Eye See Eye Learn Program – Complimentary Corrective Eyeglasses for Junior Kindergarten Students

The Eye See… Eye Learn® (ESEL) program is designed to detect, diagnose and treat children with vision problems when they begin junior kindergarten, so that every child can see and learn to the best of his/her ability. This program encourages junior kindergarten students to get a comprehensive OHIP-covered eye exam, and receive a complimentary pair of corrective eyeglasses, if a prescription is required.

The program is coordinated by the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) and made possible by participating Optometrists and sponsored by our industry partners, Plastic Plus and Modern Optical, to provide a free pair of prescription eyeglasses (value approx. $250) if glasses are prescribed.

Many parents think their children will tell them if they are not seeing well; however, many children are unaware of their own vision problems as they have nothing to compare to and may think that what they see is normal, even if this is a blurred image. The Eye See…Eye Learn® program raises parent awareness about the importance of identifying and treating vision problems early.

According to studies, 80% of a child’s learning is acquired through visual input and vision is considered the most important sense for learning. Having children undergo full eye examinations is an effective way to detect and treat vision problems that might hinder children from learning. The Eye See… Eye Learn® program aims to eliminate the barriers surrounding a child’s eye care by providing free eyeglasses, as uncorrected eye problems may negatively impact the child’s development, education, and quality of life.

The ESEL program begins July 1st and goes through to June 30 of the school year. If your child is entering or currently in junior kindergarten, then your child should be eligible. Children not eligible for the ESEL program are still encouraged to get their eyes checked. Annual eye examinations are covered by OHIP for children up to and including 19 years of age in Ontario.

Dr. Wylie Tan is happy to be a participating Optometrist in the ESEL program. To book an appointment, please contact us by phone at (905) 563-5333 or email at info@youreyesareworthit.ca because your child’s eyes are worth it!

80% of Learning is Visual | Eye See…Eye Learn Animated Infographic from OAO on Vimeo.