By Wendy Haaf
Half of Canadians don’t know that 75% of vision loss is preventable and treatable, and just as many don’t know the recommended frequency for eye exams. These findings come from a 2023 online survey conducted on behalf of the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) and the optometric company Specsavers.
Even more worrying, while 38% of 1,537 respondents said they were overdue for a checkup, 35% admitted that they’d book an exam only if they were having vision problems.
According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, vision loss doubles your risk for falls and quadruples the likelihood of hip fractures. The organization recommends that adults under 65 see an optometrist at least every two years and those 65 or older get checked annually.
