February 15, 2025

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Wait lists for eye treatment to grow in rural Alberta with coverage changes: optometrists

Wait lists for eye treatment to grow in rural Alberta with coverage changes: optometrists

The wait for eye care and treatment in rural Alberta will get even longer with changes to optometry coverage made by Alberta Health, says the president of the Alberta Association of Optometrists.

Starting Feb. 1, optometrists will no longer be able to complete basic eye services and medically necessary care on the same day which means returning for another appointment. 

“It will essentially increase the volume of demand on optometrists, whereas a lot of it could be done more efficiently in the same day,” said Dr. Sophia Leung.

“That can actually delay a proper assessment. That can delay potentially any treatment. That can delay the referral process. It basically moves the needle back further and further for that condition to be managed, to be treated and this can have a very negative impact,” she said, referring to irreversible vision loss and blindness.

Other coverage changes include reducing the frequency of retinal imaging and photography by 50 per cent, and the delisting of partial eye exams.

She said the coverage changes will have significant impacts on Albertans with chronic eye health conditions, especially children and seniors. 

With more screen time, optometrists are also diagnosing more children with nearsightedness and without partial exam coverage, follow up becomes more challenging to address rapid changes in eyesight which can impact learning, she said. 

“It’s surprising the amount of visual related issues that are linked to learning problems. It’s going to impact quality of life,” Leung said. 

A statement from the Minister of Health’s office said changes to optometry coverage will better align Alberta’s coverage with other Canadian jurisdictions and to improve efficiencies in the system.

“We are working to better align program costs with other provinces, and to make responsible decisions when it comes to funding the priorities of today, maintaining core services, paying off debt, and saving for the future,” the minister’s office said. 

“Alberta’s spending on optometry services is the highest in the country. Alberta is also the only jurisdiction in Canada that covers an annual partial routine eye exam for children and seniors, in addition to a complete eye exam every year. Under these changes, children and seniors will still be covered for one complete eye exam each year, and medically necessary eye care will continue to be available for Albertans of all ages.

“Ultimately, this approach ensures that health funding is used where it is most needed and helps maintain a fiscally responsible, sustainable, effective health care system,” the office said. 

Leung said Alberta Health could have learned the true impact of the changes by consulting with the Alberta Association of Optometrists which is waiting for a meeting with Alberta Health. Hopefully, the changes can be stopped.

“These changes are far-stretching and very negative,” Leung said. 

To learn more about the coverage changes, visit optometrists.ab.ca/savingvision.

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