Position Statements

The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) recognizes that myopia, and in particular high myopia, is a global public health issue and cannot be considered merely an inconvenience of uncorrected…

COVID-19 has had demonstrable effects on the provision of optometry services, most notably in the restriction of access to vision care during the first wave of the pandemic. Stay-at-home orders and…

COVID-19 continues to have a demonstrable impact on health care delivery in Canada, given emerging and more contagious variants and vaccination rates levelling off.

More than 3.77 million Canadians were living with Diabetes in 2020 and this number is expected to rise to nearly 4.89 million by 2030.

Importance of Eye Health and Vision Care to Healthy Aging

CAO Position Statement on Colour Vision Deficiency and Specialty Tinted Lenses

CAO's Position Statement on Myopia

Position Statement: Vision Therapy

The prevalence of electronic screen-related ocular symptoms is estimated as high as 50–90% in adult electronic screen users. Due to a lack of scientific literature in the area, the corresponding…

Evidence-based decision-making can be thought of as a process in which clinical decisions are made in light of the best research evidence, the practitioner’s existing expertise and knowledge, and the…

Current demographic trends indicate that more and more Canadians are suffering from vision loss that cannot be corrected with glasses or medical or surgical interventions, and is severe enough to…

Optometric records are essential collections of sensitive personal patient information compiled to allow optometrists and other eye health care providers to provide optometric treatment, ensure…

The proportion of optometrists using electronic health records is growing. Electronic records offer advantages in accessing and storing patient health information, and have the potential to improve…

Optometrists practising in rural and remote settings may face a number of specific challenges. These include a broad patient demographic and wide-ranging patient needs, professional isolation,…

Most LED lights emit a cool white light that is brighter and more likely to create glare than traditional lighting. LED lights can also emit a large amount of blue light which is known to scatter in…

Comprehensive eye examinations conducted by optometrists are designed to assess the function of the visual system, the refractive or optical status of the eye, and the health of the eyes and visual…

The legibility of medication labelling is a concern for all Canadians. Labels must be easy to read to help ensure patients take their medications appropriately and avoid medication errors. Older…

Canadians cannot tell how much UV protection a pair of sunglasses will provide by their price, colour, or by the darkness of the lenses. Consumers should look for labels that list the type and amount…

Doctors of Optometry have offices in most cities and communities across Canada. Having a local optometrist as a primary eye care provider gives patients the best access to comprehensive eye care…

CAO and the profession of optometry strongly support the requirement for a post-graduation, entry to practice competency assessment.