FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions?
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The Appointment
As of November 1, 2004 the Ontario Ministry of Health changed the coverage for annual eye care services in Ontario.
You may be eligible for OHIP coverage provided you have a valid OHIP card and satisfy one of the following criteria:
- Children (0-19): ONE full eye examination annually
- Adults (20 to 64 years): ONE full eye examination annually for people with certain medical conditions such as glaucoma or diabetes.
- Seniors (65 and above): ONE full eye examination annually
Note: While OHIP covers basic eye examinations for the specified age groups listed, any advanced services performed by our office are beyond the basic care that provided by OHIP and are considered uninsured services.
Please see our OHIP page for more details.
Our examination fees are set based on the recommended guidelines by the Ontario Optometric Association.
We believe that the best approach to maintaining good eyesight and eye health is through annual eye exams and good eye care. Since every patient requires individualized care, depending on your examination results, additional diagnostic procedures may be recommended. These tests, along with any follow-up appointments required to monitor a condition are billed per test.
We are pleased to offer direct billing to most major plans. Please bring in your insurance information along if you would like us to do so. If we are unable to directly bill the services and/or merchandise on your behalf, you are responsible for paying any remaining balance and submitting the forms and receipt to the insurance company yourself.
Please see our insurance page for more details.
Your insurance benefits are part of a personal contract between yourself, your employer, and your insurance provider. Due to the specific coverage tailored to each individual person, we may not be able to pre-determine the amount of coverage nor policy details that is available. You will have to contact your insurance provider and enquire within prior to your appointment date.
You can either submit an online enquiry through our website or call us directly at (416) 928 – 9000. Please understand that we are always attempting to accommodate all of our patient’s needs. If you are unable to make it to your scheduled appointment, we greatly appreciate a phone call so we may offer the time slot to someone else in need.
Vision fluctuates and people are often unaware of these changes.
Many vision loss conditions such as macular degeneration and glaucoma may not cause any noticeable changes when they first occur. As the condition progresses, it can be debilitating. With our state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging equipment, our optometrists can detect signs of eye diseases during your comprehensive eye exam. Our optometrists can provide tailored treatment and management plans to each individual before there is any permanent damage. Prevention is the key to maintaining long-term eye heath.
There is more to the eyes than just seeing 20/20. If you are a patient who has had previous refractive eye surgery, the recommendation is that you have a routine eye exam on a yearly basis to monitor the health of your eyes. Refractive eye surgery can alter your prescription but it does not change the health of your eyes.
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends children have their first eye examination between 6 and 9 months of age, and then at least one exam between ages 2-5. Early detection greatly improves prognosis for many of the eye problems seen in children.
When and how often you need to get your eyes examined is based on your age, needs, eye heath, medical history, and family eye history. Our optometrists will let you know when it is best for your next eye exam.
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends the following as a general guide:
- Infants and Toddlers (Birth to 24 months): Infants and toddlers should undergo their first eye examination between the ages of 6 and 9 months, sooner if symptomatic
- Preschool (2 to 5 years): at age 2, annually after that
- School age (6 to 19 years): annually
- Adult (20 to 64 years): every one to two years depending on ocular history
- Adults (65 years or older): annually
- Previous Lasik/Refractive surgery patients: annually
Please note that these are minimum recommendations for those with no history of eye disease. Our optometrists may recommend a more frequent examination schedule if you have signs of active disease or are at higher risk of changes.
COVID safety
The health and wellness of our patients, community, and staff is of the utmost importance to us. As essential health care providers, we continue to provide the highest level of eye care only in a safe and friendly environment you feel comfortable being in. This includes following proper safety guidelines set forth by Public Health of Canada and College of Optometrists of Ontario and taking appropriate measures against unforeseen circumstances. Here is what we are doing to ensure a safe environment (this includes but are not limited to):
Scheduling
- All visits are by appointment only
- Appointment slots are booked at greater intervals apart
- Patients are encouraged to attend appointments alone or, if necessary, with only one other support person, decision maker, translator, etc.
- Social distancing (2M=6FT) is encouraged
- Prior to their appointment, patients are pre-screened for COVID. Those with fever, COVID-19 or flu related symptoms will be asked to reschedule their appointment and seek the nearest medical help
- To allow patients access to eye care in the safest manner possible, we are now offering live online consultation services (also known as Tele-Optometry).
Patient Responsibilities
- All entering patients and visitors are required to wear a mask at all times. Those without one will not be permitted to enter and will have to reschedule their appointment. Exceptions: at the discretion of the examining Optometrist, a mask may not be required for children and infants under the age of 2
- A hand sanitizing station is readily available at our front door and at various locations throughout the clinic for patient use
- Patients are asked to refrain from contacting as many surfaces as possible during their visit
- Food and drinks are not permitted to be consumed while in the office
Safety Measures
- Staff Wellness: All doctors and staff are required to complete a COVID assessment before the start of the work day. Anyone reporting with symptoms related to COVID-19 will be required to stay at home until asymptomatic or recovered and seek medical help
- All staff on-site are equipped with PPE including face masks, protective eye and/or face wear and disposable gloves
- A breath shield has been installed at each examination station (between the patient and the Optometrist) as well as a plexiglass shield installed at the front desk area
- Heightened cleaning measures between patient interactions including all staff members frequently sanitizing their hands and disinfection with high-level cleaners against highly touched surfaces
- Contact lens order and eye care products order can be arranged with curb-side pick-up or with direct shipping to patients’ home address
We have heard from many of you that you require accessibility to eye care but are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 and its impact on your health. To allow our patients access to eye care in the safest manner possible, we are now offering live online consultation services (also known as Tele-Optometry).
While it isn't a replacement for a comprehensive eye exam, it can be used to:
- Triage and treat certain eye conditions that do not necessarily require in office visits
- Facilitate in-person visits to be brief and much safer with less time spent in the clinic
Steps for Tele-Optometry consultation:
- Request an appointment date and time with one of our optometrists
- You will need to sign and return a Tele-Optometry and Electronic Communication Consent form
- Ensure that your device is compatible with one of the available methods of Tele-Optometry service (including email, phone call, and video meeting)
- Arrive promptly and join the consultation at your scheduled appointment time via the link that we send you
There is currently no OHIP coverage for telemedicine optometry services however you may be eligible for coverage under your private insurance. The cost to access this service varies depending on the length of time and complexity required for the consultation. Not all urgent eye care matters can be managed via telemedicine, and following your consultation you may be asked to book an in-person appointment to be evaluated more thoroughly.
For more information please see our Tele-Optometry page for further details.
Please continue to check our updates page for the latest information. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our safety approach please call us at 416-928-9000.
The eye Exam
For your exam, please bring in your most recent pair of eyeglass prescription with you. If you wear contact lenses, please bring in your latest box or prescription. As well as a list of medications, eye drops, vitamins, and supplements that you are currently taking, your health card, and insurance documentation (if applicable). If you are on social assistance, please provide a copy of your drug benefit card.
Every person is different and so are your eye care needs. Our optometrists provide tailored treatment and management plans to each individual.
A typical eye examination will include:
- Review of your ocular and health history. This includes medications (including any over the counter) you may be taking, family ocular history, and any special needs you may have for your vision
- Pre-testing to establish baseline data
- Assessment of your visual acuity
- Binocular vision assessment to test your ability to use both of your eyes together and sense depth perception.
- Determination of your eyeglass prescription
- Physical examination of your eyes through lights and high magnification scopes and lenses to look for early signs of eye disease and the cause of any eye complaints
- Measurement of the pressure of your eyes to assess the risk of glaucoma
- Dilating drops may be used to give our optometrists a better look of the inside of your eyes
- Any extra testing that may be required – where indicated. Note: Some of these services are not OHIP insured
Your complete eye examination and consult with our optometrists can take anywhere between half an hour to over an hour depending on your needs.
The old saying goes that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but they can also be a window into your health. Health conditions and the medications that they are treating can affect the eyes and vision in a wide variety of ways. Systemic conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, impending stroke, diabetes, MS, autoimmune disease, brain tumours can all affect the eyes and can also be diagnosed during your eye exam. Medications often have side effects and can cause focussing problems, dry eye disease, light sensitivity, and even vision loss. In order to give you the most thorough exam, our optometrists needs to know your full health history.
Whether or not eye dilation during an exam is necessary depends on various factors including the reason for your exam, your age, your overall health and your risk of eye diseases.
The eye drops used for dilation cause your pupils to widen allowing the optometrist to have a better view of the back of your eye. It assists the doctor in diagnosing common diseases and conditions, possibly at their earliest stages including:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
After having your eyes dilated, you may experience transient blurred near vision and light sensitivity which can last for several hours. If you do not feel comfortable having your eyes dilated during your eye exam you can always reschedule for a different date.
Of course! Our optometrists screen for eye disease during every comprehensive eye exam. They are able to detect the earliest signs of ocular changes and provide tailored treatment and management plans to each individual.
Absolutely! Our optometrists are licensed to treat and prescribe a wide variety of therapeutics to manage your eye conditions. The list of eye diseases and conditions includes bacterial and viral infections, red eye from wearing contact lenses, eyelid infections and swelling, eye pain, allergies, superficial foreign bodies in the eye and glaucoma. Patients with any of these eye conditions can get prescription medications from their optometrists instead of waiting to see their family doctor, walk-in clinic or ophthalmologist.
The Prescription
The combination of these numbers on your prescription specify the power of the lenses needed to focus light clearly onto the retina. These numbers may indicate whether or not you are near or far-sighted, have astigmatism, and/or have presbyopia.
Vision may be affected by a number of factors causing the prescription to change. These include: aging, certain medical or eye conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, dry eyes, thyroid conditions, cataracts or contact lens wear. As a result, our optometrists may recommend your prescription not be filled after a particular date.
Pupillary distance, or PD, measures the distance between your pupils and is measured by the person dispensing your spectacles. An accurately taken PD is one of many measurements needed to ensure that when the eyeglasses are manufactured, the prescription lenses are correctly centered in a frame in front of your eyes. If it isn’t measured correctly, you aren’t looking through the right prescription. The PD measurement is not a required component of an eyeglass prescription, nor is it required clinical information that must be gathered as part of the eye examination.
Yes! If you ever lose or need a copy of your prescription, do not hesitate to contact us. We encourage you to keep a copy of your eyeglass prescription somewhere safe in case you ever lose or break your glasses.
An eyeglass prescription provides the basis for a contact lens prescription. Sometimes the contact lens power may be different from what is specified for glasses to account for the way contact lenses fit closer to the eye than glasses. A prescription for contact lenses contains other information that may specify the brand, material, size and curvature of the contact lenses that are most appropriate for your comfort and vision.
While consumers may perceive that buying products on the internet can be convenient and cheaper, buying medical devices such as contact lenses online without a current prescription, contact lens evaluation and regular eye examinations can be a serious risk to your eye sight and eye health. The College of Optometrists of Ontario recommends that you have your eyes assessed by an optometrist to ensure that the contact lenses are worn safely.