Blog Hero

The Importance of Infant Eye Exams – Start at 6 Months for a Lifetime of Healthy Vision

Book Appointment

Your baby’s first smile, first step — and yes, even their first eye exam — are all important milestones. While many parents wait until school age to schedule their child’s first eye checkup, vision care actually starts much earlier. At Perception Eyecare, your trusted provider for Stoney Creek eye care, we recommend booking your child’s first eye exam at 6 months old.

As your dedicated optometrist in Stoney Creek, we’re here to explain why early detection matters and how we make infant eye exams gentle, stress-free, and even fun!


Why Are Eye Exams Important for Babies?

Even though your baby can’t tell you if something is wrong, their eyes are already working hard to develop focus, coordination, and depth perception in their first year of life. A comprehensive infant eye exam can:

  • Detect early vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism
  • Identify eye muscle issues like strabismus (crossed eyes)
  • Check for eye health conditions that could affect development
  • Ensure proper visual development for future learning and movement

Vision plays a huge role in early brain development. Catching issues early gives your child the best chance for success — socially, physically, and academically.


What Happens During an Infant Eye Exam?

At our Stoney Creek optometry clinic, we tailor exams to be age-appropriate, gentle, and engaging. Our optometrists use specialized techniques and tools to check:

  • Eye alignment and tracking
  • Pupil response and focusing ability
  • Overall eye health and internal structures
  • Refractive error (the need for glasses)

There’s no need for your child to know their letters — we use shapes, lights, and movement to assess how their eyes are working. 


Covered by OHIP – No Cost for Parents

Great news for Ontario families: infant eye exams are fully covered by OHIP. So there’s no reason to wait! We recommend the following exam timeline:

  1. First exam at 6 months
  2. Second exam at age 2–3
  3. Annually after school age, or as recommended by your optometrist

At Perception Eyecare, our mission is to make Stoney Creek eye care easy and accessible for the whole family.


Why Choose Perception Eyecare?

As a leading Stoney Creek optometry clinic, we’re proud to offer a warm and welcoming environment for children of all ages. Our team takes the time to explain every step and ensure both babies and parents feel comfortable. We specialize in pediatric vision care and stay up to date on the latest techniques for early detection and prevention.

Families throughout the area trust our experienced team for comprehensive Stoney Creek eye care, from babies and toddlers to teens and adults.


Book Your Baby’s First Eye Exam Today

📞 Call 289-309-1090 to schedule your infant’s eye exam with a caring and experienced optometrist in Stoney Creek. Let’s give your child the best possible start to lifelong healthy vision — because it all begins with that first checkup.

Written by Dr. Jasjeet Shinger

Dr. Jasjeet Shinger has an Honours Bachelor of Science degree and completed her Doctorate of Optometry with honours at the University of Waterloo. While attaining her Doctorate in Optometry, Dr. Shinger worked with a binocular vision and pediatric specialist during her clinical externship, which helped her gain a keen interest in helping patients manage binocular vision deficiencies that can affect learning.
instagram facebook facebook2 pinterest twitter google-plus google linkedin2 yelp youtube phone location calendar share2 link star-full star star-half chevron-right chevron-left chevron-down chevron-up envelope fax