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Eye Care Frequently Asked Questions ("FAQs")

Are you accepting new patients?

Each of our three Calgary clinic locations are accepting new patients.

How long does an eye exam take?

A complete vision and eye health examination will take 20-30 minutes. Extra time may be required if you want to be fit with contact lenses on the same day.

How much is an eye exam?

A complete vision and eye health examination including Optomap retinal examination is $132 for patients between the ages of 19-64 years old. For contact lens wearers, the fee is $149 due to extra testing procedures.

Alberta Health Care provides coverage for one visit a year for children up to 19 years of age, and once a year for seniors over the age of 65. Additionally, patients with a clinical need (for example, glaucoma, diabetes, or cataracts) may be covered for an additional "follow up" procedure. Alberta Health Care covers all but $35 of the examination fee.

Do I need an appointment time or do you accept walk in patients?

All of our appointments are scheduled by time, but walk-in patients may be accepted if there is time in the doctor's schedule or there are previous cancellations.

What are your office hours?

Please go the the link for our 3 office locations, which lists the office hours of each of our locations.

Why is there an extra fee for a contact lens examination?

Additional procedures are done during a contact lens examination. This includes checking the contact lens power, fit and cleanliness. Eye health is also assessed with the contact lenses in and out of your eyes.

Should I wear my contact lenses to the eye exam?

Yes, we recommend that you wear your lenses to the exam if this is your usual day to day means of vision correction. If you are a part time contact lens wearer, you can wear the lenses to the exam or bring one of your present pairs with you to the exam.

Do I get a copy of my prescription right away?

When your eye exam is completed, a copy of your glasses prescription can be given to you.

Can I have an eye exam while pregnant? Should I wait because of vision fluctuations?

Yes, eye exams can be done at any time during a pregnancy and are recommended if you do experience vision fluctuations. Changes in body fluid levels and hormones are the usual causes of vision fluctuations. This could affect activities such as driving and computer work. Hypertension and diabetes are also risks during pregnancy and can often be first detected during an eye exam.

How often should I have an eye exam?

Your doctor will recommend the appropriate schedule for your exams. This is usually based on factors such as your previous vision and eye health history and family history.

In general, we recommend that children up to 18 years old and adults 65 years old and over have an eye exam every year. Adults between 18-64 years old will have eye exams every 1-2 years based on the above factors. Contact lens wearers should also have an eye exam every year.

If I'm seeing fine, why do I need to see the doctor?

Gradual changes in vision and eye health may not be noticeable by the patient. Some of these changes can lead to major vision or eye health loss if not treated on time. Often, these changes are painless and only in one eye, which often fools the patient into thinking everything is okay. As mentioned earlier, the doctor will recommend the right schedule for each patient.

Do you do children's exams and when should my child's first exam be?

All of our doctors and locations do eye exams for children. Infants as young as six months can be examined to check vision and eye health. All children should have an eye exam by three years old.

Why does the eye exam cost so much? It seems more expensive than other places.

There may be differences in the type of eye exam between different places. There may be more or less procedures performed, different instruments and technologies used and who performs some of the tests (staff vs. doctor). Make sure you ask about what the eye exam includes.

At Calgary Optometry Centre, our eye exam combines all the necessary testing procedures, using the latest technologies (learn about Optomap) and ensuring quality doctor interaction. We are confident all our patients are receiving the best care possible from our eye exam.

Can you direct bill to my insurance company?

We can direct bill for your eye exam, glasses and contact lenses if you have coverage with BlueCross and Green Shield. Please bring your insurance card so we can do the direct billing for you.

Currently, all other insurance companies have not enabled optometrists to do direct billing.

What is the difference between an optometrist and ophthalmologist?

An optometrist is usually the first person you see for any vision or eye health concern. Regular eye exams, glasses and contact lenses prescriptions and treatment for eye infections are done by optometrists. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the eyes. Ophthalmologists do most of the eye surgeries and usually require a referral for an appointment.