All children should have regular dental, hearing and vision examinations.
How do I care for my child's teeth?
As soon as your infant's first teeth cut through their gums, parents can start taking care of them. You can read in detail about the steps to take with them for good tooth care on our oral care for children page.
All children should have their teeth checked by a dentist regularly. The BC Dental Association recommends children have their first dentist check by age one, or six months after you see their first tooth. To find a local dentist near you who is accepting new patients, visit the BC Dental Association's Find a Dentist database.
What if I can't afford a dentist?
If you are a member of a low-income family and you do not have extended health coverage, there are several programs that can help you access affordable dentistry for your children. You can also contact the dental program at your local public health unit and ask about resources available in your community.
How do I keep my child's hearing healthy?
Most children born in B.C. hospitals will have their hearing checked at birth with a newborn screening offered through the BC Early Hearing Program.
Protect your child from prolonged exposure to loud noises and be alert to injuries to your child's ears. Make sure they see a family doctor if they have:
- Ear discharge or fluid draining from the ear.
- Earaches and pain in the ear.
- Reddened skin around the ear.
- An object in the ear or an injury to the ear.
Learn more about hearing services what to do if you believe your child has hearing loss or your child is not hearing well.
How do I keep my child's vision healthy?
Eyes are sensitive organs. To help keep children's eyes safe, parents should think about eye injury prevention and ways to prevent eye strain, infections and damage. Find more tips on young children and their vision at HealthLinkBC.
- Protect your child's eyes from the sun. Ensure they wear wide-brimmed hats outdoors and sunglasses which offer full UVA and UVB protection.
- Encourage outside time.
- Do not allow your child to play or run with sharp objects including darts, scissors, sticks or pencils.
- Keep your child away from harmful chemicals.
- Limit your child's television viewing and screen time and keep them at least three metres (eight to 10 feet) away from large screens and arms' length away from smaller screens.
- See your optometrist or primary care provider if your child experiences eye infections such as pink eye (conjunctivitis) or blocked tear ducts in addition to annual exams.
How often should my child's vision be checked?
BC Doctors of Optometry recommends children receive their first eye exam when they are six to twelve months old, and one comprehensive exam every year after.
You can find an optometrist accepting new patients near you by contacting:
- BC Doctors of Optometry:
General line: 604-737-9907
Toll-free: 1-888-393-2226
Email: info@optometrists.bc.ca
Find a Doctor of Optometry - BC Doctors of Optometry
BC Medical Services Plan provides partial coverage toward the cost of an eye exam for children under the age of 19. Additional fees are set by the individual optometry clinic. It is recommended to call clinics in advance to ask about extra charges and other services such as languages spoken.
If you have any concerns about your young child's vision or concerns about your elementary-aged child's vision, you should have your child assessed by an optometrist.
Help with purchasing glasses
- Families who get financial aid can get some coverage for glasses for their children under age 19. Call 1-866-866-0800 for more information or visit Optical coverage - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
- The Healthy Kids program can help families with low income cover the cost of glasses for children under age 19. Visit Healthy Kids - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
- First Nations Health provides glasses for Indigenous children and adults. Visit Vision Care Benefit (fnha.ca)
- The At Home program can help cover the cost of glasses for children under age 18 whose vision problems are directly related to their complex health needs. Visit Medical Benefits for Children and Teens with Complex Health Needs - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
- We See BC Foundation can help families with low income by providing equitable access to high-quality vision services and rehabilitation devices. Visit We See BC Foundation.
Resources
- BC Doctors of Optometry: Children’s Resources – BC Doctors of Optometry