Your Vision, your vote:
A Better Future for Eye Care in Ontario
2025 Provincial Election Resources
Every Ontarian deserves access to timely, high-quality eye care. With the next provincial election on February 27th, 2025, we must stand together and advocate for policies that ensure better access to eye care for all Ontarians.
Optometrists across Ontario are ready to deliver better care, but we need your support to ensure our healthcare system prioritizes vision care at a level that matches its importance to public health.
The Need for Change:
Why this election matters for you
Vision care is about more than just seeing clearly. It’s about quality of life, independence, and safety for Ontarians of all ages. Yet, right now, many Ontarians face long wait times and limited access to the care they need. Why? Because the system is outdated and optometrists are not empowered to provide the care they are qualified and ready to deliver.
Key Issues Ontarians are Facing:
Delays in Care
Ontarians face long wait times for eye care as outdated policies force unnecessary referrals when optometrists could provide treatment directly. Modernizing the scope of practice for optometrists means faster, more direct care and fewer unnecessary referrals, benefiting every Ontarian with timely treatment.
Inadequate Funding
OHIP reimbursement for eye exams is lagging, making it harder for optometrists to sustain care. Fairer funding ensures better access to equitable, ongoing access to eye care for all Ontarians, and helps optometrists continue providing care that is both high-quality and accessible.
Priorities For Optometry
The Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) is taking steps to advance these key goals:
01
Modernizing Optometrists' Scope of Practice
To ensure better access to vision care for Ontarians while working collaboratively with other health care providers.
02
Ensuring Fair OHIP Remuneration
To maintain the high level of care our patients deserve and stay at the forefront of the latest eyecare technologies, fair and adequate remuneration is essential.
01
Modernizing Optometrists' Scope of Practice
Modernizing the scope of practice for optometrists will improve access to timely, high-quality eye care, especially in underserved rural areas leading to better patient outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system.
OAO advocates for enhancing patient care through expanded Services in the following areas:
- Authorizes optometrists to prescribe a broader range of medications that they are already knowledgeable and trained to do safely, reducing the need for specialist referrals.
- Provides better management of chronic eye conditions like glaucoma and dry eye, preventing vision loss and resulting in expedited treatment and care for the patient.
- Improves continuity of care, allowing patients to receive faster treatment without unnecessary delays.
- Expands optometrists’ ability to conduct advanced tests for early disease detection.
- Helps identify serious eye conditions sooner, preventing complications and vision loss.
- Reduces the burden on the healthcare system leading to shorter wait times for all patients.
- Allows optometrists to perform certain procedures such as removing foreign objects, eliminating unnecessary ER visits.
- Eases strain on the broader healthcare system, leading to faster care for other medical emergencies.
- Saves patients time and money by reducing unnecessary referrals and travel to specialists.
02
Ensuring Fair OHIP Remuneration
Fair remuneration is essential for optometrists to continue providing high-quality eye care and keeping pace with advancements in eye care technology.
- Ensures sustainable patient care, allowing optometrists to maintain the level of service Ontarians deserve.
- Supports investment in modern diagnostic tools and technology, improving early detection and treatment of eye conditions.
- Helps retain and attract optometrists, ensuring continued access to eye care, especially in underserved areas.
Adequate OHIP funding will allow optometrists to focus on patient care without financial strain, ultimately benefiting the entire healthcare system.
03
Access to Provincial Electronic Health Records & Hospital Privileges
Granting optometrists access to provincial electronic health records (EHR) and hospital privileges will improve patient care coordination and efficiency.
- Enhances continuity of care by allowing optometrists to access and update patient medical histories, leading to better-informed treatment decisions.
- Reduces duplication of tests and procedures, saving time and healthcare costs for both patients and the system.
- Enables seamless collaboration with other healthcare providers, ensuring faster referrals and more integrated patient care.
04
Protecting the Autonomy of the Profession
Maintaining optometrists’ professional autonomy is essential to delivering high-quality, patient-centered eye care.
- Preserves independent clinical decision-making, ensuring treatments are based on patient needs rather than external pressures.
- Supports innovation and adaptability, allowing optometrists to integrate new technologies and best practices into their care.
- Strengthens the profession’s role in healthcare, empowering optometrists to advocate for policies that benefit patients and improve access to eye care services.
By securing access to essential healthcare tools and protecting professional autonomy, optometrists can continue to provide efficient, high-quality care to Ontarians while contributing to a stronger healthcare system.
This election, we must ensure that eye care is a priority in Ontario’s healthcare system.
Join us in making a difference!
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