ADVERTISEMENT MARCH 2026 | HEALTHINSIGHT.CA
@MediaplanetCA
Please recycle
A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Vision & Eye Health
SCAN THE QR CODE Fund Important Glaucoma Research
Q&A
WITH DR. IQBAL IKE K. AHMED MD FRCSC
Protecting Vision at Every Age As one of Canada’s leading complex eye surgeons, Dr. Ike Ahmed has spent his career advancing the treatment of glaucoma and other sight-threatening conditions. In this conversation, he shares what Canadians need to know about protecting their vision at every stage of life. As one of Canada’s leading complex eye surgeons, what is the most urgent message Canadians need to hear about protecting their vision? The most important message is simple: get your eyes checked. Many serious eye conditions have no early symptoms. In children, for example, “lazy eye” can often be corrected if caught early, typically before age eight. If missed, it can become permanent and affect driving, career choices, and quality of life. I recommend children have their first eye exam around ages two to three, and then regularly after that. For adults, especially over 40, comprehensive eye exams are critical. Diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy can quietly cause irreversible damage before you notice a problem. The only way to detect them early is through a full exam that looks at the health of the eye from front to back.
With so much screen time, how can Canadians reduce eye strain? Follow the 10-10-10 rule: every 10 minutes, look at something at least 10 feet away for 10 seconds. This allows eye muscles to relax and helps prevent dryness and strain. Adjust screen distance and font size, take regular breaks, and limit evening screen use to support sleep.
Read the entire interview with Dr. Ahmed online at healthinsight.ca.
What gives you hope about the future of eye health in Canada? Digital health and artificial intelligence are opening new doors. We’re exploring ways to detect disease earlier using technology, including at-home monitoring tools and genetic testing to assess risk. Research, collaboration, and patient education are advancing quickly. With the right awareness and preventative care, we have more power than ever to protect sight for a lifetime.
Q&A
WITH DR. TAMMY LABRECHE
When Vision Changes with Age: Why Early Support Matters As Canada’s population ages, more adults are experiencing vision loss from conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. While many assume declining vision is inevitable, greater awareness of eye health services and low vision rehabilitation can help older Canadians maintain independence and quality of life. From your perspective as a clinician and educator, what are the most common vision challenges affecting Canadians as they age, and why are they often overlooked? As Canada’s population continues to age, older adults increasingly face a range of vision related health challenges, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and visual impairment resulting from stroke. Compounding these challenges is a gap in public awareness regarding the breadth of eyecare services available to support individuals. Many older adults are familiar with glasses, contact lenses, and surgical or medical interventions, yet remain unaware of the critical role low vision rehabilitation can play in helping individuals adapt to vision loss, maintain daily functioning, and preserve autonomy. Enhancing awareness of these services is essential to supporting healthy aging and improving outcomes for older adults living with visual impairment.
How does vision loss impact everyday independence, particularly when it comes to mobility, fall risk, and overall quality of life? Low vision refers to a permanent reduction in visual function that cannot be corrected with conventional glasses, contact lenses, or medial/surgical intervention. This irreversible vision loss limits an individual’s ability to perform visually guided tasks essential for daily living and has broad implications for emotional, social, and economic wellbeing. Older adults with low vision often experience greater difficulty completing routine activities such as personal care, meal preparation, shopping, and managing If you or a loved one are experiencing changes in vision, finances. They have an increased risk of falls speak with your optometrist and face earlier admission to long-term care about early detection and low facilities. Additionally, depression affects vision rehabilitation services that can help support independence older individuals with visual impairments and daily living. at more than twice the rate observed in the general population.
Publisher: Emily Green Business Development Manager: Luca Bidini Country Manager: Samantha Taylor Content & Client Success Manager: Nicole Kansakar Creative Director: Kylie Armishaw Digital Traffic Manager: Vansh Chandwaney Digital Designer: Christina Morgan. All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.