Working together

Optometrists are part of your team: Learn how optometrists work with other health professionals to support patients.  

colleagues

Optometrists are Doctors of Optometry.

Optometrists provide primary eye care to patients. They examine, diagnose and/or treat chronic, recurrent, and/or early to moderate stage eye diseases. 

Optometry: Reasons for referral

Below are a few common reasons to refer your patients to an optometrist.

Routine / Non-urgent Urgent (within 24-48 hours) Emergency (within 24 hours)
  • Annual eye exam
  • Cataract
  • Diabetic health exam
  • Drugs with effects (certain drugs should be monitored with eye exams, even if no vision changes are present)
    • Amiodarone
    • Ethambutol
    • Gilenya
    • GLP-1 Analogs
    • Hydroxychloroquine
    • Topiramate
    • Other
  • Driver's medical
  • Dry/watery eyes
  • Glaucoma
  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
  • Macular degeneration
  • Pediatric eye exam
  • Pediatric strabismus
  • Post operative care
  • Post stroke
  • Visual field testing
  • Other
  • Eyelid infection/inflammation
  • Eye strain with other symptoms*
  • Facial shingles
  • Headaches with other symptoms*
  • Recent onset of new floaters
  • Red eye(s)
  • Sudden onset blurry vision
  • Sudden onset droopy eye lid
  • Other

*Urgent depending on duration of symptom
  • Chemical burns
  • Eye injury
  • Eye pain with redness or other symptoms
  • Facial shingles with other symptoms
  • Flashing lights
  • Foreign body
  • Sudden changes to vision
  • Sudden onset of new floaters with other symptoms
  • Visual field loss
  • Other

Referring patients to an optometrist

The eye care referral form allows family doctors, pediatricians, nurses, and other health professionals easily provide a referral for a patient who is experiencing eye health issues (or other health issues that can affect the eyes). 

This referral form can be faxed to an optometrist or be given to the patient to book their appointment directly with an optometrist.

Although a patient does not need a referral to see an optometrist, providing a referral can help ensure that they receive the eye care they need and allow the referring provider to be informed of the results. 

This fillable, printable form was developed and tested with family doctors, optometrists, and patients across Alberta. 

Use the eye care referral form

Feedback about this form? Please email us at alberta.association@optometrists.ab.ca 

If your patient does not have an optometrist, they can find an optometrist near them using our search tool.

Find an optometrist

"I believe that promoting collaboration between family doctors and optometrists is a great opportunity to enhance patient care. Working together, we can ensure patients have timely access to appropriate care and that patients and all the relevant health care providers are informed of what is happening and the treatment plan." 
 
- Dr. Elaine Bland, Family Doctor in Calgary

Role of optometrists – We provide primary eye care.

Optometrists have an important role in your patient’s vision, eye health, and overall health. 

Optometrists and ophthalmologists work closely in a continuum of care. If the patient requires a referral to an ophthalmologist, their optometrist can provide the referral and co-manage patient care as needed.

Referring your patients to optometrists when it’s appropriate allows optometrists to work to the top of their scope of practice, enabling ophthalmologists to focus on complex cases and surgical interventions. This helps improves patient flow within the health care system.

optometrist helping a patient

Provider Optometrist Ophthalmologist
Role Optometrists are Doctors of Optometry and provide primary eye care to patients. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors specialized in treating eye diseases and performing complex eye surgeries.
Who to refer Any patient who requires examination, diagnosis, or treatment of chronic, recurrent, and/or early to moderate stage eye diseases. Any patient needing eye surgery or the treatment of a complex eye disease may require care from an ophthalmologist.
Qualifications and training
  • Bachelor of Science degree (typically)
  • 4-year Doctor of Optometry degree from an accredited university
  • Many complete up to two years of postdoctoral residency and/or sub-specialty fellowship training
  • University degree (typically)
  • 4 years of medical school training
  • 5 years of residency training
  • Many complete up to three years of sub-specialty fellowship training

Access to optometry services is usually local as there are more than 900 optometrists working in more than 120 communities in Alberta.

Find an optometrist

Emergency appointments: We are available.

Most ocular emergencies should be immediately referred to an optometrist (please see Emergency list above). Clinics generally reserve a few appointments per day for medically necessary referrals. 

Most optometry clinics are open six or seven days a week, and 99% offer same-day appointments for emergencies.  

eye exam

eye exam

Full eye exams: Optometrists have the right knowledge, tools, and equipment.

Optometrists provide comprehensive eye care including triage and management of ocular diseases.

They examine the tissues and structures of the eye, checking for eye diseases, retinal detachments and tears, optic nerve disorders, tumours, and ocular complications from medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or auto-immune disease.

Since optometrists can view multiple tissue types in a non-invasive manner, they are often the first to detect signs of an early systemic disease.

Without early detection and proper treatment, many eye diseases can cause unnecessary and permanent loss of vision.

Standards of Practice: We are mandated to provide safe, competent, and ethical care.

Alberta optometrists are regulated under the Health Professions Act and must maintain their accreditation with the Alberta College of Optometrists. 

Optometrists are mandated to provide safe, competent, and ethical professional services to all patients.

They must also complete 150 Continuing Education credits in a three-year competency period to ensure that their clinical skills remain current, evidence-based, and aligned with evolving standards of care.

eye exam

Coverage and clinic fees: We inform patients prior to their appointment.

Group Recommended eye care Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) as of July 2025
Children 18 and under
child icon
  • Babies should have their first exam between 6-9 months
  • Toddlers and preschoolers should have at least one eye exam between the ages of 2 and 5
  • Kindergarteners should have an eye exam when they begin kindergarten
  • School children should have an annual eye exam

    For the latest information about coverage, please check https://www.alberta.ca/ahcip-what-is-covered

    • Alberta Health partial coverage is available toward one eye exam per year, renewing every July 1. 
    • Additional exams and/or treatments may be partially covered based on medical needs.
    • Patients can ask their optometrist for information about coverage and potential costs for specific issues.
    • The Kindergarten Eye See…Eye Learn™ Program provides kindergarten students in Alberta with an eye exam from an optometrist (based on the available coverage) and if needed, a free pair of eyeglasses.  
      Please visit: https://www.optometrists.ab.ca/eye-see-eye-learn/im-a-parent
    Adults
    adult icon
    • Adults should have an eye exam at least every two years, or as recommended by their optometrist
    • Alberta Health does not cover eye exams for adults, however many Albertans have insurance coverage through their employer or their own medical plan.
    • Patients can inquire at the optometrist’s clinic about the cost of the eye exam and direct billing to their insurance company.
    Seniors 65+
    senior icon
    • Seniors should have an annual eye exam
    • Alberta Health partial coverage is available towards eye exams for seniors 65+, renewing every July 1.
    • Limited coverage for optical assistance (eyeglasses) is available through Alberta Health: www.alberta.ca/dental-optical-assistance-seniors
    • Additional exams and/or treatments may be covered based on medical needs, such as glaucoma, diabetes, or cataract follow-up or monitoring.
    • Patients can ask their optometrist for information about coverage and potential costs for specific issues.
    Urgent eye care, eye infections & medically necessary treatment
    • As listed on page 1 (not including annual eye exam)
    • Patients do not need a referral.
    • These appointments are partially covered.
    • If patients are unsure whether their specific issue would be covered, they can ask their optometrist before the appointment.

    Optometrists can charge for insured services that they deem to exceed the AHCIP benefit. Albertans are responsible for the additional costs incurred at the time of the treatment. Optometrists are required to discuss the fees with their patients before providing the service.

    ICD-9 codes for optometry

    The medical diagnoses codes for optometry that are used for physician billing under AHCIP are available here. 

    See ICD-9 Codes

    Appointment tips for your patients 

    Patients can use these tips to prepare for their eye care appointments and make the most of their time with their optometrist.  

    Please feel free to print this resource to help your patients. 

    See tips for your patients

    Frequently Asked Questions

    A patient does not need a referral to see an optometrist. However, using the eye care referral form can help ensure that the patient receives the eye care they need and allow the referring provider to be informed of the results.

    Optometrists are Doctors of Optometry and provide primary eye care to patients. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors specialized in treating eye diseases and performing complex eye surgeries.

    Optometrists and ophthalmologists work closely in a continuum of care. If the patient requires a referral to an ophthalmologist, their optometrist can provide the referral and co-manage patient care.

    Please see the available insurance coverage and recommended eye care for each age group here. This page can be printed for patients.

    Alberta optometrists are regulated under the Health Professions Act and must maintain their accreditation with the Alberta College of Optometrists. Optometrists are mandated to provide safe, competent, and ethical professional services to all patients.

    They must also complete 150 Continuing Education credits in a three-year competency period to ensure that their clinical skills remain current, evidence-based, and aligned with evolving standards of care.

    Yes. Clinics generally reserve a few appointments per day for medical necessary referrals. Most ocular emergencies, such as eye injuries, foreign bodies, and sudden changes to vision, should be immediately referred to an optometrist.

    Optometrists provide comprehensive eye care including triage and management of ocular diseases.

    They examine the tissues and structures of the eye, checking for eye diseases, retinal detachments and tears, optic nerve disorders, tumours, and ocular complications from medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or auto-immune disease.

    Without early detection and proper treatment, many eye diseases can cause unnecessary and permanent loss of vision.