Canada’s eye-care system is facing growing pressure from demographic change, rising rates of chronic disease, and increasing demand for primary eye-care services. At the same time, Canada’s ability to develop and educate optometrists domestically remains constrained. With only two optometry schools—the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science and the Université de Montréal School of Optometry. Canada doesn't have enough seats to train our own students at home.
As a result, Canada has become heavily reliant on foreign training programs, particularly in the United States.
Today, approximately half of practising optometrists in Canada obtained their Doctor of Optometry degree in the United States.
Expanding domestic training capacity through the creation of additional schools would reduce this reliance, strengthen Canada’s health workforce, and improve access to care in underserved communities.
There’s momentum to fix this.
The University of Waterloo has signed agreements with Mount Royal University and the University of New Brunswick to explore new programs. Budget 2025's $5 billion Health Infrastructure Fund could help fund them. Canadians recognize the importance of this work too.
Recent Abacus Data polling found that 86% support government investment in expanding optometry education, and nearly nine in ten support increasing domestic training capacity.
MPs need to hear from those impacted
Add Your Voice as an Optometrist
Add your Voice as a Canadian Student
Add your Voice as a U.S. Student
What CAO has done:
- Made the case for greater investment in Canadian optometry schools, with 50% of Canadian-trained optometrists currently studying in the U.S.
- Used public opinion research to strengthen the case, showing that 86% of Canadians support training more optometrists at home.
- Worked with provincial associations and partners to support proposed new schools at Mount Royal University and the University of New Brunswick, both in partnership with the University of Waterloo.
- Focused CAO’s federal advocacy on securing infrastructure funding through the new Build Canada Strong Fund.
- Mobilized optometrists and students to support the advocacy effort, providing tools and opportunities to contact elected officials and demonstrate support for expanding optometry education in Canada.