Expert Kids’ Eye Care at Empress Eye Clinic
Introduction:
Healthy vision is essential for your child’s growth, learning, and confidence. At Empress Eye Clinic in North York (Empress Walk Mall), our experienced optometrists provide comprehensive children’s eye exams in a welcoming, family-friendly environment.
Why Are Children’s Eye Exams Important?
Vision problems often begin at an early age, and children may not realize or express that they can’t see clearly. Undetected eye conditions can affect:
- Reading and school performance
- Hand-eye coordination and sports
- Focus, confidence, and behavior
Regular eye exams help detect and manage common pediatric eye conditions, including:
- Nearsightedness(myopia)
- Farsightedness & astigmatism
- Lazy eye (amblyopia)
- Eye misalignment (strabismus)
- Screen-related eye strain
When Should Children Have an Eye Exam?
We follow the Canadian Association of Optometrists’ guidelines:
- Infants: First eye exam between 6–9 months
- Preschoolers: At least one exam between ages 2–3
- School-age children (6–19): Yearly exams
What to Expect During a Child’s Eye Exam
We make children feel comfortable while performing a thorough eye health and vision check. Exams may include:
- Age-appropriate vision testing
- Eye muscle and alignment tests
- Depth perception and binocular vision
- Prescription check
- Eye health screening using gentle, non-invasive tools
If needed, we also provide:
- Prescription glasses for children
- Myopia management (Ortho-K, specialty contact lenses, lifestyle guidance)
- Referrals to pediatric ophthalmologists
Our Family-Friendly Approach
At Empress Eye Clinic, we’re proud to provide child-friendly care with:
- A calm, stress-free environment
- Optometrists and eye care staff who work well with kids
- Advanced diagnostic equipment for all ages
- A focus on education for both kids and parents
We make eye care easy, informative, and positive — for the whole family.
Book Your Child’s Eye Exam Today
Give your child the best start in life with healthy, clear vision. Schedule a children’s eye exam with our trusted team in North York.
Located at RioCan Empress ( Empress Walk), on the 2nd floor
📞 Call us or book online now!
Signs Your Child May Need an Eye Exam
Book an exam if you notice your child has:
- Eye redness, misalignment, or sensitivity to light
- Squinting, rubbing, or excessive blinking
- Head tilting or closing one eye to see better
- Headaches or sore eyes
- Trouble focusing in class
- Sitting too close to screens
Why are Eye Exams Important for Your Child?
Vision is a critical component of how your child grows and develops. Your child’s vision helps them interact with the world around them, and not being able to see properly can significantly impact how they learn and move through the world.
Unfortunately, children often don’t realize they have vision issues at all, which means you may never know if your child is suffering from an eye condition until it gets serious.
This is why eye exams are crucial. A routine eye exam allows your child’s optometrist to examine their overall vision, check for eye diseases, and evaluate their eye health.
Our team of eye doctors and eye care staff at Empress Eye Clinic in North York, Toronto, is dedicated to protecting your child’s eye health and vision through every step of their development.
Your Child’s Exam Schedule
Depending on your child’s age, the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) recommends that your child should get an eye exam based on the following guidelines:
Infants
When your child is 6–12 months old, they should get their first eye exam. At this age, your child is beginning to develop hand-eye coordination, and their optometrist will look for any signs of amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) that can disrupt this learning process.
2–5 Years of Age
When your child is 2–5 years old, it’s time they receive their second eye exam. This exam allows your child’s optometrist to check your child’s visual abilities and check for any signs of eye conditions that could affect their learning before they enter school.
6–19 Years of Age
Once your child begins Grade 1, they should start receiving regular yearly exams. Every year, your child’s optometrist will examine their entire visual system, check for any eye conditions, and ensure that any issues are being identified and corrected.
How to Tell if Your Child is Experiencing Vision Issues
Children don’t often know when they are experiencing symptoms of poor vision because they have nothing to compare it to. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your child, book an appointment with their eye doctor:
- Red, itchy, or watery eyes
- Excessive squinting, rubbing, or blinking
- Closing one eye or tilting the head to see
- Sensitivity to light
- Lack of concentration, especially at school
- Holding objects close to their face to see
- Complaints of a headache or sore eyes
- Eye Misalignment
Your child’s optometrists have extensive training to diagnose and manage eye diseases, as well as prescribing corrective eyewear or contact lenses if necessary.
Come See Us
Your child’s vision matters to us. With the help of our incredible eye care team, you can help protect and preserve your child’s vision. Book your child for their eye exam today!
FAQ
Q1: At what age should my child have their first eye exam?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends a first eye exam between 6–12 months old, another between ages 2–5, and then annual exams from age 6 through 19.
Q2: How do I know if my child needs an eye exam?
Signs may include squinting, rubbing eyes, closing one eye to see, headaches, poor concentration, holding objects close, or struggling with reading. Even without symptoms, regular exams are important for early detection.
Q3: What are the most common vision problems in children?
Common conditions include nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness, astigmatism, amblyopia (lazy eye), and strabismus (eye misalignment). These can often be corrected or managed if detected early.
Q4: Do you offer myopia control for children in North York?
Yes. At Empress Eye Clinic, we provide myopia management options such as Ortho-K lenses, specialty soft contacts, and lifestyle guidance to help slow the progression of nearsightedness in children.
Q5: How often should my child get new glasses if needed?
Children’s vision can change quickly. We recommend annual exams to keep prescriptions up-to-date, or sooner if you notice your child struggling with vision.
Our Location
Empress Eye Clinic
5095 Yonge Street, Unit B6
North York, Ontario
M2N 6Z4
Located at Empress Walk Mall at the corner of Yonge and Empress Avenue. Near Yonge and Sheppard and Yonge and Finch. We serve patients from North York, Willowdale, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Bayview Village, Markham, Yonge- Eglinton, Lawrence Park, York Mills, and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Our office is directly accessible by the Yonge-University Subway from North York Subway Station. It is also easily accessible by vehicle from Hwy 401
Address
- 5095 Yonge Street Unit B6
- North York, ON M2N 6Z4
Contact Information
- Phone: 416-223-4500
- Fax: 647-343-0347
- Email: info@empresseyeclinic.com
Hours of Operation
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 07:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM – 07:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 07:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 06:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 07:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 05:00 PM |
| Sunday | closed |
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Testimonials
Wow, what a great experience! I was able to book a same-day appointment after calling multiple optometrists in the area with an eye emergency. Both Dr.Heshmati and Dr.Habib took their time with me – it didn’t feel rushed at all, and they always ensured I was comfortable and were diligent in getting to the solution of my issue! Not only were the doctors exceptional, but the front desk staff went above and beyond to ensure I had my following appointments booked and that I had all my questions answered! All in all, fantastic experience. I highly recommend this location and wish other practices held to their standard.
Monica Logan
Everyone I interacted with was very friendly, respectful, and attentive. From the person who did the eye tests to the person who helped with the glasses.
The doctor was also great. He didn’t rush and took his time explaining his observations and the next steps. He truly cares. As a healthcare professional myself, I know when I see exemplary patient care.
Thank you for the awesome service
Leonardo Faundez
I’ve never had an eye appointment before so I didn’t know what to expect. The staff was absolutely wonderful! Dr Heshmati was so kind and thorough and knowledgeable…he explained everything he was going to do so well and helped me with my prescription.
I had help from a wonderful lady whose name I didn’t catch…she helped me pick out the perfect frames for my new glasses and was so patient and helpful.
The staff was so friendly and approachable. I had a great experience and I highly recommend this clinic to anyone needing their eyes checked!
Deena P
I wish I knew this eye clinic earlier! The eye exam was very thorough and Dr. Habib explained in detail about our testing results. The clinic has advanced machine to detect eye problems that are not normally checked. The front desk assistant was very professional as well and helped us finding eye glasses. Clinic is super clean!
Davis Rebecca
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