Question 1

How often should an adult have eye exam?

Accepted Answer

It is recommended adults between the ages 18 to 65 should have a comprehensive eye exam at least once every two years. If you are considered at greater risk of ocular disease, you should have your eyes examined more frequently. "At risk" individuals include:
 
- People with diabetes
- Those taking medication that have potentially harmful eye-related side effects
- Those requiring yearly examinations for their profession
- People with previous eye injuries or eye surgeries (ex: cataract surgery)
- Those with a strong family history of eye disease (glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.)
 
Older adults (age 65 and older) should have annual exams.

Question 2

How often should a child have an eye exam?

Accepted Answer

Children generally should have their eyes examined at:
 
- 6 months (first check)
- 3 yrs
- Start of school
- Yearly thereafter until the age of 18 yrs.
 
* Don't forget, all children's eye exams are covered by MSP up to the age of 18yrs (with a valid CareCard).

Question 3

What does 20/20 mean?

Accepted Answer

A person with 20/20 vision can see what an average individual can see on an eye chart when they are standing 20 feet away. For example, if someone had 20/50 vision (less than 20/20 vision), it means at twenty feet away, you can read letters the average person can see from 50 feet away.

Question 4

Does MSP cover my eye exam?

Accepted Answer

Children under the age of 19 are fully covered for a full exam once a year. Seniors (65+) are partially covered for a full exam once a year. Adults aged 19-64 are not covered for routine eye exams under MSP, but those with medical conditions affecting eye health, such as diabetes, are partially covered for a full exam once a year.

Question 5

What should I bring to my eye exam?

Accepted Answer

When coming to any eye appointment, please bring the following:
 • Your current eyeglasses, sunglasses and contact lenses
 • Your BC Services Card
 • Any insurance information (for direct billing)
 • A list of any medications, supplements, and/or eyedrops you currently use
 • A list of any health conditions and/or allergies (to medications or otherwise)
 • A list of your family's systemic and ocular health history
 • Your family doctor’s name
 • Any questions you have about your eye health
 • A driver (if you are having your eyes dilated and you are unable to wait for the effects to wear off before driving yourself - at least 1 hour)

Question 6

How long will my appointment last?

Accepted Answer

Children's eye exams (18 years and under) typically last 30 minutes. Adult eye exams usually take up to an hour, as we may need to dilate your eyes. Emergency or minor exams can last between 20 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the nature of the visit.

Question 7

Why are dilation drops used in an eye exam?

Accepted Answer

Dilation is a standard part of a thorough ocular examination. Normally, when light is shone into your eyes, your pupils constrict, limiting the view inside your eye. By dilating (enlarging) the pupil temporarily with topical eye drops, your eye doctor can best evaluate your eye's health and screen for peripheral eye diseases like retinal tears, holes, detachments, and ocular tumors. Typically, the drops take around 20 minutes to achieve full effect. Since you leave the eye exam more sensitive to light and with increased blurred vision at near, we ask that you either bring a driver to your appointment or allow for at least an hour for the drops to wear off before driving yourself home. You will want to bring a pair of sunglasses to your appointment for your comfort; however, if you forget them, we do have temporary sunglasses for you to use on your way out. While most people feel their vision is back to normal within 1-2 hours, for some, residual effects can last as long as 4-6 hours.

Question 8

Where are you located?

Accepted Answer

We are located at 5325 Cordova Bay Rd, Unit 127, Victoria, BC V8Y 2L3, in the heart of Mattick's Farm. Our clinic is in the center courtyard, just behind the Red Barn.

Question 9

Do I need to make an appointment?

Accepted Answer

To look at glasses or for an adjustment just come on in, no appointment necessary! If you are in need of eyecare, please book an appointment online or call our office to see what is available with one of our eye doctors. We do leave space in our schedule for emergencies and can often accommodate same day care.

Question 10

How long have you been around?

Accepted Answer

We have been helping our community see 20/20 since 2021. Each of our doctors has over a decade of experience as optometrists on Vancouver Island.