Comprehensive eye exams

We make it easy to care for your eyes. We offer comprehensive eye exams at our locations in Waterloo and downtown Kitchener. Both locations are accessible to people with mobility and other disabilities.

What is a comprehensive eye exam?

A comprehensive eye exam is a series of tests that checks both your vision and your eye health. Vision testing includes visual acuity (how clear your vision is), binocular vision (how well your eyes work as a pair), and if indicated, colour vision (how you see different colours). Eye health testing will look for eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration as well as medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Our optometrists can provide prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses and can also prescribe medications if necessary. If your exam reveals the need for additional testing or treatment, we may refer you to one of our specialized services, to an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon), or your family doctor.

The specialized services we offer include advanced contact lenses, ocular disease care, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, brain injury rehabilitation and binocular vision therapy and rehabilitation. If you need any of these services, they will be separate appointments – they are not part of an eye exam.

Primary eye care

Our Primary Eye Care Service offers comprehensive eye exams for the whole family. Book your appointment online or call:

• Waterloo Clinic: 519-888-4062
• Kitchener Clinic: 519-888-4455

Have a mobility disability? We can accommodate you – but please call for your appointment rather than booking online. This is to ensure we have the appropriate facilities (i.e. an accessible exam lane) available at the time of your appointment.

Pediatric eye care

We offer comprehensive eye exams for children aged six months and up. Our dedicated pediatric service is located at our Waterloo Clinic, though our Kitchener Clinic can also accommodate eye exams for children of all ages. For a pediatric appointment (Waterloo Clinic), call: 519-888-4062.

• Learn more about our eye exams for children.

Special needs eye care

We offer comprehensive eye exams for people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Patients with special needs are best served at our Waterloo Clinic. For an appointment, call: 519-888-4567, ext. 36321

• Learn more about our eye exams for people with special needs.

What sets us apart?

In addition to providing exceptional patient care, we are a teaching and research facility, part of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science. This means we offer state-of-the-art treatments, techniques and equipment. If you need specialized services, we offer those too – all in one place at our Waterloo location.

At our clinics, you’ll first be seen by an upper-year optometry student. As Canada’s only English-language school of optometry, we take the best and brightest students and train them to the highest standards of practice. You will also be seen by one of our experienced registered optometrists, so you can be sure you’re receiving the most thorough care possible.