Overview

Abstract (English)

Objective
To obtain prescription eyewear in Ontario, eye exams must be performed by optometrists or ophthalmologists (eye care providers [ECPs]). In 2004, government-insured routine eye exams were delisted for Ontarians aged 20–64 leaving eye exam coverage only for those aged ?19 and 65+. We assessed whether having eyewear insurance impacts Ontarians’ utilization of ECPs.
Design
Cross-sectional survey.
Participants
Ontarians aged 12+ without diabetes responding to the Canadian Community Health Survey in 2003, 2005, and 2013/2014.
Methods
We compared the utilization of ECPs by eyewear insurance status and eligibility for government-funded eye exams. Individuals with eyewear insurance funded by employers, government or privately were considered to have insurance.
Results
ECP utilization was significantly higher in Ontarians with eyewear insurance versus those without, in all survey years and all age groups, including those eligible for government-funded eye exams (e.g., 66.4% vs 59.1% [p < 0.05] for the 65+). This higher level of utilization was particularly evident among Ontarians aged 20–64 in 2013/2014, when this group no longer had government-funded eye exams (34.9% vs 19.9% among 20–39-year-olds, 43.4% vs 32.9% among 40–64-year-olds, p < 0.05 for both). Adjusting for confounding effects, the likelihood of visiting an ECP was greater among Ontarians with eyewear insurance than those without (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.26 for Ontarians aged 12+ and 1.41 for those aged 20–64; p < 0.05 for both).

Abstract (French)

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