A lack of insight
If you’re reading this newspaper, your eyesight is likely intact. However, you may be overlooking the importance of your eye health
IN ONTARIO, THERE IS A TEAM OF professionals committed to looking after the health of our eyes. These experts are led by ophthalmologists—physicians and surgeons who specialize in eye and vision care and in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. Ophthalmologists complete four years of medical school and five years of residency, often followed by one or two years of training in a subspecialty. In the maintenance and restoration of vision, they typically lead the eye-care team, working with family physicians, pediatricians and non-medical practitioners such as optometrists and opticians.
The always-evolving ophthalmological field has witnessed groundbreaking ad- vances over the years in the medical sciences, which have enabled its practitioners to save the sight of tens of thousands of Ontarians who would have otherwise been blinded. But for the past month, Ontario’s ophthalmologists have been sounding the alarm that eye care in the province is in jeopardy.
On May 7 the Ontario Government announced deep cuts to ophthalmological tests and procedures critical to maintaining and restoring vision. It has defended the cuts by asserting that technology has reduced the amount of time required for procedures. In response, ophthalmologists have pointed out that the government is misinterpreting the statistics as well as failing to factor in the costs of operating clinics, such as rent, staff salaries and the purchase and maintenance of state-of-the-art equipment.
Already, patient care is suffering. Some ophthalmology clinics have had to reduce or stop providing services since the government cuts because they can only provide services at a loss. “The government needs to reverse these cuts before more patients are affected,” notes Dr. Nav Nijhawan, chair of the Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (EPSO).
In addition to the immediate impact of those cuts to diagnostics and treatment, a shortage of ophthalmologists is already developing due to the aging population of Ontario. If the provincial government doesn’t provide the resources for ophthalmologists to care for patients, graduates may leave Ontario to practise in other jurisdictions. Given the fact that the number of Ontarians requiring treatment for eye disease is expected to double in the next 15 years, the shortage of ophthalmologists will jeopardize sight-saving treatments.
Mindful of the current dire situation in eye care in Ontario, ophthalmologists are urging a return to the negotiating table, so they can collaborate with the provincial government to find a solution—and make the preservation and restoration of Ontarians’ vision a first priority.