National eye-care strategy
needed: CAO
By Denis Langlois
Canada’s aging population is
contributing to an “emerging vision
crisis” in the country, according to
the Canadian Association of
Optometrists.
The national organization, which
represents more than 5,000 doctors
of optometry in Canada, says the
number of people aged 65 years
and older will account for nearly
one-quarter of the country’s
population by 2031.
Meanwhile, the occurrence of the
four major eye diseases that contrib-
ute to vision loss in Canada - age-
related macular degeneration,
glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and
cataracts - each increases with age.
32 OPTICAL PRISM October 2018
The CAO says the cost of this vision loss has
a significant impact on Canada’s economy.
Recently, the organization presented recommen-
dations to a federal standing committee on
how the Canadian government can make eye
health and vision care for seniors a “public
health priority.”
They include things like providing federal
funding for research on healthy aging and eye
disease in seniors, such as for new treatments
and prevention measures, as well as enhancing
public awareness about eye health and creating
a comprehensive eye health and vision care
strategy.
Optical Prism recently spoke with Dr. Michael
Nelson, the CAO’s vice-president, about the
emerging vision crisis in Canada and what can
be done about it.