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.
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.
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 finances. They have an increased risk of falls and face earlier admission to long-term care facilities. Additionally, depression affects older individuals with visual impairments at more than twice the rate observed in the general population.
Underused Optometrists Could Ease ER Wait Times
Optometrists say outdated OHIP funding prevents them from treating more urgent eye cases, pushing thousands of patients to emergency rooms.
When Melanie, a government worker in the Greater Toronto Area, started to experience redness and puffiness in her eyes and sensitivity to light, she was diagnosed with pink eye at a walk-in clinic. When treatment didn’t work, she visited her optometrist.
After her optometrist examined Melanie’s eyes with a specialized tool called a slit lamp, she diagnosed her with uveitis, a potentially vision-threatening condition. Her optometrist prescribed steroid and dilation eye drops and monitored her condition closely until it was resolved.
When Windsor resident, Alex, got a bit of debris in her eye after diving for home plate during a baseball game, she called her optometrist. The optometrist removed small pieces of gravel embedded in her eye, which prevented potential infection, scarring, or swelling. Alex was given eye drops to soothe her eye, and it healed over the next couple of days.
Optometrists are trained and ready to provide more care
This is the type of care Ontario’s optometrists are specially trained and ready to provide. This is why they are asking the provincial government to modernize OHIP funding to ensure Ontarians can receive timely, high-quality eye care close to home.
Dr. Shaina Nensi, president of the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO), said that optometrists have the skills and advanced diagnostic technology to detect disease early and treat urgent cases to relieve pressure on hospitals and family doctors. But outdated OHIP funding hasn’t kept pace with the true cost of care.
“Optometrists are not able to accommodate most acute or emergency cases, so we often have those patients needing to seek care in the ER, even though optometrists have the specialized training, equipment, and the clinics to be able to handle these cases, because there isn't fair OHIP funding for those types of appointments,” Dr. Nensi says.
Current funding model is not sustainable for eye care
For example, while a family doctor may hold a few open appointment slots in their day to accommodate any urgent issues, optometrists aren't holding these slots because they would be forced to do so at a financial loss.
“The funding model is more than 35 years old. Right now, it reimburses us at $25.15 for a partial visit for a child, for example,” Dr. Nensi says. “So, in my clinic in Toronto, that is a 15-minute or a halfhour appointment for me to see a child who has glitter pieces stuck in their eye that need to be removed one at a time. If I reserved that slot in my schedule and saw that patient for $25, I'm actually losing money. Because it costs quite a bit more to keep my doors open and pay my staff and pay my rent than what the reimbursement from OHIP is for that service.”
Optometrists are an underused part of Ontario’s primary care system. With modernized funding, they can reduce ER wait times and improve access to care.
The OAO is working with the government to try and demonstrate why increasing funding for optometrists to take on emergency care and to create that capacity would benefit Ontarians and the healthcare system.
Improved funding could avoid 100,000 ER visits
“We are trying to show them that optometrists are a massive underused part of the primary care network, and that by modernizing the funding, the government can meet its own goals of reducing emergency room wait times and improving access,” Dr. Nensi says.
According to the OAO, conditions like eye infections, pink eye and corneal foreign bodies are frequent ER visits. A McMaster University-led study found that two-thirds of these types of ER visits could be managed by an optometrist.
This represents 100,000 patients who could be diverted from the ER. “It’s a better experience for the patient, who's received faster care. They would also receive better care, because that study also showed that optometrists can more accurately diagnose these eye-threatening issues than general ER staff,” Dr. Nensi says. “So, it's a better experience and better healthcare. And then patients are getting the right care, at the right time, from the right practitioner. That really does play into what the government
Dr. Shaina Nensi President, Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO)
is looking to do to improve healthcare at this time.”
9 in 10 Ontarians feel comfortable receiving optometry care
And Dr. Nensi says Ontario patients support this idea. A recent Ipsos poll commissioned by the OAO found Ontarians support the idea of expanding the role of optometrists. For example, nine in 10 Ontarians would feel comfortable receiving treatment for common eye conditions, such as infections, inflammation, or foreign body removal, from an optometrist.
Seven in 10 Ontarians support expanding the roles of optometrists as a strategy to reduce wait times for specialists. Nine in 10 Ontarians are comfortable with optometrists providing more in-office treatment, citing confidence in their level of training and continuing education.
“Ontarians do overwhelmingly trust their optometrists to do more,” Dr. Nensi says. “There really is opportunity for adoption of this model, because patients are willing. We have the capacity, and the government would welcome the relief that it would bring to the emergency room. So, it really is a win-win-win scenario if the government is willing to make this change.”
Optometrists complete a four-year postgraduate degree
Optometrists complete a four-year postgraduate degree. They provide acute and chronic eye care management and routine and preventative eye care. This includes routine vision checks, as well as diagnosis and treatment for issues such as sudden vision changes or painful or red eyes.
Right now, OHIP covers eye care by optometrists for children who are 19 and under, as well as for seniors, 65 and over. There is also coverage for adults between the ages of 20 and 64 who have conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetes. For these groups,
coverage includes routine annual care, as well as follow-up or acute care. But even for patients with coverage, it can be difficult to get a same-day, urgent appointment because optometrists aren’t able to hold appointment slots.
We have the capacity to take pressure off emergency rooms. With the right funding change, everyone benefits.
“Optometrists want to see these patients. When somebody is calling the office say their child has craft glitter stuck in their eye, it really does weigh heavy on us to have to choose between prioritizing healthcare or prioritizing the sustainability of our practices,” Dr. Nensi says. “It's not a good place that healthcare practitioners like to find themselves in. We really would like to be able to provide the care we're trained and able to provide, and that would most benefit our patients.”
WRITTEN BY Abigail Cukier
If you experience an eye concern, even one that feels urgent, contact your optometrist first. Looking for an optometrist near you? Scan the QR code.
Vision is ranked the most important sense by Ontarians.
Far above hearing, taste, smell, or touch.
Over 90% say good vision is critical to
• Quality of life
• Overall health
• Personal safety
3/4 believe increased government funding for vision care would improve public health
80%
85% of ER visits can be treated by an Optometrist.
support increased provincial funding for optometry even when told it could mean higher taxes or trade-offs.
This article was sponsored by Ontario Association of Optometrists
Protecting Your Child’s Vision from Myopia
Across Canada, more children are being diagnosed with myopia, also known as nearsightedness, than ever before.
In simple terms, myopia makes it difficult to see objects clearly in the distance, such as the classroom board or road signs. While glasses can correct blurry vision, many parents are unaware that myopia is not just a minor inconvenience. It is a progressive eye condition that tends to worsen as children grow. In fact, research suggests that by 2050, nearly half of the global population could be myopic. Canadian children are increasingly affected due to lifestyle changes that include more time spent indoors and increased use of digital devices for schoolwork and leisure activities.
Why myopia matters beyond stronger glasses
Myopia is more than simply needing stronger glasses each year. As the eye grows longer, it places stress on delicate internal structures such as the retina. Higher levels of myopia are associated with an increased lifetime risk of
serious eye diseases, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic macular degeneration.
For this reason, eye care professionals today are shifting their focus from simply correcting myopia to actively managing its progression.
Early detection is key
Many parents assume their child would complain if they could not see clearly. However, children often adapt to blurry distance vision without realizing there is a problem. Signs of myopia may include sitting too close to the TV, squinting at distant objects, frequent headaches, or holding books very close while reading.
Comprehensive eye exams are essential for detecting early myopia, particularly before the age of 12 when progression tends to occur most rapidly. Annual children’s eye exams can help identify risk factors and establish a proactive management plan if needed.
Myopia: Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
Myopia is rising rapidly in children. Early management can slow progression and help protect lifelong vision and eye health.
Myopia (nearsightedness) is not simply a prescription. It’s a progressive eye condition in which the eye grows too long, causing distance blur. And once that growth begins, it typically continues until a person reaches their mid-20s. Over time, excessive eye growth increases the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and permanent vision loss.
That’s why slowing progression matters. What happens in childhood shapes vision for a lifetime.
Providing single-vision correction alone allows the eye to elongate. The goal should be clear: every myopic child deserves treatment to slow progression. Pre-myopic children deserve strategies to delay onset. Lifestyle changes, like reducing screen time and spending more time outdoors, remain powerful and protective.
How Technology is Creating Clearer Vision For Canadians
Because myopia progression can be slowed and long-term risks reduced, myopia management should be the standard of care.
“CooperVision is proud to offer MiSight® 1 day soft contact lenses, which are scientifically proven to slow the progression of myopia,” says Dr. Nathalie Trottier, an optometrist and Professional Affairs lead at CooperVision, one of the world’s leading contact lens companies. “With contact lenses, children benefit from all-day wear, so parents can feel confident that their child is receiving an ‘always on’ treatment — an essential factor for myopia management success.”
Our vision depicts how clearly we see the world. It enables us to appreciate the small details that shape each moment of our lives. It’s one of our critical senses, but as we age, natural processes can cause our sight to lose clarity. By prioritizing our vision, we can continue to keep those important life moments as crisp and clear as possible.
Vision and clarity is something Nikon Lenswear knows all too well. Nikon has over a century of expertise in high precision optics. It focuses on delivering a premium client experience, while driving continued innovation in the field. “Nikon may be known for its camera technology, but lens innovation is a part of our DNA,” explains Denise Bernachez, President at Nikon Optical Canada, “we’ve helped bring the industry to a whole new level.”
Technology tackles blurred vision
For those in their 40s, presbyopia is a particularly common natural occurrence when one of the primary components of the eye, the crystalline lens, begins to harden and lose its flexibility. The crystalline lens plays a pivotal role in the eye’s ability to focus,
and this degradation can cause blurred vision, the inability to read small print and headaches. While this process isn’t necessarily something that can be stopped, recent lifestyle changes over the last few decades are argued to have played a role in speeding it up.
“Over the years, our behaviour has changed,” explains Denise, “In the past ten years, we’ve increased our screentime by about 40 per cent. Our eyes aren’t designed for that type of consumption.”
Luckily, in a world ripe with technological advancements, eyecare is no exception. Progressive lenses, referred to as progressives, are one such example that has helped transform the treatment of presbyopia. A type of multifocal lens, progressives reduce eye strain and correct the user's vision by allowing the wearer to seamlessly transition between three primary focal zones. At their core, they help correct near, intermediate and far vision all in one lens.
Keeping our vision clear Progressives are not a new invention, but Nikon Lenswear has continued to push the boundaries of what can be achieved for progressive lens users. Inspired by their renowned camera lenses, the company has recently
integrated their famous Z-Contrast Technology into their premium Z SERIES PROGRESSIVES. This innovation not only optimizes the width of the visual field while bettering contrast for the user, but raises the visual field higher, increasing the overall comfort of the lens. It sounds complicated but it simply means that users experience a more seamless transition when going from watching TV to reading — and with less head movement.
“It’s so important for patients to invest in the right product. Your life can be changed by choosing good quality lenses,” Denise says.
“Yes, premium lenses may be more expensive, but it’s an investment in your life that you use every second.”
Our eyes are used every second of every waking moment, yet we don’t always remember to take care of them. While natural processes like presbyopia may not be preventable, regular eye checks and ongoing conversation with an optometrist are critical to not only keeping eyes healthy but ensuring the best quality lenses are keeping your vision 20/20.
This article was sponsored by Nikon Lenswear.
This leading organization is bringing its famous camera technology to eyeglass lenses, bettering vision for millions of Canadians.
