Adult & Seniors Comprehensive Exams

At first glance, many think a comprehensive eye exam is just a vision test, but, getting your eyes checked can have benefits that go well beyond the optometry chair.

Because of the eye’s small nerves and blood vessels, delicate structures, and close proximity to your brain, a comprehensive eye exam is one of the least invasive steps you can take to protect your overall health. Not only can your optometrist assess your eye health, they can identify symptoms of conditions elsewhere in the body like brain tumors, aneurysms, high blood pressure and diabetes. 

Brain Injuries and Neurological Conditions

The optic nerve in the eye is essentially an extension of the brain. Any neurological condition that affects nerve cells including Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis can be detected with an eye exam.

The muscles responsible for eye movement are supplied with nerve cells that are controlled by certain parts of the brain. Mental health conditions and brain injuries, including strokes, may affect the parts of the brain that control eye coordination and tracking.  A comprehensive eye exam can detect problems with eye movement, and vision training can improve the ability of the eyes to track and work together.

High Blood Pressure

Your doctor of optometry may be the first healthcare professional to detect high blood pressure through a comprehensive eye exam. The fine blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye can help identify risks of a stroke or heart attack before they occur. Eye health can often signal the presence and state of serious medical conditions, such as hypertension, which is a leading cause of a heart attack, stroke, and chronic heart failure. What’s more, the information obtained through an eye exam can help healthcare providers treat patients preventively to decrease the risks of cardiovascular disease.

 

 

Diabetes

As many as one million Canadians are living with undiagnosed diabetes. [1] Optometrists sometimes see indicators of diabetes in the eyes before the disease is formally diagnosed because diabetes can damage the small blood vessels in your retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye). [2]

Catching diabetes early by comprehensive eye exam can also reduce the risk of diabetes-related vision loss and other life-threatening complications like heart disease and kidney failure.

Cancer

A comprehensive eye exam includes tests of peripheral vision and eye muscle function that can often be the first line of detection of a brain tumor.

Brain tumors, depending on their location in the brain, can cause loss of peripheral vision or can damage the nerves that supply the muscles of the eyes resulting in abnormal eye movements, double vision, or other changes in vision. A comprehensive eye exam can also identify unusual structures and growths within the eye.

The eye and its surrounding tissues are one of the most common areas of the body where skin cancer is first diagnosed.[2] Skin cancer can be detected through an eye exam, as lesions called basal cell carcinomas can show up on the eyelid.

  • Adult woman during slit lamp examination.

    Adult Eye Exam - $185

    Between ages 20-64

    • Individualized treatment plan
    • Eyeglass & contact lens prescription**
    • Retinal photography
    • OCT & Visual Fields***
    Adult Eye Exam 
  • Senior woman wearing trial spectacles.

    Seniors - $95

    65 years and over with OHIP Eligibility*

    • Individualized treatment plan
    • Eyeglass & contact lens prescription**
    • Retinal photography
    • OCT & Visual Fields***
    Senior Eye Exam 
  • Child being fitted with blue eyeglasses.

    Kids 19 years and under - $95

    with OHIP Eligibility*

    • Individualized treatment plan
    • Eyeglass & contact lens prescription**
    • Retinal photography
    • Axial length measurement
    • OCT & Visual Fields***
    Kids Eye Exam 
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* OHIP Eligibility

OHIP Eligibilityis defined by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Patients aged 20 to 64 years who have any of the following medical conditions can go to their optometrist or physician and receive an OHIP insured eye examination once every 12 months : diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, cataract, retinal disease, amblyopia, visual field defects, corneal disease, strabismus, recurrent uveitis or optic pathway disease.

** Additional Follow Up

Additional follow-up and partial eye exams may be required.

*** OCT & Visual Fields

As required. There are no additional fees on our Annual Eye Exams for retinal photos or OCT. OHIP does not cover retinal photos or OCT, which we feel is important to thoroughly examine your eyes for retinal diseases and glaucoma. Early diagnosis and intervention is our goal.

OHIP Covered Conditions

In Ontario, OHIP will cover the cost of an examination once every year for patients up to 19 years of age or over 65 years of age. In addition, OHIP will cover the cost of an annual examinations for patients with certain medical conditions such as diabetes and glaucoma. Full details about OHIP eyecare coverage including a list of eligible medical conditions are available from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website.

Patients aged 20 to 64 years who have any of the following medical conditions can go to their optometrist or physician and receive an OHIP insured eye examination once every 12 months : diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, cataract, retinal disease, amblyopia, visual field defects, corneal disease, strabismus, recurrent uveitis or optic pathway disease.

Not Covered by OHIP

Routine eye examinations provided by either an optometrist, ophthalmologist or physician, for patients aged 20 to 64, are not covered by OHIP. These individuals are responsible for payment for these examinations or have the cost covered by private insurance.

ODSP, Ontario Works and NIBH

There may be additional fees not covered by these programs.

Because of the individual programs we ask that patients contact us before scheduling an appointment. Different programs have different documentation and different coverages. Please contact us and we can help figure out what is required for your situation.

Parital Eye Examinations

Partial eye examinations follow an initial annual assessment and address an issue that has started during the year or to follow-up on an existing condition. The tests required may very depending on the reason for the visit.

The fees for a partial eye examination starts from $60 and may be covered by OHIP in some instances.

Appointments Available

Located in downtown Toronto near Richmond St. and Spadina Ave at the edge of the Fashion and Entertainment Districts. Easily accessible by transit (504, 501, 510) with nearby parking.