Vision Care Best Practices
Like other areas of healthcare, vision care is a constantly evolving field. The comprehensive eye examination that optometrists deliver today is not the same as it was in the 1990s or early 2000s. There have been many new technological and clinical advances in the 21st century which improve the ability of optometrists to detect eye disease early, particularly in those over 40 who are most likely to develop eye disease, many of whom are in the working population. Artificial Intelligence is an emerging technology that research has shown can enhance diagnostic imaging and help detect early signs of eye diseases that can lead to blindness as well as other systemic diseases.[2]
Based on recent industry surveys some group vision care plans have adapted to include coverage and an allowance for these innovations, but maximums can often be low compared to optometrists’ reasonable and customary fees, particularly in urban areas. Reviewing and adjusting coverage and maximum allowances will make a substantive difference in the vision care outcomes of working Canadians.
2. Abbasi N., Wong A., and Bizheva K, "A Physics-Informed Diffusion Model for Super-Resolved Reconstruction of Optical Coherence Tomography Data", IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 72, pp. 2937-2946, 2025
Vision Care Benefits Handbook
In our 2026 update you will find information on common eye diseases, the impact on quality of life of vision diseases compared to other diseases, the essential role of diagnostic imaging tools in comprehensive examinations, and how to close the gaps in vision care.
For a one-on-one discussion about vision care or a hard copy of the handbook contact info@opto.ca.
Did you know?
The prevalence of myopia, near sightedness, is increasing globally. Unmanaged myopia increases the lifetime risk of diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment and myopic maculopathy. Proactive management can slow myopia progression.
Beyond Eye Health
Current diagnostics and imaging also play an important role in identifying non vision related diseases including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, tumors, Crohn’s disease, and many others. The integration of Artificial Intelligence is bringing new insights for optometrists.
With today’s diagnostic and imaging tools, and new horizons in AI, the comprehensive eye examination becomes one of the best and most cost-effective preventive screening and diagnostic tools available.
Current Diagnostics, Diagnostic Tools and Imaging
For the majority of patients, optometrists use one or more modern diagnostic or imaging tools during a comprehensive examination or during a follow-up (recall) examination. These tests are performed as a baseline for future comparison, or when age, personal, or family medical history, or other factors indicate risk of disease.
Follow-up or recall examinations may be scheduled to readminister one or more of these tests if the initial results during a comprehensive examination indicate that further monitoring is required sooner than 24 months.
Diagnostic and Imaging Tools
Here are the most common modern diagnostic and imaging tools used by optometrists to diagnose and monitor eye disease, and identify many non-vision related diseases:
Vision Care Benefits Handbook
In our 2026 update you will find information on common eye diseases, the impact on quality of life of vision diseases compared to other diseases, the essential role of diagnostic imaging tools in comprehensive examinations, and how to close the gaps in vision care.
For a one-on-one discussion about vision care or a hard copy of the handbook contact info@opto.ca.