Some common eye care misconceptions Did your parents make you move away from the television when you were young because they thought sitting too close would hurt your eyes? Did you eat carrots thinking it would improve your eyesight? Have you...
Read more
Benefits of wearing Acuvue® Oasys® contact lenses Acuvue® Oasys® contact lenses are manufactured by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. by way of their Vistakon subsidiary which is specialized in the production of contact lenses. A specialized...
Read more
Some things to know about multifocal contacts Multifocal contact lenses provide the best of both worlds: no glasses, along with clear near and distance vision. Today, there are various multifocal contact lens options are available, so how do you...
Read more
The importance of having an eyeglasses fitting You exit the exam room following the doctor as they hand your medical chart over to their optician. With prescription printed in hand, the doctor closes with “I’ll be seeing you next year”. But is...
Read more
What are the best types of lenses for sunglasses? What do you consider the most important aspect of your sunglasses? Does your love for fashion come before the need to fully protect your eyes? It’s important to note that the primary reason for...
Read more
Top features to look for in a new pair of sunglasses The harmful effects of UV rays on skin are well known, but many people don’t know they can also cause cumulative damage to the eye. Long-term exposure to the sun can lead to eye...
Read more
What Should I Bring to a Vision Consultation? Living with vision loss can be frustrating at times. There are so many challenges, and learning new ways to see and do things is never easy. As you experience vision loss, you experience a world of...
Read more
Contacts or Glasses – Which is Better for you? Whether you choose to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction mostly depends on personal preferences. Lifestyle, comfort, convenience, budget, and aesthetics can also factor...
Read more
Are Coloured Contact Lenses Safe? Costume contact lenses, also known as cosmetic or decorative contact lenses, are contact lenses that change how your eyes look. These contact lenses can make your eyes look different in many ways, from changing...
Read more
Can you prevent Myopia in children? Myopia, which is also known as short-sightedness or nearsightedness, is a growing problem. Myopia usually begins in childhood when the eyeball grows too long, causing blurry distance vision. The condition is...
Read moreWhat can an optometrist do for me? “What can an optometrist do for me?” Doctors of optometry play an essential and ongoing role in ensuring the health of you and your family. We diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases and disorders affecting...
Read more
How to adjust to new glasses Adjusting to new glasses, whether you’ve switched to a new prescription or are wearing them for the first time, can be a challenge for some people. If you’ve never worn glasses before, simply having frames...
Read moreBeginning September 1st, Optometrists across Ontario will stop providing OHIP insured eye exams for children, seniors and adults with OHIP covered eye conditions.
For over 30 years, successive Ontario governments have ignored Optometrists. In 1989 the fee paid for an OHIP insured eye exam was $39.15, today, over 32 years later, it is on average $44.65. This has not kept up with inflation and does not come close to covering the cost. Every time we perform an OHIP insured eye exam we do so at a loss. This is not sustainable.
ONTARIO IS THE LOWEST PAID IN CANADA
Our fees would have to increase by over 60% to reach the next lowest province. The bar graph here compares Ontario to other provinces that fully fund eye care.
You may have read the government has offered us an 8.48% increase in our fees. For a senior’s eye exam that would raise our fee to $51.00. While that seems generous, it still leaves us more than 30% lower than Manitoba, the next lowest paid province, while Ontario having one of the highest costs of living in Canada. Unfortunately, an 8.48% increase does not make up for 32 years of neglect. We need the government to prioritize and properly fund eye care to make it sustainable for years to come.
Please understand that we want this issue resolved permanently so that we can continue to provide the same high level of care that we’ve always provided for your eyes and vision.
We ask that you please treat our staff with kindness and understanding during this time.
Dr. Anukool Chadda,
Dr. Kevin Ahokas,
Dr. Eric Barry,
Dr. Janet Schenk,
Dr. Paul Zaugg
[Optometrists at Mountain Eye Care]