The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) has teamed up with Bon Look, an new and rapidly expanding Optical Chain with a National presence, to provide an online risk assessment tool and contest helping consumers understand the risk of developing serious eye disease.
This initiative is one part of a public relations effort highlighting that 75% of cases from serious eye diseases are treatable or preventable with ophthalmological interventions.
Additionally, in collaboration with the the Conference Board of Canada, a newly released report shows that treating vision loss is projected to save $1.6 billion in direct health care costs in 2020, and is expected to reach $4 billion by 2040.
The report, which examines the value of ophthalmology from a health outcome, health care efficiency, and societal/economic perspective, shows the large economic impact on health care systems, society and individuals. According to the study, an estimated 263,400 individuals will have improved vision in 2020 through ophthalmic interventions. By treating vision loss, approximately 82,500 negative medical outcomes will be avoided, including injuries or other associated health care needs such as falls, hip fractures, depression, anxiety, admission into long-term care, and use of home care or caregiver services.
Dr. Colin Mann, President of COS, says, “Of all the disease categories in Canada, vision loss has the highest direct health care cost. The report shows that the economic benefits of averting vision loss far outweigh the cost of delivering ophthalmic interventions and help to safeguard the future of eye care in Canada.”
COS says the number of ophthalmic interventions in Canada increased by 30% between 2014 and 2018. Demand is projected to rise from around 1.1 million interventions in 2018 to 1.7 million interventions by 2040, driven by population growth and aging, as well as innovation and changes in clinical practice.
The Conference Board of Canada report, part of a series on The Value of Health Services in Canada, can be found here.
The online risk assessment tool can be viewed here: seethepossibilities.ca
At 62, Phil was starting to think about retirement. His store, Optix, was an attractive street-level store on Marine Drive in Vancouver, and he decided it was time to start thinking about selling the store. Since exit planning can often take 5-7 years or longer to implement, Phil knew he needed to find a strategy soon; “You have to prepare for this years before and have a plan and start early, and not wait until the time you want to retire”.
Prior to the partnership, Phil did not have an in-store optometrist. He relied upon referrals to local ophthalmologists and walk-in prescriptions. Increasingly, he observed that customers increasingly would buy their frames at the clinic where they got their exams instead of coming back to his store. He knew he would keep more customers with an optometrist at his location.
Dr. Beverley bought her Barrie, ON practice after the former owner suffered health issues that forced her to stop working. Subsequently, a business partner purchased half the practice, and together, they moved to successively larger offices establishing themselves as a progressive practice with happy staff and satisfied patients.
Dr. Beverley continues to work, on average, less than 3 days per week at the Barrie, Ontario location, and has a 50% stake in the IRIS practice.
