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News - Ontario
Association reminds Ontarians: Annual eye exams for those with diabetes still funded by OHIP
TORONTO, ON (January 11, 2013) - Findings from a study conducted by Dr. Tara Kiran, a researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital and a research fellow at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), revealed that adults with diabetes in Ontario are getting significantly fewer government-funded eye exams than 10 years ago.
The possible explanation for this decline is confusion around a policy change to coverage for optometry services in 2004, which involved delisting routine eye exams from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for healthy adults under age 65. Many Ontarians are not aware that public coverage remains in place for routine eye examinations to support people with some chronic health conditions, including diabetes.
“The decline in the number of regular eye exams for people living with diabetes is a serious concern,” says Dr. Janet Hux, Chief Scientific Advisor for the Canadian Diabetes Association. “Regular eye examinations are crucial to prevent vision loss and to maintain the eye health for people living with diabetes.”
People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts at a younger age and are twice as likely to develop glaucoma. However, diabetic retinopathy is the main threat to vision and the most common cause of new cases of legal blindness in people of working age. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy there may be no symptoms, which is why it is important for people with diabetes to have regular eye exams.
“By the time someone with diabetic retinopathy notices changes in their vision, the opportunity for prevention has been lost,” adds Dr. Hux. “However, if retinopathy is detected at an early stage, it can be effectively treated with laser therapy.”
The Canadian Diabetes Association recommends that the Government of Ontario take immediate measures to ensure healthcare providers and people living with diabetes are aware that eye exams remain publicly covered, and work with healthcare providers to remind patients with diabetes to have their eyes examined regularly.
About the Canadian Diabetes Association
The Canadian Diabetes Association is a registered charitable organization, leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our professional staff and more than 20,000 volunteers provide education and services to help people in their daily fight against the disease, advocate on behalf of people with diabetes for the opportunity to achieve their highest quality of life, and break ground towards a cure. Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).
To find an eye health specialist in your community, please visit: http://www.optom.on.ca/find_an_optometrist
For more information, please contact:
Katie Ostler
Communications Manager, Ontario
Canadian Diabetes Association
P: (416) 408-7088
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