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CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
Eye See, Eye Learn program offers free glasses to children in Nova Scotia
The Nova Scotia Association of Optometrists (NSAO) has announced a new program that will provide free glasses to some children in Nova Scotia. The Eye See, Eye Learn program provides glasses to children in primary and pre-primary in the province. The Essilor Foundation, Modern Optical and the NSAO sponsored the program, which has already provided more than 20 free pairs of glasses since its launch. 'One in four children have a vision problem that affects their learning, and some visual conditions can become permanent if they aren't identified and corrected early in life,' says Dr. Lisa Morrison, president of the NSAO, in a news release. 'This is why it is so important that children have regular eye examinations.' John Hopkins Medicine conducted a study that found improving a student's access to eyeglasses led to higher test scores in reading and math. The NSAO hopes the Eye See, Eye Learn program will improve learning outcomes in Nova Scotia and encourage regular eye checkups, the news release says. While eye exams for children under 10 are covered by MSI every two years, the NSAO says recent data has found that only one out of seven Nova Scotia children in primary and pre-primary see their optometrist regularly for a checkup. The NSAO says some serious eye conditions have no symptoms and can often go unnoticed without regular checkups, which can lead to conditions advancing to the point of being untreatable. 'I find this quite concerning,' notes Dr. Chelsea Kayed, an optometrist in Cape Breton and head of the Public Education and Children's Vision Committee for the NSAO. 'It means that children's eye problems are going unidentified and untreated during their critical developmental years.' Access to the Eye See, Eye Learn program is available for primary and pre-primary children with a valid Nova Scotia MSI card who are found to need glasses during an eye examination. More information about the program and participating optometrists can be found at For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
31-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Link between vision and learning at heart of program offering free glasses to N.S. kids
A program aimed at ensuring vision problems aren't holding Nova Scotia's youngest students back has outfitted more than 20 children with free eyeglasses since launching in February. The Eye See, Eye Learn program is open to children in pre-primary or primary who have a valid Nova Scotia health card. Shawn Creelman is a parent of one of those kids. He said his family was informed about the program during a routine eye exam when they discovered their five-year-old son needed glasses. "My wife and I are fortunate enough that we do have private insurance, but if a family didn't have that option, it's nice to know that children, especially school aged, have the opportunity to get glasses for free," Creelman said. The program already operates in a number of provinces, including throughout Atlantic Canada. In Nova Scotia, it is offered through the provincial association of optometrists. Frames for the glasses are provided through a sponsorship with eyewear distributor Modern Optical, and the lenses are provided by the Essilor Foundation, a vision-care charity. Eye exams are already covered under MSI for children nine and younger. Dr. Lisa Morrison, president of the Nova Scotia Association of Optometrists, said parents have been happy and relieved to hear about the program. "Just to not have to bear that cost burden is a really exciting thing for those parents, especially for those young kids who really do need those glasses if they're starting school," she said. Morrison emphasized the importance of children receiving eye exams before entering school, and said there is a connection between vision and learning. One in four school-aged children have a vision problem, she said, but children often don't know when they are not seeing normally. The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that children continue to have eye exams annually to ensure optimal vision and development. Morrison said most optometrists in Nova Scotia offer the Eye See, Eye Learn program. People can find a list of participating optometrists on the program's website.
