Specsavers announced its plan to expand into Manitoba in the summer of 2024. The expansion, following the successful launch in Ontario, Alberta and B.C., will provide opportunities for Manitoban eye care professionals to own and run their own business.

With over 90 locations open, Specsavers is now the fastest growing network of eye care professionals in Canada. The Company cited its strong business performance, consumer demand and interest from optometrists and opticians seeking ownership opportunities outside of its existing Canadian markets for its decision to begin opening stores in Manitoba.

“We are pleased to see Specsavers is being embraced by Canadians. Our expansion into Manitoba means more Canadians will have access to comprehensive eye care and quality, affordable eyewear, as well as more opportunities for independent optometrists and opticians to start their own practice,” said Bill Moir, Managing Director, Specsavers Canada. “We are proud to already have a network of more than 200 optometrists and 250 fully licensed opticians operating across Specsavers stores since launching in November 2021. The average location is caring for over 100 Canadians each week.”  

Specsavers stores are locally co-owned by an Optometry Partner, who is a practicing optometrist, and a Retail Partner, who is an optician or an experienced retail professional. 

Specsavers provides comprehensive business support from experts in areas like administration, marketing, accounting, payroll and supply chain. With multi-million-dollar marketing campaigns driving brand and eye health awareness, Specsavers locations are averaging over $1.5 million in revenue during their first twelve months of trading.

Independent clinics located within Specsavers are wholly owned and operated by the local Optometry Partner, who receives comprehensive clinical support allowing them to focus on patient care.  

“Through an optometrist-led steering group coupled with independently owned clinics with new, advanced clinical equipment, including optical coherence tomography, Specsavers gives optometrists the tools they need to be successful in delivering patient care and to excel as a business owner,” said Naomi Barber, Clinical Services Director, Specsavers Canada.

Since launching, Specsavers has covered 100 per cent of location start-up costs for optometrists and opticians to start their own Specsavers store in communities across Canada. This investment, which averages $500,000 per location, aims to boost business ownership by independent optometrists and opticians, and help them achieve success while remaining autonomous and patient care focused.

Moir added that while the immediate focus of the expansion is Manitoba, the Company has received interest from optometrists and opticians from across Canada, and openings in other Canadian provinces may be considered in the future.

Optometrists and opticians across Canada who are interested in partnership opportunities with Specsavers can register for an upcoming online information session – Register here: join.specsavers.com/ca/info-sessions.

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November marks Diabetes Awareness Month and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) wants to educate Canadians on one of the various complications that are associated with diabetes, specifically diabetic retinopathy (DR), an eye disease that can lead to vision loss.

According to recent data, the number of adults living with diabetes worldwide is projected to soar to a staggering 642 million by 2040, underscoring the urgent need for improved diagnosis and management of DR.

“If you have diabetes, early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best protection against loss of vision,” says Dr. Phil Hooper, president of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. “Nearly 60 per cent of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Canada will develop DR within two decades of diagnosis. Therefore, the key to prevention is annual screening for early detection and intervening when necessary.”     

Diabetic retinopathy produces few symptoms until serious complications emerge, which can lead to severe vision loss or even blindness. For this reason, just testing visual acuity during an eye examination does not detect disease. Direct retinal examination by a trained professional, or where this is not possible then systematic evaluation of retinal photographs, is necessary to detect asymptomatic disease when it is most treatable.

To reduce the risk of DR, people with diabetes should regularly take the following actions:

• Keep blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol within the specified target ranges.
• Book a comprehensive eye exam every year, as early detection is the best way to prevent vision loss.
• Follow the specified diabetes regime set by your healthcare team and discuss the barriers that exist to find the best way to take care for yourself.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that develops when the blood vessels in the retina become damaged due to diabetes. The different stages and types of diabetic retinopathy include:

• Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR): This early stage may lead to retinal swelling, retinal deposits, and minor blood vessel leakage in the retina.
• Macular Edema: This condition refers to the swelling of the macula, the central area of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision, due to fluid leakage from retinal blood vessels. It is the most common cause of visual impairment in diabetes.
• Macular Ischemia: Vision blurs as small blood vessels in the retina close, depriving the macula of adequate blood supply to function correctly.
• Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: In this severe stage, abnormal blood vessels grow from the surface of the retina, potentially leading to bleeding, vision obstruction, scar tissue formation, and retinal detachment.

The economic burden of diabetes care in Canada is predicted to reach $5 billion by 2025, with $228 million allocated to indirect costs.

To address this challenge, it is imperative to enhance the efficiency of diabetes care and establish patient-centered, comprehensive models for diabetes management.

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