helping kids feel comfortable with the process. Many of our youngest patients grow up visiting Eye Contacts, building familiarity and trust that lasts into adulthood. We take the time to explain things in ways kids and parents can understand, creating a positive foundation for lifelong eye health.

From choosing kid-friendly glasses to supporting screen-time habits at home, we’re here to be a resource for your family beyond the exam room.

As part of our pediatric care, we keep a close eye on your child’s visual development, watching for early signs of eye alignment or focusing concerns that could affect comfort, confidence, or learning.

Ready to Book Your Child’s Eye Exam?

You want what’s best for your child and so do we. We treat every young patient with care, patience, and respect. Our family-run clinic has proudly served East Vancouver for over 30 years, and we’re honoured to care for the next generation of growing eyes.

If you have questions about your child’s vision, exam timing, or insurance coverage, we’re here to help. We are proud to provide eye care services in English, Tagalog, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and Taiwanese to reflect and support the diversity of the Vancouver community.

Call Us! (604) 255-4728

Eye Contacts

2443 East Hastings Street, Unit 2, Vancouver, BC V5K 1Y8 »

(604) 255-4728

Book Appointment