Partners in Care Opening Remarks by Dalie Schellen, President of the Opticians Association

Partners in Care Opening Remarks by Dalie Schellen, President of the Opticians Association of Canada

Opticians are an integral part of the Vision care team. They are trained experts who specialize in the design and fit of lenses and all types of vision enhancing devices. These devices could be spectacle lenses (glasses), contact lenses, products such as low-vision aids or even opthalmic prosthetics (artificial eyes, also known as an ocular prosthesis) for people in need of vision care.

Today we are here to bring attention to Canada’s first Patient Charter for Vision Care. CNIB has a strong historical story of creating positive frameworks for the delivery of low vision services. They have proven themselves to be a leader in the field. The Opticians Association of Canada applauds the efforts of CNIB and was proud to work alongside them and the other vision care practitioners in the creation of this Charter. We are particularly cognisant of our role in the vison health care continuum and we believe that through the continued collaboration of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Opticians we can support the intent of this Charter to bring to fruition a better standard of care for Canadians with vision care needs.

According to CNIB’s National Report on Vision Health, protective glasses can prevent eye injuries from all types of activities – but many Canadians don’t wear them when they should.

Many eye injuries occur as a result of high-risk activities around the home and in recreational settings. However only 31% of Canadians report wearing proper eye protection always or often in their workshop, only 23% while doing yardwork, and only 20% while playing sports – increasing the risk of injuries causing vision loss.

Consider that 700 Canadian workers sustain preventable eye injuries each day, if we include sports and other even everyday activities that number rises exponentially into over 700,000 cases of eye injuries per year in Canada. Protecting your eyes with the right eyewear can prevent those injuries from happening—that includes safety glasses, goggles, safety shields, and eye guards that are made of polycarbonate or trivex materials which is 10 or more times stronger than other plastics. Most licensed eye care providers can supply advice and products which will help prevent injury.

CNIB’s report also indicates a strong majority of Canadians across all age groups wear glasses or contact lenses –Seven out of 10 Canadians surveyed (71%) report they wear glasses or contact lenses, with the strongest results among Canadians aged 55 and up (80%).

Furthermore, opticians report some vision care consumers believe that because they wear regular prescription glasses they are protected from eye injury. The facts are that unless this eye wear is specifically made in compliance with Canadian safety standards and task approved they may not provide adequate protection and in some cases can exasperate the circumstances of the injury.

Canadians deserve best in class vison care and access to vision care services. This Charter is an important step.

The 7000 opticians in Canada have dedicated themselves to providing vison care services to all Canadians at an affordable sustainable level. The vison care landscape is changing in Canada with more patient centered care and more educated vision care consumers we must ensure a high standard of care and that the choices provided to Canadians are grounded upon evidence based facts. Eye care professionals, Opticians Optometrists and Ophthalmologists have come here today to show we are united in our support for CNIB and our Charter for Patient Care. The Opticians Association of Canada pledges to support the Charter and its initiatives.