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WATERlDOCHleflE-Wednesdny.~rgunm,zou- is Adding to the to do list * " ‘ ChlldhOOd eye exams should be part of the back to school routine Br BonVRrww: ' _ % City’s Program & Activity program to make back to school Guide in today’s paper A eye exams a part of every parent's hecklist has already had some Q The City of Waterloo's Program Gr Activities success in its first year, s_ . Guide is being delivered to more than 30,000 The Ontario Association of : ;' households across the city. Optometrists started a program called Subscribers to the Waterloo Chronicle will Eye See Eye learn in 2008. which was ._ receive a copy the City’s Program & Activities Guide launched locally last year trying to high- \ as an insert in the paper. light the imponance of good eyesight \ The fall publication will be the first edition for educational development of chil- included with the Chronicle, set to be delivered dren. The association's research showed Aug. 20. Residents who do not subscribe to the thatonlyl4percentofchildrenunder » localpapercanstillpickupacopyoftheguideat ' the age of six had a comprehensive eye city facilities or browse throufli its pages at water- exam before starting school. loom/programguide staning today. Dr. Karen MacDonald. who operates Registration dates for programs and activities 3 Waterloo eye clinic with her husband are as follows: Derek. said she‘s always been amazed by that number as 25 per cent ofkids go ' Adult and Adult 55+ programs â€" Sept. 3 to school for the first time with some °Aquatics (lamâ€"Sept. 3 form of eye problem that interferes with ' Aquatics (winter) â€" Oct 28 their learning. 0 Active living and leisure programs â€" Sept. 3 “More than 80 per cent oftheir JuliaVelleJJsarmrhedbyDLKarenMacDondldothamloodlnklan ‘ oCARLtfaniâ€"ovenwsismfion learning at that age happens with their Friday. The Ontario Association of Optometrists. throuy'r the Eye See .. Eye Loam ' CARL (winter) â€"Oct. 3 visiomsothis seemsliketheproverblal programmrgeallkidstogetchecked beforethestartofschool. no-bminer that havinganeycdwckup “mm Abonusforthocephnningaheadâ€"asokat. is the thing to do," she said. “As we get to do the testing. Optometrists have wouldn't have let them pt there andget 28. YOU can register online or in person for the to the end of August and get ready to other ways to test both objectively and behind. nine-week winter aquatics session. scheduled to gear up for the school schedule we subjectively whether this isa need. "lf a child doesn't start out on the bed!“ lan- 10. 2015, An earlier registration date want to make sure the eye exam gets Children might have a harder time right foot, there is some labeling. and means Mmrners can m for the next 56850" added totheto do list.‘ communicating those problems, but even in terms of their self~confidence as soon as they receive feedback from swim The early numbers have shown there are other ways to determine the it's a blow ifthey need special help and instructors some improvement. with up to 30 per need for a prescription while checking things It's not what you really want for Sigma up forth: pm you're interested in cent of children now getting regular eye their binocular vision. your child to start off with that disad- B quick and my. exams since the local awareness pro. There is a growing understanding vantage.” gram was launched last summer. ‘lt's that addressing issues like binocular Another common condition that ~Registcronlineusingflxpresskeg _ been promising." said MacDonald. vision, or convergence insufficiency. goes undiagnosed is amblyopia. which ' Register in person It the Waterloo Memorial Especially since OHlP covers the early in children can hdp them read by simply means there might be a slight Recreation Complex. RIM Plrk. Wing 404. Albert cost of examinations for children. and the time they are in Grade 3. Those who difference in the strength of the cells McCormick Community Centre or Adult Reel!» the Eye See Eye Learn program don't master the an of reading by that processinginformation forthe rw'it eye ration Cent"? makes sure they receive a free pair of time often struggle with it their whole and the left eye, high quality eyeglasses to correct any lives. and MacDonald said this is an "liteeyesare liketwo satellite dishes Remember, “3 easier than ever to 39! Mm problems iftheyare needed. important way to give young students so they're picking up a signal.” said With the Cit)“ F“?!- DWI-m '- W‘WM “It's not hard to do,‘ said MacDonâ€" the tools to swarmed MacDonald. using a description she dmission to “mm date. tuck lnddropâ€" aid. "CHIP covers it for kids completely, “When a kids gets to Grade 2 or 3 heard from a child eye specialist. “But in programs. lt'l lVllllble for purchue It the so there really is no cost, and an eye and they've identified that there's a vision actually occurs in the occipital Waterloo Memeorlll Recreation Complex, RIM check up is generally fun ._ it isn't a learning problem, maybe a reading lobe of the brain. and there are cells in Park and Albert McCormick Community Centre st ary or intimidating thing for kids. problem. it can come down to their the visual cortex that correspond to the and userscan W itonllnerrnytime even young kids." vision or their eye-tart.“ said MacDon- right eye and ones that correspond to Buy it for yourself, share it with a friend or give MacDonald said kids don't need to ald. "lfwe audit that in [unlor Kinder tilelefieye.' it as a gift. know how to read or know their letters garten or when they are starting, we Warn“ J t . i t (r l ‘ v r L.