May is Vision Health Month
Traditionally, optometrists seize Vision Health Month as an opportunity to enlighten their patients and their communities about the crucial significance of regular eye exams. In May 2024, the Canadian Association of Optometrists released a new digital national campaign to raise public awareness about eye health and vision care, encouraging Canadians to book an appointment with their optometrist.
Together, let’s#GetEyeWise!
CAO 2024 May awareness campaign was launched in partnership with :
Special thanks to our sponsors
Kids see more than you think!
Squinting, eye rubbing, funny faces to help see better… everyone notices; especially your kids. Even if you think your eyes are “fine”, it’s important to still get them checked out regularly. Optometrists can diagnose common culprits, as well as indicators of other serious health conditions.
Optometrists see more too!
Optometrists diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases and disorders affecting the visual system (the eye and related structures). There are a lot of conditions that can be detected at an eye exam, even before obvious symptoms start to show. These include:
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Computer Vision Syndrome (aka Digital Eye Strain)
- Presbyopia
- Dry Eye
- Glaucoma
Learn more from our Eye Health Library
They also assist in identifying general health conditions like stroke, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, some cancers, brain injuries, and neurological conditions that are often first detected through a comprehensive eye exam. From infants to seniors, optometrists provide care to help maintain good vision, eye health and quality of life. If you don’t already have an optometrist, you don’t need a referral to book a comprehensive eye exam.
Want to know more about an eye exam?
During a comprehensive exam, the optometrist assess the case history, quality of vision, external health of the eyes, internal health of your eyes, ability of the eyes to adjust focus, eye movement, eye coordination, and peripheral vision. In addition, colour vision and depth perception may also be evaluated. If a problem is detected, treatment and management options will be provided accordingly, such as with glasses, contact lenses, exercise, medication or surgery.
How often should you get your eyes checked?
A comprehensive eye examination is the best tool for the early detection of eye disease and several systemic diseases.
| Age group | Comprehensive eye exam frequency for low-risk, asymptomatic individuals. |
| Infants and Toddlers (birth to 24 months) | Infants and toddlers should undergo their first eye examination between the ages of six and nine months |
| Preschool Children (Two to five years) | At least one eye examination between the ages of two and five years |
| School Age Children (Six to 19 years) | Annually |
| Adults (20 to 64 years) | Every two years |
| Adults (65 years or older) | Annually or as recommended1 |
1Recommended frequency of eye exams may vary on the advice of your optometrist based on your specific eye and general health risk factors.
Learn more from our sponsors
Alcon
As the global leader in eye care, here at Alcon, we’re dedicated to helping people see brilliantly and lead the world in innovating life-changing vision and eye care products.
Through our partnership with the Canadian Association of Optometrists, our focus remains unwavering: to empower individuals with the knowledge, resources, and solutions necessary to address their eye health needs. By working together on CAO’s “GetEyeWise” campaign, we’re encouraging Canadians to prioritize their eye health and schedule regular eye check-ups.
Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for Canadians. Because when people see brilliantly, they live brilliantly.
-Vanessa Johari Hansen, Country Business Unit Head, Vision Care, at Alcon Canada
About Alcon
Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning over 75 years, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people’s lives. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 25,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with Eye Care Professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care.
Learn more at www.alcon.ca
Other Alcon Resources
Visit Alcon's Dry Eye Education website
Watch Alcon's Presbyopia Education video
Learn more about Alcon TOTAL30 Monthly Replacement Lenses
CooperVision
CooperVision, a division of CooperCompanies (NYSE:COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of contact lenses. The company produces a full array of daily disposable, two-week and monthly soft contact lenses that feature advanced materials and optics, and premium rigid gas permeable lenses for orthokeratology and scleral designs. CooperVision has a strong heritage of addressing the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism, presbyopia, childhood myopia, and highly irregular corneas; and offers the most complete portfolio of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, creating real advantages for customers and wearers.
For more information, visit www.coopervision.ca
Other CooperVision Resources
Learn more about MyDay Multifocal products
Download the CooperVision MyDay Brochure
Sun Pharma
Sun Pharma entered the Canadian market in 2015 with the purchase of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, a Top 10 generic company in Canada since 2005. Sun Pharma is a world leader in branded and generic drugs and we are now well positioned to be an even larger contributor to the Canadian healthcare landscape.
With global manufacturing across six continents, we are investing in Canada by bringing high quality, affordable and innovative medicines to market. Our global strength in R&D with an unwavering commitment to quality ensures Sun Pharma will offer a wide range of affordable medicines for Canadians.
Taro Pharmaceuticals is the exclusive distributor of our specialty and generic products in Canada.
We feel the strength of our global Sun Pharma capabilities together with Taro Pharmaceutical’s 30-year commitment to Canadian manufacturing and distribution creates a unique pharmaceutical partner for our Canadian customers. It is our continued goal to provide our customers and partners with high quality products and exceptional customer service.
We look forward to many more years of providing Canadians with high quality and affordable medicines.
Learn more at www.sunpharma.com
Other SunPharma Resources
Download SunPharma Dry Eye Handout