Canadians do not visit optometrists for eye emergencies

Monday, May 25 2015 | 00 h 00 min | News

In eye care emergencies, more Canadians rush to the emergency room or their family doctor rather than to an optometrist.

According to a poll sponsored by Doctors of Optometry Canada, many Canadians believe that optometrists offer only elective procedures such as eye exams or cataract screenings. Fewer than 20% of Canadians said they would visit the optometrist for eye irritation or inflammation.

Optometrist Dr. Surjinder Sahota says, “People are not taking advantage of this health resource because they don’t realize that optometrists have the training and equipment to treat a range of acute eye conditions, or that most can see patients the same day if the matter is deemed urgent.”

There were more than 36,000 visits to the emergency room for conjunctivitis in Canada last year, making it one of the 10 most common causes for avoidable trips to the ER.

Further Information: http://blog.doctorsofoptometry.ca/access-specialized-eye-care-when-you-need-it-most/