EYE FOCUS | SPECIAL FEATURE
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit
the eyecare industry hard.
Since clinics were forced to close
in mid-March, 95 per cent of
optometrists saw their revenues
drop 75 to 80 per cent, according
to data collected by the Ontario
Association of Optometrists
(OAO).
AS OPTICIANS, I FEEL WE NEED TO BE
INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE IN OUR
APPROACH TO THIS NEW NORMAL AND FROM WHAT
I SEE HAPPENING AROUND ME, I THINK WE ARE
RISING TO THIS CHALLENGE MAGNIFICENTLY.
ship with the provincial government.
Dr. Salaba says the neglect goes
back 30 years.
“We are fighting not just for our
survival, but for a long-term solution
that protects patients and
public health,” added Dr. Salaba.
“We ask the government to come
to the table with a commitment
to succeed where previous governments
failed. Either cover the
true cost of eye exams or give
optometrists more flexibility in our
billings. Optometrists are ready
to adapt to ensure Ontarians get
the accessible and quality eye care
they deserve.”
It’s the new reality of eye care
professionals forced to shell out
additional dollars for personal
protective equipment and reduce
the number of patients they can
see until a vaccine is developed and
administered to the public. Many
experts agree that might not be for
another couple years.
“If the costs to deliver services are
covered, optometrists would be in
position to hire additional staff and
resource extending hours to take
additional load off of the eye care
system. We want to build an eye
care system that is fair and sustain-
Now able to resume practicing, it’s
anything but business as usual for
clinicians across the province.
Strict physical distancing guidelines
have reduced patient volumes
by 50 per cent.
That means over the next 12
months, two million patients
in Ontario alone won’t get the
comprehensive eyecare exam they
need and deserve.
The Ontario data provides a snapshot
of the challenges facing the
industry across Canada.
Dr. Sheldon Salaba, president of
the Ontario Association of Optometrists,
says optometrists in
the province can’t reopen practices
that have been financially
devastated by COVID-19, only to
provide OHIP-insured services at
an even greater loss.
“If this happens, practices in both
rural and urban communities will
struggle to survive,” he says.
“It’s time for Ontario’s elected officials
to open their eyes to a crisis
that’s about to become painfully
visible for all to see.”
Ontario’s health care providers
have long had a tenuous relationable
for our patients,” says Salaba.
Despite the harsh reality of life
during the pandemic, some have
been able to see a silver lining.
Michelle Skinner is an optician
and owner of Cowna’s Optical in
St. John’s, Nfld, and she believes
the situation has turned out much
brighter than anyone might have
anticipated.
“Customers are loving having
scheduled appointments and the
‘white glove’ service it affords. It
has streamlined operations in that
only the more serious customers
are booking optical appointments.
It has allowed more efficient time
management and utilization of employees...the
‘drop in and browse’
days may be over.
But is that a bad thing?
Cases of COVID-19 in Canada are
trending in the right direction for
now, but Skinner knows a second
wave is likely and she’s urging her
colleagues in the industry to be
prepared.
“As opticians, I feel we need to
be innovative and creative in our
approach to this new normal and
from what I see happening around
me, I think we are rising to this
challenge magnificently.” EF
EYE FOCUS | September Digital 2020 15