An historic agreement is reached by the Ontario Government and the Ontario Association of Optometrists.

Members of the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) ratified a brand-new, four-year funding agreement with the Ontario Government on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The OAO’s expert advice, gleaned from months of bilateral discussions with the Ministry of Health, and the best clinical evidence and expert opinion for providing appropriate eye care inform the amendments to this agreement.

“The manner in which eye care is conveyed has changed over the course of the last 10 years,” said Sylvia Jones, Representative Head and Clergyman of Wellbeing. ” We were able to reach a sustainable and long-term agreement together. People of all ages will continue to have access, via their OHIP card, to high-quality, publicly funded eye care that better reflects the most recent best practices and expert advice.

Dr. Josephine Pepe, President of the Ontario Association of Optometrists, stated, “I am pleased to announce that we were able to work through a new historic four-year funding agreement.” We will collaborate to ensure that optometrists can continue to provide the high-quality care Ontarians deserve now and in the future.

For some OHIP-insured optometry services and eye exams provided to social assistance recipients, payments to optometrists will rise on April 1, 2023.

Changes made as part of the agreement will start on September 1, 2023, to help make it easier for people with chronic diseases like glaucoma and diabetes-related ocular complications to get care. Seniors determined to have a qualified ailment requiring progressing observing will keep on getting an OHIP-protected yearly eye test as well as two subsequent minor evaluations. An OHIP-insured eye exam every 18 months and two additional follow-up minor assessments will continue to be provided to seniors who do not have an eligible medical condition, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetes.

This agreement does not alter the eligibility coverage for Ontarians receiving social assistance or children.