Data shows nearly 90 per cent of Ontario children under 4 didn’t get an eye exam and the Eye See Eye Learn program wants to change that.

Starting on July 1st any child in North Bay in Junior Kindergarten, or who was born in 2011 and has an OHIP card will be eligible for an eye exam and a free pair of glasses, if needed, from participating optometrists.

Kim Sauve took her 5 year old son Reed for such an exam and she says it’s made a world of difference for him.

Sauve says glasses are expensive too and many parents can’t afford the price of up to 300 dollars in some cases.

Local optometrist Dr. Kristen Kincaid says children as young as 4 need to have their eyes tested because an eye exam can identify the need for glasses and not knowing that information can lead to learning problems for the child in school.

For more information on the program and participating optometrists go to www.eyeseeeyelearn.ca