Vision Care Benefits: The Case for Modern Coverage to Today’s Vision Care
Vision care is changing and group benefits need to change too. On this site you will find insights into current optometrist vision care practices, including diagnostic and imaging technologies, plus diseases that can lead to vision loss if not diagnosed and treated early.
Did you know?
75% of vision loss is preventable or treatable through early detection [1]
1. Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Blindness in Canada. CNIB. https://www.cnib.ca/en/sight-loss-info/blindness/blindness-canada
Current Situation
There have been some improvements in vision care plans. Some group insurance plans cover diagnostic imaging that optometrists use to identify eye diseases early. However, vision care plan maximums for comprehensive exams are often too low to cover these advancements.
How eye disease affects working-age CanadiansWhat you’ll learn from the handbook
The 2026 version of the CAO handbook is a guide for employers/plan sponsors, advisors, and insurers about current vision care practices, including diagnostic and imaging technologies, an area where group insurance coverage often falls short.
You’ll learn about:
- Innovative diagnostic and imaging technologies that have improved optometrists’ ability to detect eye disease early
- Benefits of early detection and screening for several serious eye diseases that are chronic and can lead to vision loss
- Components of a comprehensive eye examination and when modern diagnostics and imaging are necessary
- The impact of several serious eye diseases on vision and quality of life, diseases that can affect individuals of working-age
- Gaps in provincial vision care coverage
- Closing the gaps in vision care benefits
More on our Handbook
View our series of brief videos which provide an overview of the Handbook, and the topics covered, including vision loss, eye exams and modern testing, eye disease, and closing the gaps in vision care.
Watch video series