Bill C-284 paves the way for a national strategy on eye care
With more than 1.2 million Canadians living with vision loss, at a cost of $32.9 billion in 2019, researchers, advocacy groups and eye care professionals have called on the federal government to develop a strategy that addresses vision loss more effectively.
On November 5, that call was heard when the Senate passed Bill C-284. The bill received royal assent on November 7.
Introduced as a private member’s bill, sponsored by the Hon. Judy Sgro, Member of Parliament for Humber River-Black Creek (pictured above in red when she visited the School in 2023), the bill previously passed unanimously in the House of Commons. The enactment now paves the way for a national strategy on eye care to support the prevention and treatment of eye diseases.
“After years of advocacy and discussion, Canada will implement a national strategy focused on preventing blindness, enhancing overall eyesight, and ensuring accessible eye care services for all Canadians. This long-awaited strategy aims to address the growing need for comprehensive eye health care across the entire country,” said Sgro.
Multiple organizations, including the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science, have worked for years to advance discussions about how vital a national strategy on eye care is for all Canadians.
“I’m thrilled to hear of the passing of Bill C-284, making vision a public health priority and improving the lives of Canadians,” said Dr. Stanley Woo, director of the School. “We look forward to working with provincial and national partners to support this bill through our education, advocacy and research efforts.”
The bill outlines specific measures the strategy will cover, including training, education and guidance for healthcare practitioners; the promotion of research and data collection; and information sharing between federal and provincial governments. It will also ensure that Health Canada can rapidly consider new treatments and devices used for four major eye diseases – macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy – thus shortening the time it takes to translate research into practice.
“With the population both growing and aging, demand for eye and vision care is rising,” said Woo. “The good news is 75 per cent of visual impairment is avoidable if detected and treated early. The bad news is many Canadians, particularly in rural and remote areas, face barriers in accessing vision care, leading to vision loss that could have been prevented. This bill is the beginning of improving access to vision care for all.”
The bill calls on the Minister of Health to develop a national strategy for eye care in partnership with provincial governments, Indigenous communities, health care providers, researchers and other stakeholders.
The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) has played a leading role in advocating for the bill on a national level.
“The passage of Bill C-284 represents a pivotal advancement, aligning with the CAO's enduring commitment to establishing eye care as a national health priority and promoting regular, proactive care across the country. As primary care providers for vision care and eye health, we are positioned to foster a productive discussion with a broad spectrum of vision partners to share our resources and expertise to make this strategy a success,” said Dr. Martin Spiro, CAO president.
Getting the bill passed took four years of effort from organizations and individuals concerned with the unmet need for eye and vision care in Canada.
In 2022, Woo welcomed Karen Vecchio, MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, to Waterloo and highlighted details of this work. Vecchio shared the experience in remarks made during the second reading of the bill, specifically noting the School’s demonstrated capacity for research and impacts for patient care across the country.
With well-established clinical programming and research that is continuously improving techniques for detecting, monitoring and treating eye diseases, Woo says the School is well positioned to support a national strategy on eye care. That mission will be further enhanced with the launch of the Waterloo Eye Institute – a state-of-the-art centre that will feature a high-quality vision care education and clinical facility in addition to two frontier research centres in biomedical sciences and ocular imaging.
“As Bill C-284 brings federal attention and interest in eye and vision care, the time is right for the School and the Waterloo Eye Institute to be a national resource," said Woo. "We are incredibly grateful to MP Sgro for her dedication and perseverance, which has been an inspiration."