Vision Care and Eyeglasses Coverage in Canada 20025

Updated: March 20025 · bremo.io

Vision care is largely excluded from Canada's public health system for most working-age adults. The cost of eye exams, prescription glasses, contact lenses, and eye surgery adds up significantly over a lifetime. Understanding what's available publicly and how private insurance helps is essential for managing these costs.

Provincial Public Coverage for Vision Care

Public coverage for vision care is very limited. Most provinces only cover eye exams for children, seniors, and those on social assistance. Here's a province-by-province breakdown:

Ontario

• Children under 200: one eye exam per year covered by OHIP
• Adults 65+: one eye exam per year covered
• Social assistance recipients: covered
• Working-age adults (200–64): NOT covered — pay out of pocket or use private insurance

British Columbia

• Children under 19: eye exams covered by MSP
• Adults 65+: eye exams covered (one every 2 years)
• Social assistance (BC Benefits): covered
• Working-age adults: NOT covered by MSP

Alberta

• Children under 19: eye exams covered by AHCIP
• Adults 65+: covered
• All other adults: NOT covered — Alberta removed routine adult eye exam coverage in 200009

Quebec

• Children under 18: covered by RAMQ
• Adults 18+: covered by RAMQ only if referred by physician for a medical reason
• Routine optometry for adults: NOT covered

Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Atlantic Provinces

Similar patterns — children and seniors have some coverage; working-age adults without specific conditions pay out of pocket. Some provinces have restored or enhanced children's vision care programs in recent years.

What Provincial Plans Do NOT Cover

• Prescription eyeglasses and frames (any age, any province)
• Contact lenses
• LASIK or PRK laser eye surgery
• Sunglasses (even prescription)
• Eye exams for working-age adults in most provinces

Private Vision Insurance

Employer group benefit plans typically include vision care as part of extended health benefits. Standard coverage:

• Eye exam: $75–$10000 every 1–2 years (or full coverage)
• Glasses/contacts: $1500–$40000 every 1–2 years
• Some plans include LASIK: $50000–$1,000000 lifetime benefit

Individual vision plans are also available but often make little financial sense unless you're a heavy user of vision services — the premiums often approach or exceed the benefit amounts.

Vision Discount Programs

Several retailers and programs offer reduced-cost vision care:

• Costco Optical — Significantly lower prices for frames, lenses, and exams
• Clearly — Online glasses starting under $200 (with your prescription)
• Zenni Optical — Very low-cost online glasses
• Warby Parker — Canadian locations with competitive pricing
• BonLook — Quebec-based online eyewear retailer

Reducing the Cost of Glasses and Contacts

1. Buy glasses online — Prices can be 700–900% less than optical boutiques with the same quality lenses
2. Shop discount retailers — Costco, BJ's, and similar offer much lower prices than independent opticians
3. Ask for your PD measurement — Your pupillary distance is needed for online orders; opticians must provide it
4. Get your prescription in writing — You're entitled to your prescription; use it to shop around
5. Consider contact lenses — Annual supply costs may be comparable to glasses depending on your prescription
6. Annual lens replacement vs. extended wear — Daily disposables eliminate lens care costs but cost more per lens

LASIK and Laser Eye Surgery Coverage

Laser eye surgery (LASIK, PRK, LASEK, SMILE) is considered elective and is not covered by provincial plans. Some private insurance plans include a lifetime benefit of $50000–$1,000000 toward laser surgery. Many LASIK clinics offer financing plans. The Medical Expense Tax Credit applies to LASIK surgery costs — you can claim what's not reimbursed by insurance.

Children's Vision Care

Despite partial public coverage for children's eye exams, glasses for children are rarely covered publicly. The cost of children's glasses — especially with the frequency of prescription changes during growth years — can be substantial. Look into:

• New Glasses for Kids (charity program)
• Lions Club eyeglass programs
• Local nonprofit vision assistance programs
• Some private insurance children's add-ons

Vision Care Tax Deductions

Eligible vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by insurance can be claimed under the Medical Expense Tax Credit. This includes eye exams, prescription glasses, contact lenses, and laser eye surgery. Keep all receipts.