AB Health Changes
New Fee Changes due to recent AB Health Cuts
Due to recent cutbacks in government funding provided by Alberta Health Services, new fees now apply to previously funded services. Our goal remains to provide the highest quality comprehensive and medical eye care to all our patients.
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To continue delivering the best care possible, we have introduced small fees. These fees help us invest in the latest technology and allow us to dedicate the necessary time to address all your vision and eye health concerns.
Children
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Comprehensive eye exams (5 years old and younger): No Charge
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Comprehensive eye exams (6 to 19 years old): $10
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Comprehensive eye exams with OCT Retinal Imaging: $35
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What is OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) Retinal Imaging?
Retinal imaging is an advanced technology that captures a high-resolution, image of the retina in a single picture. This allows for early detection and monitoring of eye conditions.
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[Click here to learn more about OCT Retinal Imaging for children.]
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Albertans 65 and Older
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Comprehensive eye exams: $20
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Comprehensive eye exams with OCT Retinal Imaging: $50
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[Click here to learn more about OCT Retinal Imaging for seniors.]
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Emergency, Medical, & Post-Operative Eye Care
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Medical visits for any reason, including red eyes, pain, foreign bodies, sudden vision changes, flashes, and floaters: $10
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Medical visits for chronic disease monitoring, such as dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes, and uveitis: $10
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Cataract Post-Operative Management (includes all post-operative visits and imaging): $60
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Visual Field Testing (for glaucoma, headaches, strokes, sudden vision changes, HCQ testing): $15​
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Repeat Retina Imaging for Disease Monitoring
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Repeat imaging within the same year (not covered by Alberta Health): $50
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Repeat imaging is often necessary for conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease.
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We continue to collaborate with retina and glaucoma specialists to provide advanced medical eye care
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Any additional fees will be discussed with you before performing any procedures.
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Same-Day Dilation for Seniors
Alberta Health no longer covers same-day dilation for conditions such as diabetes, cataract assessment, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and HCQ assessments.
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Same-day dilation fee: $60
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Alternative option: Return on a later date for dilation at no charge.
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Insurance & Financial Assistance
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Many private insurance plans cover eye exams for children and seniors. We can direct bill most private insurance providers.
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Patients under AISH, Alberta Income Support, or NIHB are not subject to co-pays.
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Our goal at Varsity Optical is to make eye care accessible for all Albertans. These funding changes were unexpected, and optometrists across Alberta were blindsided by the announcement.
If cost is a barrier, please contact us directly—we are happy to work with you to make special arrangements.
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We remain committed to providing the highest level of comprehensive vision and medical eye care.
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Contact Us
If you have any questions, please call us at [780-433-5500] or [email us here.]
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Fees are subject to change.
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