For parents, Kindergarten is a shock to the wallet. It’s the first year you have school fees, school supplies, clothes and shoes to replace for growth spurts, bus fees, activity fees - and the list goes on.
Though the costs accumulate, the information that Olivia comes home with on a daily basis is invaluable. Full of new facts, interested in new concepts and things she’s excited to share, Kindergarten has left her thriving.
In those weeks leading up to the first week of school, we crossed those annual or bi-annual appointments off of our list. A quick check-up at the dentist, a visit to the pediatrician and a visit to the optometrist. On the last visit to the optometrist, her eyes were in good health and she needed no help with her vision.
Two weeks ago, we received the reminder card in the mail to make an appointment for Olivia’s check-up. Booking the appointment - so we did just that.
Did you know? Alberta Health Care covers the cost of comprehensive eye exams for all children in the province up to age 19. Without an eye exam, many vision problems can be difficult to diagnose, and often vision problems are mistaken for other issues.
Eye See… Eye Learn
Eye See… Eye Learn provides free eyeglasses to Kindergarten students who need a prescription. Kindergarten children are eligible from September until they begin grade one. Parents and Doctors can work together and use this form to provide the child with free eyeglasses, helping families alleviate the cost of prescription eyeglasses. The earlier vision problems are detected, the more likely that they can be corrected.
Olivia is still within the limits of the program, well into her Kindergarten year. With the costs that accumulate for extracurricular activities and programming during Spring, it’s reassuring to know just in case she does need glasses, we’re covered.
In 2012/2013, 21,700 five-year-olds had eye exams. Of those children, 1,763 received a complimentary pair of glasses through the Eye See… Eye Learn Program.
Learn more about the Eye See… Eye Learn Program or Find an Optometrist Near You
