Vision or optical clinics provide eye assessments and suggestions for your glasses or contact lenses.
Tips & Links
- Healthlink BC recommends that you get an eye exam every 2 years after 65 years of age. Share any vision changes with your physician, nurse practitioner, and care partners.
- There are 3 health professionals you might see at a vision clinic — an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or optician. An optician may provide teaching about your prescriptive lenses.
- An optometrist is an eye care professional who examines, diagnoses, and treats changes in the aging eye such as cataracts and glaucoma. They are the first level of medically trained eye specialists. Optometrists are licensed by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.
- Ophthalmologists can evaluate and treat eye problems just as an optometrist can, but they are specially trained to care for more serious eye diseases and to perform surgery.
- You need a referral from your physician to see an ophthalmologist for cataract or eye surgery.
- Prepare for an eye exam by taking all the eyeglasses you wear (including drugstore readers) and sunglasses, bringing sunglasses for driving home, and bringing your medication list (including any eye drops).
- Learn about what eye services are covered by medical services plan (MSP) such as an annual eye exam for seniors over 65 years of age, trauma to the eye, or diseases such as diabetes that can impact vision. The medical services plan (MSP) does not cover the cost of eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Tools – Handouts & Videos
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