Insurance Coverage in BC - Dr. Bryan Friedmann

Protect Your Vision & Your Health with Regularly Scheduled Eye Exams

Vision is one of the most important of the human senses. Each of us relies upon our eyes every day to learn and grow, perform our jobs and enjoy leisure activities with family and friends. In order to protect and maintain your eyesight throughout your lifetime we recommend that you have an eye exam performed regularly, especially when transitioning various age milestones. Click on any of the following headings to learn more about lifetime vision care.

Insurance coverage is provincially mandated and how much coverage you have will depend on a variety of factors.

Age

Children aged 0-18 years old – MSP will cover an annual full eye examination.
Adults aged 19-64 – MSP does not cover routine eye exams, unless it’s a medical necessity.
Seniors aged 65+ – MSP partially covers an annual eye exam.

Extended Medical Coverage

If you have extended medical coverage, either through a personal plan or your employer, your coverage may be at a different rate. It will depend on what percentage or dollar value your plan covers. You should always double check with your insurance provider to see what type and how much coverage you’re eligible for.

Our office has the ability to direct bill so we can deal with your insurance provider directly when you come in for our services. We’ll just need your insurance details, such as policy number and your insurer’s name, to put into our system.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about rates, insurance, and more. We’ll do our best to answer them for you.

Age	Infants	Preschoolers	School-Age Children	Adults (Age 19-64)	Seniors
Eye Exam Frequency	At age 6 months and then annually thereafter	Before starting kindergarten and annually throughout the school years	Annually throughout the school years	At least every 2 years; patients with diabetes should have an exam at least once a year	At least once per year

Infant Eye Exams

From the time of birth until about 4 months of age an infant’s ocular structures are still developing. With time infant eyesight progresses from blurred patterns of light and dark to clearly delineated shapes, acute colour vision and the beginnings of eye movement control, which leads to the development of eye-hand coordination skills.

Visual acuity and clarity perform an integral function in a child’s visual development and it is important for parents and caregivers to be aware of problems or incongruities that may become apparent. For example, many infants’ eyes may appear to be slightly misaligned, or “crossed” at times. This is normal; however, if the eyes seem to be noticeably or persistently crossed, or the condition persists beyond the age of 6 months, it could be an indication of a problem such as strabismus, lazy eye syndrome, or lack of vision in one eye. Dr. Bryan Friedmann recommends that infants have their first eye exam performed at 6 months of age, and then annually after that.

Eye Exams for Preschoolers

During the toddler and early childhood years, children are busy developing eye-hand coordination, depth perception and other visual skills. It is very important during this stage that parents, caregivers and eye care professionals be alert in order to detect signs or symptoms of a visual problem.

Some of the symptoms to watch for include:

Red, itchy or watering eyes
Covering or closing one eye
Sensitivity to light
An eye that consistently turns in or out
Squinting, rubbing the eyes, or excessive blinking
A lack of concentration, irritability or a short attention span
Holding objects too close when examining them
Avoidance of or lack of interest in books and television
Visible frustration or grimacing when attempting to perform tasks

If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, call Dr. Bryan Friedmann to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.

Eye Exams for School-Age Children

The school years are a very significant time in a child’s life; they are learning to understand and interact with the world outside the family unit, so it is important that they be able to see and understand clearly. Vision problems or impairments can interfere with this process, requiring an affected child to work harder and sometimes leading to headaches and fatigue. Speak with Dr. Friedmann if you should notice any of the following symptoms in your child:

Headaches or irritability
Avoidance of near or distance work
Covering or rubbing of the eyes
Tilting of the head or unusual posture
Using a finger to maintain place while reading
Losing place while reading
Omitting or confusing words when reading
Performing below their potential

School age children should have a complete eye exam performed annually throughout their school years in order to detect signs or symptoms of a visual problem.

Adults (Age 19 – 64)

Not only does having an annual eye exam performed protect your vision as you age, it can also serve as an indicator for problems with your overall physical health, such as diabetes, auto-immune conditions, circulatory problems and other health-related concerns. Other common eye maladies experienced by adults include presbyopia (a natural effect of aging in which the ability to focus on close objects decreases over time) and cataracts. Persons who have been diagnosed with diabetes should also be aware of the signs of diabetic retinopathy, a weakening or swelling of the tiny blood vessels in the retina of the eye, and the growth of new blood vessels resulting in blood leakage and other changes. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness. Adults who are 19 to 64 years of age should have an eye exam performed at least every two years, and people with diabetes should have an exam at least once a year.

Seniors

Anyone who is 65 years of age or older should undergo a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year in order to preserve their vision and to identify potential health issues early. Early identification and treatment of conditions, especially those that may have no visible symptoms, is key to protecting your sight and your overall health.

Seniors are at risk for the same eye conditions as adults of other ages, such as presbyopia and cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, but may also notice the development of “low vision”, a limitation of eyesight that occurs as we get older.

See the world clearly.

Schedule an eye exam with Dr. Friedmann today.

Book your Eye Exam

Hillside Eye Clinic

201-1581 Hillside Ave
Victoria, BC V8T2C1

Open Monday to Friday 9-5
Closed weekends and statutory holidays

Phone: 250-595-1157 Fax: 778-265-9038

Email: info@drfriedmann.ca