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.
Book Appointment OnlineWhen 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!
Valuable 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 Appointment OnlineOur Location
Visit Us
Find us on the corner of Main Street and Beaver Lake Road. We are accepting new patients and looking forward to welcoming you and your family.
Our Address
- 49-9522 Main Street
- Lake Country, BC V4V 2L9
Contact Information
- Phone: 250-766-4240
- Fax: 250-766-4267
- Email: [email protected]
Our Hours
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Our Brands
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make glasses with an external prescription?
Yes, we accept all prescriptions for glasses that have not expired. If your prescription is expired or you need to have your prescription assessed, we are more than happy to book you an appointment with one of our doctors for an exam.
How long does it take for glasses to arrive?
We make glasses in-house, and it takes around 3 hours for us to edge the lenses into your frame of choice. If glasses need to be ordered in, they typically take around 7 to 10 business days. Specialty orders may take longer to arrive. Our optical will do our best to give you an accurate time estimate and have your glasses made as soon as we can.
What is included in a full eye exam?
A full eye exam includes the following:
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- A comprehensive ocular and medical history check-up to identify or assess your risk factors for certain eye diseases
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- A vision check and prescription for glasses, if warranted
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- Binocular vision testing to check how your eyes are functioning together
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- A measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) on all patients
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- An optomap scan of your retina on all patients
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- An OCT (optical coherence tomography) scan for adults
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- A comprehensive eye health check in the office by the doctor
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- If warranted, your eye doctor may recommend a visual field test to better assess peripheral vision in association with the use of medications with risk of harmful effects on vision
What is the cost of an eye exam?
Children (18 and under), seniors (65+), or those with certain medical conditions are eligible for medical services plan (MSP) coverage. MSP covers part of the eye exam and visual field tests (think of it like insurance), lowering the total cost of the exam you/your insurance is responsible for. We do not charge for children age 2 and under.
A patient is NOT eligible for MSP coverage if:
- You are from out of province
- Not registered with BC medical
- If you have had an eye exam elsewhere within the past year
| Service | Full Cost | If MSP Billable |
| Adult Eye Exam (19+) | $152 | $105 |
| Adult Contact Lens Wearer Eye Exam (19+) | $167 | $120 |
| Child Eye Exam (2-18) | $85 | $30 |
| Child Contact Lens Wearer Eye Exam (2-18) | $100 | $45 |
Do you do LASIK co-management?
Yes, we are more than happy to be a part of your LASIK journey. We are pleased to offer post-op follow-ups.
Can you direct bill my insurance?
Yes, we can directly bill most insurance companies. If your insurance company is not eligible for direct billing, we will provide you with a detailed receipt to submit for reimbursement.
What do I need to bring to my eye exam?
Please bring a list of medications, your glasses and contact lenses (or your last prescription), and any forms that need to be completed.
How long is an eye exam?
Full eye exams are usually between 30 to 45 minutes.
Do I have to be dilated during the exam?
Our office offers wide-field retinal imaging with the optomap machine on all patients who are physically able to. The optomap scan provides a 200-degree image of the retina (inside lining of the eye).
In certain cases, dilation is still recommended to better assess the retina and check for cataracts and other ocular diseases. If you are dilated, we encourage bringing a driver with you so you feel more safe on the way home.
Our Google Reviews
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Lake Country Optometry
- 49-9522 Main Street
- Lake Country, BC V4V 2L9
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P: 250-766-4240
[email protected]
