Eye Care at Risk

September 1st Job Action

Beginning September 1st, optometrists across Ontario will stop providing OHIP insured eye exams for children, seniors and adults with OHIP covered eye conditions.

Why Job Action?

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 nor does it come close to covering the cost to provide an eye exam which can include rent, staff, utilities, equipment and supplies. Every time an optometrist performs an OHIP insured eye exam we do so at a loss.

This is not sustainable.

Optometrists in Ontario are the lowest paid in Canada. Our fees would have to increase by over 60% to reach the next lowest province. The chart above compares Ontario to other provinces that fully fund eye care.

The Government’s Offer

You may have read that 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 this may seem generous, it still leaves our fee more than 30% lower than that of Manitoba, the next lowest paid province. Unfortunately, an 8.48% increase does not make up for the past 32 years of neglecting optometry in Ontario.

We need the government to prioritize and properly fund eye care to make it sustainable for years to come.

How Does This Affect Me?

During job action, if you are a senior (65+), a child (19 and under) or an adult with OHIP covered eye conditions we will not be able to see you. If you have an appointment booked during job action our team will reach out to you and put you on a priority booking list so we can see you when job action is over. You will be contacted the Friday before your appointment in the event that it needs to be cancelled due to job action.

If you are between the ages of 20 – 64 and do not have an OHIP covered condition, we can still see you for an eye exam.

Regardless of age, if you have an eye emergency we will ensure you get taken care of.

Can I pay for the eye exam?

No. Unfortunately, provincial law prevents anyone from paying for any OHIP insured service, even if you have your own insurance.

How Can I Help?

Please visit saveeyecare.ca to sign our online petition or call/email your MPP.

Kanata-Carleton MPP: Merrilee Fullerton
Email: Merrilee.Fullerton@pc.ola.org
Phone: 613-599-3000

Tags: Eye Care, Job Action, OAO, Onpoli, Ontario, Preventative Care