The McGuinty government is making changes to the way OHIP insures routine eye exams, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.
Effective today (November 1, 2004) people with medical conditions affecting eyesight will receive increased coverage, while adults between the ages of 20 and 64 will no longer be covered.
"We are making changes to ensure that the people most at risk for eye problems receive the care they need," Smitherman said. "With these changes, hundreds of thousands of people in this province with medical conditions that affect their eyes will have more access to eye care than they have ever had before."
The nearly 600,000 Ontarians with conditions like diabetes, glaucoma and cataracts will be eligible to receive an OHIP-insured major eye exam once a year. Prior to this date, they were only covered for exams by optometrists once every two years.
"I am pleased that the Ontario government is enhancing eye care for people with diabetes," said Gary O'Connor, Area Executive Director, Greater Toronto-Central South. "This change is consistent with the Canadian Diabetes Association's Clinical Practice Guidelines."
"A top priority in eye care must always be anticipating and preventing future problems," said Andrew Budning, Chair of the Section of Ophthalmology at the Ontario Medical Association. "By increasing access and providing the best quality eye care by the most qualified professionals to people with sight threatening medical conditions the government is doing just that."