ALBERTA HEALTH COVERS URGENT-NEED VISITS TO OPTOMETRISTS
If you are experiencing a sudden change in your vision, or an eye infection, or have had an eye injury, where should you go? Your optometrist should be the first place you call.
Alberta Health Care pays for “medically necessary” visits to an optometrist. These include treatment and management for urgent-care eye and vision needs, as well as special testing and follow up for those who have certain risk-factors for eye disease that may develop over time.
Routine eye examinations, such as those conducted annually which would include screening for eye disease as well as tests to determine changes in eye glass or contact lens prescriptions, are not covered by AHC for people ages 19-64. Seniors and children are still covered each year for routine exams.