Number of eye care professionals per 10,000 children under 6, Canada and the provinces, 2012
Source: CICH table created using data adapted from Canadian Institute for Health Information, Canada’s Health Care Providers: Provincial Profiles—2012, Canada, 2012; Canadian Medical Association, Ophthalmology Profile, 2013 and Statistics Canada. Table 051-0001 – Estimates of population, by age group and sex for July 1, Canada, provinces and territories, annual (persons unless otherwise noted).
In 2012, there were approximately 5 ophthalmologists, 23 optometrists and 32 opticians in Canada for every 10,000 children under 6.
Those numbers varied according to province.
For example, in Saskatchewan there were fewer than 3 ophthalmologists, 16 optometrists and 29 opticians per 10,000 children under 6.
In Nova Scotia there were almost 10 ophthalmologists, 21 optometrists and 48 opticians per 10,000 children under 6.
In New Brunswick there were 6 ophthalmologists, 27 optometrists and 51 opticians per 10,000 children under 6.
All provinces but Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador have public eye care insurance coverage for children and youth under 20 years of age.1
The coverage varies:
AB: Annual exam for youths below the age of 19; BC: Annual exam for youths aged 18 and under; MB: Exam every two years for youths aged 18 and under; ON: Exam for youths under 20 every year; NB:Annual exam for youths aged 18 and under from low-income households; SK: Annual exam for youths below the age of 18; QC: Exams for youths aged 17 and under; NS: Exam every two years for children below the age of 10.
1Canadian Association of Optometrists, An Overview of Provincial Coverage for Optometric Care in 2014; Chris J. Hong et al., “Does Government Assistance Improve Utilization of Eye Care Services by Low-Income Individuals?” Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology, Vol. 49, August 2014, pp. 321-322.