Frequently Asked Questions

Transparent pricing for eye exams, specialty services, and treatments at Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto. Includes OHIP coverage details, direct billing, and what to expect for out-of-pocket costs.

OHIP covers eye exams for children under 20, adults 65 and older, and adults aged 20 to 64 with certain medical conditions such as diabetes or glaucoma. Routine exams for most working-age adults are not covered by OHIP.

At Spadina Optometry, you can order contact lenses online with home delivery and automatic refills through our ordering platform. Pricing is competitive with major online retailers, and ordering through us means your lenses are always matched to your current prescription and fitting parameters.

Most employer vision plans in Ontario cover some or all of the cost of eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses. At Spadina Optometry, we direct-bill over 30 insurance providers including Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield, and Desjardins. Coverage varies by employer and plan, so bring your card or share your details before your visit.

The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides vision care coverage for eligible refugees and protected persons. Spadina Optometry is not registered with IFHP — use the official IFHP provider search to find a registered clinic near you.

Some eye symptoms need same-day assessment. Here are practical “call now” signs and what to do next.

Your first eye exam at Spadina Optometry starts before you arrive. We ask you to complete an intake form covering your health history, lifestyle, and visual demands so your optometrist can tailor the exam to how you actually use your eyes.

At Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto, we set your exam schedule based on your age, clinical findings, and risk factors — not a one-size-fits-all guideline. Children should be seen annually. Most adults benefit from exams every one to two years. Seniors and patients with diabetes, glaucoma risk, or other conditions need more frequent monitoring. We tell you exactly when to come back and why.

The best eye exam is one that is thorough, explains results clearly, and matches your health and vision needs. Not all eye exams are the same.

Spadina Optometry is in Toronto's Fashion District near King & Spadina. Convenient for King West, Queen West, the Financial District, and patients across the GTA.

Yes. Many serious eye conditions — including glaucoma and early diabetic retinopathy — cause no noticeable symptoms until significant damage has already occurred. Regular eye exams check more than vision clarity; they assess eye health.

At Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto, we fit standard, toric, multifocal, and specialty contact lenses — including scleral lenses for keratoconus, irregular corneas, and severe dry eye. If you have been told contacts will not work for you, a specialty fitting may still be possible.

Most contact lens problems come down to wear habits, not the lenses themselves. Sleeping in contacts significantly increases infection risk. End-of-day discomfort usually relates to overwear, lens age, dry eyes, or screen time. Replacing lenses and cases on schedule, using fresh solution every night, and knowing when to take lenses out early are the basics that prevent most serious problems. At Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto, we would rather answer these questions honestly than have patients guess or feel judged for asking.

Yes — many people with astigmatism wear contact lenses successfully. The key is choosing the right lens type and getting a proper fit from an optometrist.

Scleral and custom gas-permeable lens fittings for keratoconus and irregular corneas at Spadina Optometry, downtown Toronto, Ontario. $750 inclusive.

Ortho-K uses custom-fitted lenses that gently reshape the cornea overnight — giving you clear vision during the day without glasses or contacts.

Contact lenses are medical devices regulated by Health Canada. They are safe when properly fitted and used as directed, but buying lenses without a prescription, sharing lenses, or wearing unregulated cosmetic lenses can cause serious eye infections and permanent damage. At Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto, we fit coloured and cosmetic lenses alongside standard prescriptions -- you do not have to choose between looking the way you want and keeping your eyes safe.

Myopia is common in children and can worsen as they grow. Evidence-based options to slow progression include specialty lenses, orthokeratology, and low-dose atropine drops. At Spadina Optometry in Toronto, our optometrists help families choose the right approach.

Screen time doesn't directly cause myopia, but it increases risk by reducing outdoor time and increasing prolonged near work.

Dry eye disease can cause burning, redness, fluctuating vision, and contact lens discomfort. Learn common causes, types of dry eye, and typical treatment options.

Dry eye symptoms spike in Canadian winters because forced-air heating drops indoor humidity to levels that accelerate tear evaporation. Cold outdoor air, wind, and the constant transition between heated indoors and freezing outdoors stress the tear film further. At Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto, we see a seasonal increase in dry eye complaints from November through March and can help patients manage flare-ups before they become chronic.

Spadina Optometry offers meibography and advanced dry eye diagnostics in downtown Toronto. Learn what meibography shows, who needs it, and how it improves dry eye care.

Spadina Optometry offers TempSure Envi thermal radiofrequency dry eye treatment in downtown Toronto, Ontario. Learn how it works, who it helps, and what to expect.

Digital eye strain is caused by prolonged near focus, reduced blinking, and poor workstation ergonomics -- not blue light from screens. Current evidence does not support blue light lenses as a treatment for eye strain, though some patients find blue light coatings reduce glare and improve screen contrast. What makes the biggest difference is taking longer breaks from near work, setting up your workstation properly, and having an up-to-date prescription. At Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto, we assess screen-related symptoms and recommend solutions based on what we find during your exam.

The single biggest workstation factor in computer eye strain is monitor distance and height -- arm's length, top at or just below eye level. Lighting that prevents the screen from being the brightest surface in your field of view comes next, followed by genuine break habits. Software helpers like Night Shift, f.lux, and break-reminder apps support comfort but do not fix an outdated prescription or untreated dry eye. At Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto, we assess workstation-related symptoms during every comprehensive eye exam and recommend the right combination of habits, software, and lens setup.

Drops do not fix digital eye strain itself -- the underlying problem is sustained near focus and reduced blinking. But much of what patients call eye strain is really tear-film dryness unmasked by screen work, and the right drop can make a real difference. Preservative-free aqueous tears are the daytime baseline, lipid-restoring drops address the most common form of dry eye in screen users, and a gel or ointment at bedtime helps if mornings feel gritty. At Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto, we stock these in clinic and through our online store, and recommend based on what we find during a dry eye assessment.

At Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto, we talk to parents about digital eye strain at nearly every children's exam. Screen time is not going away, so we focus on practical steps that actually help: longer breaks from near work, proper posture and lighting, outdoor time, and knowing when symptoms need clinical attention rather than just habit changes.