What you should know about OHIP for vision care

by [email protected] | Oct 24, 2023 | Articles, Eye Health

What you should know about OHIP for vision care

Brief overview

Ontario’s Health Insurance Plan (or OHIP) allows the province to cater to multiple health services for qualified/eligible individuals¹. On March 21, 2023, the OAO (Ontario Association of Optometrists) signed a new 4-year funding agreement on how OHIP-insured eye care services will be offered, effective from the 1st of September 2023. This new agreement was inspired by clinical evidence on appropriate eye care, expert opinion, and best practices.

Following the OHIP changes, Ontario residents of all ages who meet the new eligibility requirements can expect to continue enjoying high-quality publicly funded eye care services. We’ve gone through the process of assessing the 2023 OHIP changes in-depth. Here’s what you should know:

OHIP changes for annual exams

Before, all seniors aged 65 or more were entitled to one yearly eye exam.

As of the 1st of September, 2023, only seniors with an eligible medical/health condition affecting their eyes (like glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetes) are entitled to one eye exam annually. Seniors without eligible conditions are entitled to one eye exam every 1.5 years (or 18 months)². This change is meant to prioritize care for seniors who need it the most.

The change also aligns with timeframes for other provinces like Nova Scotia and Manitoba that ensure healthy seniors get one eye exam every two years.

OHIP changes for follow-up assessments

Before, seniors aged 65 and above were eligible for unlimited minor follow-up visits after going for their annual eye exam.

As of the 1st of September, 2023, only seniors with eligible health conditions affecting the eyes qualify for minor follow-up assessments. The assessments have been capped to a maximum of two every year.

Seniors without eligible conditions will also get a maximum of two minor follow-up assessments. However, this will be after every 1.5 years (or 18 months) following their yearly eye exam³.

These changes also ensure follow-up assessments are available to the vast majority who need them.

OHIP changes on eligible conditions vs. age

Going forward, adults and seniors residing in Ontario must have certain eligible medical conditions and prove eligibility to enjoy OHIP-insured eye exams and follow-up assessments. What’s more, the severity of the eligible condition will also dictate the frequency of eye exams i.e., more severe conditions will have priority. The changes are in line with documented research for the conditions in question.

Let’s discuss these changes in-depth with respect to age and underlying conditions:

I. Changes for those aged 19 or below

If you are aged 19 years or below, your OHIP coverage for eye exams remains the same.

Individuals in this age group qualify for one OHIP-insured eye examination annually from an optometrist. They also qualify for follow-up OHIP-insured partial assessments in between check-ups for specific vision/eye conditions. However, like before, visiting another optometrist to seek a second opinion on a diagnosis isn’t covered.

II. Changes for those aged 20 to 64 years

a. Qualified for OHIP-insured eye exam

As of the 1st of September 2023, individuals aged 20 to 64 years with any one or more severe vision-threatening conditions qualify for one OHIP-insured eye exam by an optometrist yearly. The list of approved conditions includes:

Diabetes (confirmed diagnosis)
Glaucoma (confirmed diagnosis)
Cataracts (worse than 20/40 vision or requiring surgery referral)
Retinal disease (acute or progressive retinal condition)
Corneal disease (acute)
Optic nerve pathway disease (acute)
Uveitis (active)
Crossed eyes (suddenly, due to disease or injury)
Individuals who take certain medications i.e., Tamoxifen, Ethambutol, chloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine

b. Not qualified for OHIP-insured eye exam

Individuals aged 20 to 64 years with one or more of the following conditions listed below (and the respective severity) don’t qualify for an OHIP-insured eye exam.

Unconfirmed diabetes
Unconfirmed glaucoma, regardless of whether or not they have risk factors like family history when being examined
Cataracts that don’t impact vision significantly i.e., better than 20/40 vision
Stable retinal condition
Stable corneal condition
Stable Optic nerve pathway disease
Inactive uveitis (even if there is a history of uveitis)
Stable/long-standing strabismus (crossed eyes)

III. Changes for seniors aged 65 years and above

Seniors aged 65 or more with any one or more of the sight-threatening conditions below qualify for one OHIP-insured comprehensive eye exam from an optometrist every year (every 12 months) or every 1.5 years (every 18 months) if the condition isn’t very severe.

a. Seniors Qualified for OHIP-insured eye exam (every 12 months)

As of the 1st of September, 2023, seniors must have any one or more of the severe vision-threatening conditions (and the respective severity) to qualify for a yearly OHIP-insured eye exam by an optometrist (every 12 months).

Diabetes (confirmed diagnosis). A letter from a physician and a list of medication/s may be required to verify diabetes diagnosis.
Glaucoma (confirmed diagnosis)
Cataracts (worse than 20/40 vision)
Retinal disease (acute or progressive)
Corneal disease (acute)
Optic nerve pathway disease (acute)
Uveitis (active during examination)
Seniors with crossed eyes (suddenly due to disease or injury)
Seniors taking certain medications i.e., Tamoxifen, Ethambutol, chloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine

b. Seniors qualified for an OHIP-insured eye exam (every 18 months)

Seniors aged 65 or more qualify for an OHIP-insured eye exam from an optometrist every 1.5 years if they have the following condition and respective severity:

Unconfirmed glaucoma (but examined due to the existence of risk factors)
Early cataracts (that doesn’t significantly impair vision)
Stable retinal condition
Stable corneal disease
Stable optic nerve pathway disease
Inactive uveitis (with history)
Long-standing crossed eyes

In a nutshell, the frequency of eye exams (i.e., after 1 year or 1.5 years) among seniors will be dictated by the severity/progression of the disease in question. Those with stable or unconfirmed cases will wait slightly longer i.e., 18 months vs. 12 months for confirmed and/or severe cases. OHIP changes for those aged 20 to 64 prioritize confirmed and severe cases. This means those who are 20 to 64 years old don’t qualify for an annual OHIP-insured eye exam unless their sight-threatening condition is confirmed and/or severe.

For OHIP-insured eye care in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, visit Kodak Lens Vision Centre and get examined by professional and highly experienced optometrists.

For more information on OHIP changes call: 647-952-1099 or click here to ask a question online.

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References

Introducing ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Contact Lenses

by Taylor | Aug 19, 2023 | Articles, Children's eye health, Contact lenses, Eye Health, News

Introducing ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Contact Lenses

acuvue abiliti kodak lens eyetrusteyecare v2

Let’s talk about Myopia. What is it?

Myopia is a chronic, progressive disease, in which the eye grows too long. 1-3 We used to think of myopia as just nearsightedness, but we now know it’s so much more, and can lead to blindness later in life because of the abnormal eye growth.

Myopia is an increasing epidemic found all around the world. In fact, by 2050, 50% of the world’s population will have myopia. Risk factors for developing myopia may be spending less time outdoors, increase in near work (reading, screen time), and parents who have myopia.

Watch the video below to understand Myopia and its impact

What are the risks of Myopia?

Short Term: In the short term, myopia means patients struggle to see far away without vision correction. This can lead to poor performance in school and less enjoyment playing sports or other activities.

Long Term: Myopia can lead to sight-threatening complications as the patient gets older. These risks include:

Rx Changes Matter

There is no safe level of myopia. For example, every additional diopter of myopia increases the risk of Myopic Macular Degeneration, a sight-threatening eye disease, by 67%. This means that every prescription change matters.

Talk to an Eye Doctor

Normal vision correction glasses will help you see, but they will not help slow the progression of myopia. Talk to your doctor about specialized treatment options for myopia management. There are also lifestyle changes that can help:

The Solution: Abiliti 1-Day or Overnight Soft Therapeutic Contact Lenses for Myopia Management

Breakthrough innovation designed for slowing the progression of myopia in children.

Proven Efficacy

Specifically designed for slowing the progression of myopia in children1 and shown to reduce axial elongation by 0.105mm, in as little as 6 months.

RingBoost Technology

Breakthrough RingBoost™ technology, a specialized optical design where light which passes through the outer treatment zone is focused in front of the retina but o the line of sight in a ring around the axis.

Pediatric Eye-Inspired Design

Made from the same silicone hydrogel material (senofilcon A) as ACUVUE® OASYS 1-Day, which has never been beaten in comfort.

ACUVUE Abiliti & Sight for Kids

How to Put On and Remove Abiliti™ 1-Day Contact Lenses

REFERENCES 1. Flitcroft DI. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2012;31(6):622-660. 2. Donovan L, Sankaridurg P, Ho A et al Myopia progression rates in urban children wearing single-vision spectacles. OVS 2012;89(1):27-32. 3. Pärssinen O, Kauppinen M. Risk factors for high myopia: a 22-year follow-up study from childhood to adulthood. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2019;97(5):510-518. 4. Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016;123:1036-42. 5. Wu PC, Chen CT, Chang LC, Niu YZ, Chen ML, Liao LL, Rose K, Morgan IG. Increased Time Outdoors Is Followed by Reversal of the Long-Term Trend to Reduced Visual Acuity in Taiwan Primary School Students. Ophthalmology. 2020 Nov;127(11):1462-1469. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.01.054. 6. Huang HM, Chang DS, Wu PC. The Association between Near Work Activities and Myopia in Children-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 20;10(10):e0140419. 7. Tedja MS, Haarman AEG, Mees ter-Smoor MA, Kaprio J, Mackey DA, Guggenheim JA, Hammond CJ, Verhoeven VJM, Klaver CCW; CREAM Consortium. IMI – Myopia Genetics Report. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019 Feb 28;60(3):M89-M105. 8. World Health Organization The impact of Myopia and High Myopia – Report of the Joint World Health Organization -Brien Holden Vision Institute Global Scientifi c Meeting 9. Haarman AEG, Enthoven CA, Willem Tideman JL, Tedja MS, Verhoeven VJM, Klaver CCW. The complications of myopia: A review and meta analysis. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2020;61(4):49-49. 10. Bullimore MA, Brennan NA. Myopia-control: Why Each Diopter Matters. Optom Vis Sci 2019;96:463-5. 11. Wu PC, Chen CT, Lin KK, et al. Myopia Prevention and Outdoor Light Intensity in a School-Based Cluster Randomized Trial. Ophthalmology. 2018;125(8):1239-1250. 12. He M, Xiang F, Zeng Y, et al. E ect of time spent outdoors at school on the development of myopia among children in China a randomized clinical trial. JAMA—Journal of the American Medical Association. 2015;314(11):1142-1148.

Learn more at: www.seeyourabiliti.com/ca

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Back-to-school Eye Exams

by [email protected] | Aug 8, 2023 | Articles, Children's eye health, Eye Health

Back-to-school Eye Exams

Kids need a healthy vision for proper development. During formative years, good vision is critical for exploring the world, learning, and interacting. If left undetected and untreated, eye conditions that start at a young age can result in kids with social, emotional, physical and/or intellectual development challenges.

According to AOA (American Optometric Association)¹ preschoolers (aged between 2 and 5 years) depend highly on vision to learn. Healthy vision is critical for preparing them for school, improving visual abilities gained in infancy, and developing new visual abilities. So, it’s no wonder that adding an eye exam to your back-to-school list is not only a great idea but also very beneficial for your child’s development.

Research suggests that children should go for their first eye exam at six months of age. The second eye exam should be after a year (or by age two or three). A good way to remember when to get your kid’s vision checked is at the start of the school year. You can click here to book a consultation with one of our expert optometrists at Kodak Lens Vision Centres to get this process started.

Why Are Back-to-school Eye Exams Important?

Overall well-being: Eye exams from a young age are the only way to ensure eye conditions don’t interfere with the overall well-being of your child. Ideally, kids should have regular eye exams yearly. This will ensure their vision is developing perfectly and they will be able to explore, play and engage in other extracurricular activities, which contribute to their emotional, physical, and social development.

Detecting eye conditions early: An annual eye exam for your kids can also help to uncover undiagnosed vision conditions before they become serious.

Head-start in school/learning: Learning is largely visual, so good vision health is critical for academic environments. Back-to-school eye exams can be the difference between average and stellar performance in school.

Vision and Learning

The relationship between visual health and learning has been studied extensively. There is research to show that children who have good visual skills (which allow them to better process information) will in turn have a better academic performance².

The reasons for this are simple: vision conditions come with many classroom difficulties. For instance, a learner will have problems seeing the board clearly, following along on a book, reading fluently, and comprehending what is being taught. These factors evidently affect a learner’s visual skills, reading abilities, and attention span/concentration, which ultimately contributes to poor academic development.

Signs To Look Out for in Kids

Since eye conditions can develop quickly i.e., before the yearly eye exam is due, what should you be looking out for? What signs suggest that your kid may have an eye condition? Well, here are our top 6 signs of vision impairment to look out for in your child.

Rubbing their eyes or blinking frequently
Avoiding reading and other close activities
Frequent headaches
Covering one eye to see or concentrate
Holding objects such as reading materials close to the face
Losing place when reading

What Goes into a Kid’s Eye Exam?

If you book a back-to-school eye exam for your kid with one of our optometrists at Kodak Lens Vision Centre you can expect a comfortable and comprehensive eye exam that tests five main vision aspects that cover most, (if not all) eye conditions known to affect kids. These aspects include:

1. Visual Acuity

Visual acuity focuses on how well a child can see. Special charts with letters and symbols of different sizes are used to perform a visual acuity test. Results are dictated by a child’s ability to identify the symbols and letters correctly.

2. Eye Muscle Control

Eye muscle control tests focus on the ability of the eyes to move together properly. The most common test is the cover test, where the child is required to cover one eye and look at a specific object. If the uncovered eye moves, this is an indication of an eye muscle control condition.
Eye control tests may include other tests for muscle-control-related vision conditions like misalignment and eye structural conditions.

3. Depth Perception

This tests the accuracy in detecting how far objects are using two different images/objects, one for each eye. Additional tests can be involved in this process.

4. Eye Coordination

As the name suggests, eye coordination is about testing a child’s ability to coordinate their eyes to perform basic movements i.e., being able to look at far or near objects, easily able to look left, right, up and down, or simple tasks such as looking in any direction as directed.

5. Colour Vision

Colour vision tests focus on a child’s ability to identify colour accurately, as this is important during playing, reading, and writing. Typical tests present colour plates featuring coloured dots with hidden shapes or numbers in them. An inability to identify those numbers or shapes suggests colour vision deficiency.

There’s more to each of the above aspects of a kid’s eye exam. To know more, you can consult one of our trusted Toronto eye exam specialists to get more in-depth information or you can click here to send us a question.

Do Kids Really Need a Yearly Eye Exam?

Yes! However, this can depend on their vision needs. If they have a vision condition or their visual prescription changes while growing, then a yearly exam is a good way to keep an eye on it. If not, then one of our optometrists will let you know how often your child should come by our office. However, having an eye exam around 1 or 2 years and yearly after that can help you maintain your kid’s eye health in check as they develop.

What’s more, since children in Ontario can get free annual eye exams or annual vision screenings covered by OHIP, there’s no reason for parents not to take up this benefit.

Conclusion

Children who can’t see the board clearly, or focus on pictures or words in a book are bound to struggle when learning. Vision problems also affect the social and physiological aspects of child development. To get ahead of any potential eye conditions your kids may have or to simply ensure their vision is as healthy as possible, you can book an appointment with us for a back-to-school eye exam at any of Kodak Lens Vision Centres’ seven eye clinic locations in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Let’s start the school year the right way!

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References

Sun damage to your eyes, eye sunburn, and more conditions to look out for this summer

by [email protected] | Jul 17, 2023 | Eye Health, Sunglasses, Sunglasses trends, Uncategorized

Sun damage to your eyes, eye sunburn, and more conditions to look out for this summer

As you enjoy summer, there are a few safety recommendations we’d like to share with you so that you can make the most out of this season while still being healthy and responsible. Let’s talk about sun protection. Wearing a hat (with a brim all the way around) is an easy way to shade your ears, face, and neck¹. Wearing sunscreen is also an obvious choice to keep your skin healthy and secure, but how can you protect your eyes?

While most people will remember to wear hats or apply sunscreen to protect their skin from overexposure to UV light, most overlook the fact that the eyes also require protection from UV rays.

UV rays and the eyes

According to the AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology), you should wear proper eye protection from an early age to protect your eyes from the long-term effects of ultraviolet exposure. This is because the eye’s surface tissues, among other parts like the lens and cornea, can be damaged by natural sunlight rays².

Luckily, there is a sure way to prevent this damage. Using UV-blocking sunglasses is the best way to protect you from the commonly overlooked dangers of UV light on the eyes. You can stop by any of our Kodak Lens Vision Centres locations to find the best pair of sunglasses for you or you can also check out our Look Book to browse through our available models.

Did you know you can get a sunburn on your eyes?

It might not be as well-known, but you can definitely get an eye sunburn (photokeratitis). Sunburned eyes occur when UV rays cause inflammation and subsequently damage the eye’s surface and parts like the cornea.

Symptoms of photokeratitis (eye sunburn):

The eyes experience short-term and long-term symptoms from UV ray exposure. Short-term effects of overexposure to UV rays, like eye sunburn, are characterized by the following symptoms;

Pain in the eyes
Redness
Light sensitivity
Gritty feeling, as if you have sand in your eyes
Headaches
Watery eyes
Eyelid swelling or twitching
Tearing
Blurred vision
Seeing halos

However, eye sunburns aren’t the only problem you should be worried about. UV sunlight has other serious consequences.

8 sun damage conditions that can happen to your eyes

Here are 8 UV-related sun damage conditions you should be aware of this summer.

1. Corneal sunburn

This condition is painful and develops when the corneal epithelial cells are damaged by harmful UV light, leaving corneal nerves (underneath) damaged and exposed³.

2. Cataracts

Studies have also linked years of harmful UV exposure to an increased risk of getting cataracts – an eye condition characterized by the clouding of eye lenses and commonly linked with aging⁴.

3. Photokeratitis

This is a medical condition that manifests after being exposed to UV rays. It is distinguished by the damage inflicted on the corneal epithelial cells. The symptoms generally vary based on the degree of exposure to UV light and they can be mild to severe pain⁵.

4. AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration)

UV light is also linked to AMD, an eye disease that blurs the central vision. AMD occurs when UV light damages the macula (part of the light-sensitive retina tissues responsible for controlling sharp straight-ahead central vision). This makes it difficult to view faces, read, control machinery, drive, or perform other close-up tasks. In serious cases, AMD can cause loss of vision, especially among older persons⁶.

5. Growths on the Eye

Long-term sun damage is also linked to conditions like “pterygium” characterized by growth on the eye’s conjunctive that blurs or blocks vision⁷.

6. Sunspots in your eye

Sun damage can also cause colored freckle-like sunspots that resemble moles on your skin. The sun spots can occur around the iris, under the retina, or in the front of the eye. Although the sun spots can be harmless, there’s a risk of them becoming cancerous⁸.

7. Aging

This isn’t exactly an eye condition. However, UV rays can accelerate eye aging by triggering responses like squinting, which deepen wrinkles around the eyes in the long term. A pair of sunglasses can easily prevent UV damage-related facial aging.

8. Pinguecula and pterygia

Exposure to UV radiation can also cause “pinguecula” and “pterygium”, both of which are eye conditions characterized by growths on the clear covering of the sclera (conjunctiva) or white part of the eyes⁹.

If you have any of the above-mentioned eye conditions, we invite you to book a consultation with one of our optometrists to get your eye health checked out and make sure you are taking proper care of your vision and eyes.

What does sun damage on the eyes look like?

Sun damage on the eyes will look like the underlying eye condition. As seen above, different conditions cause different eye health concerns and conditions:

Corneal sunburn resembles a skin sunburn with symptoms like redness
Cataracts linked to sun damage make the eyes (pupils) look cloudy
Sun spots look like freckles on the white part of the eye

Can you prevent sun damage to your eyes?

Yes. One of the best ways of preventing sun damage to your eyes is wearing UV-blocking sunglasses. Fortunately, you can look into our resources to learn more about the top sunglasses to consider for the summer of 2023. You can also find other great UV-blocking sunglasses on our Look Book, with several different UV-blocking sunglasses options to consider. Remember, good quality sunglasses can block up to 99% UVA and UVB light.

How to treat eye damage from the sun

If you already have UV-linked eye damage, all is not lost. You can take the following actions/steps to improve, manage or treat the underlying eye condition.

Stay in a dark room
Remove contact lenses (for those that wear them)
Switch to your eyeglasses instead
Place a cool, damp washcloth over your eyes
Use artificial tears to relieve a variety of symptoms and provide relief and comfort. You can check out our “Top eye drops we carry” blog to know more about it.
Avoid rubbing your eyes

Lastly, the best way to treat any eye damage from the sun is to book a consultation with one of our optometrists at Kodak Lens Vision Centres to learn the best course of action for your specific situation. Together, we can select your next pair of protective sunglasses and much more. There are also contact lenses that offer UV protection.

Feel free to visit us at any of our locations and we’ll help you get back to enjoying the summer in a safe and healthy way. In the meantime, consider wearing a hat with a wide brim and staying away from direct sunlight. Use an umbrella to provide extra shade and take breaks from the outdoors by going inside or finding a shady area if you plan to be out in the sun for a long time. If you have any questions about UV protection for your eyes or any other topic, you can click here to ask us directly and we would be happy to help.

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References

Summer Sunglasses Sale! June 1 to July 31, 2023

by Taylor | May 31, 2023 | Discounts, Eye Health, News, Promotions, Sunglasses

Posters - spring into savings may to june 15 2019

Summer Sunglasses Sale!

Receive 15% off all non-prescription or prescription sunglasses and complete pair with new frame and Transitions lenses! In support of National Sunglasses Day on June 27, 2023, we promote practicing sun protection by wearing your sunglasses throughout the year, as the sun’s UV rays are always at play. UV rays can damage your eyes and skin. National Sunglasses Day is a reminder to wear them regularly.

Protect your eyes and skin from the sun’s UV year-round with:

Sunscreen (30 SPF or more)
Wear sunglasses with lenses that block 100% of UVA/UVB rays
A hat and protective clothing
Stay cool and find shade to take breaks from sun exposure
Use personal or beach umbrella for extra sun protection

Here are some Sunglasses Solutions:

Polarized Sunglasses to reduce glare
Lenses with Transitions technology for indoor and outdoor use. New Transitions GEN 8 now available.
Blue light filtering lenses to protect yourself from high energy blue light

We will celebrate on June 27 for #NationalSunglassesDay and you can too by posting a #SunglassSelfie on social media! Tag us on instagram @kodaklensvisioncentres.

Visit us at any of our Kodak Lens Vision Centres from June 1 to July 31, 2023 as we are offering 15% off prescription or non-prescription sunglasses and Transition lenses! We carry brands such as Maui Jim, Costa, Ray-Ban, Oakley and many more of our sunglass brands! See below.

SUNGLASSES

Boss

Burberry

Coach

Costa

Dior

Emporio Armani

Fysh

Hugo

Kate Spade

Marc Jacobs

Maui Jim

Michael Kors

Tiffany & Co

Tommy Hilfiger

Tory Burch

Versace

Vogue

Zeal

Alfred Sung

MCQ

Oakley

One Sun

Prada

Puma

Ray-Ban

Tom Ford

Visit us for more details and remember to protect yourself from the sun!

Click here to learn about the Importance of Sunglasses.

Promotion Details: Receive 15% off a pair of Rx or Non-Rx sunglasses. Available to receive 15% off Rx and Non-Rx sunglasses for Maui Jim, Costa, Ray-Ban, Oakley and all our sunglasses brands. Sunglass brand selection varies per location. Specific brands are only available at certain Kodak Lens Vision Centre locations. Ask or visit us for full details.

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Everything you should know about Transitions lenses

by [email protected] | May 29, 2023 | Articles, Eye Health, Eyeglasses, News, Sunglasses, Transitions Lenses

Everything you should know about Transitions lenses

Your prescription eyeglasses provide you with the clearest vision possible in your daily life, but may not offer all the eye health protection you need in every environment. You can easily feel discomfort when you are out under the sun despite wearing your glasses. This is because of the constant exposure to UV rays, brightness, and glare outside. In this case, you need lenses that have sun and UV light protection. Sunglasses tend to be the obvious choice in this scenario, as long as they provide UV protection, but are they prescription sunglasses? Even if they are, is it really that convenient to be switching between your eyeglasses and sunglasses?

Transitions lenses provide a solution and give you the ability to wear the same glasses in all situations and environments. Whenever you are going back and forth between the indoors and outdoors, your Transitions lenses provide you with clear vision indoors and the protection you need under changing light conditions. At Kodak Lens Vision Centres, we provide a variety of Transitions lenses that you can choose from including Transitions Signature GEN 8, Transitions XTRActive, Transitions XTRActive Polarized, and ACUVUE Oasys contact lenses with Transitions. These innovations are a hassle-free visual solution to getting clear and comfortable vision at all times, not to mention the latest technology available for your comfort.

If Transitions lenses sound like the solution you have been waiting for, we recommend booking an eye exam to make sure your eyeglasses prescription is up to date. We can also discuss all the sun protection solutions and specifically Transitions lenses we recommend.

What are Transitions lenses?

Transitions lenses are adaptive lenses that darken when exposed to sunlight to block out harmful UVA and UVB rays. The lenses return back to clear when used indoors. These lenses adapt automatically to changing lighting conditions thereby providing the wearer with the needed level of UV protection at all times¹. Transitions Signature GEN 8 are the latest generation of Transitions lens technology.

How are Transitions lenses made?

Transitions lenses are made with a special photochromic material that gets activated by ultraviolet radiation in sunlight to darken the lenses. This material includes silver chloride, copper chloride, and chemical compounds similar to those used in the development of photographic film. Silver chloride contains molecules that gain an electron when exposed to ultraviolet light and then become a silver metal that is able to absorb visible light and turn darker in the process. Transitions lenses may also have an anti-reflective coating that helps enhance their performance².

Transitions products we offer

We dispense a variety of Transitions lenses with unique features that offer protection to your eyes at all times. Here are our top Transitions solutions and how they can provide comfort to your eyes under changing lighting conditions.

1. Transitions Signature GEN 8

This is the perfect lens for everyday life. It is also the clearest and fastest lens we carry. Transitions Signature GEN 8 darkens within seconds outdoors and returns to clear immediately when you get indoors. Check out our other blog post to learn more.

Transitions Signature GEN 8 blocks 100% UVA and UVB rays.
It also filters blue-violet light so that your eyes are comfortable whether you are indoors, outdoors or working with a screen.
Our Transitions Signature GEN 8 comes in seven colors including sapphire, amethyst, amber, emerald, grey, brown and graphite green.
Transitions Signature GEN 8 provides your eyes with a better vision experience and protection from bright lights.

2. Transitions XTRActive new generation

These lenses are designed for wearers who are very light-sensitive and those who are frequently exposed to bright light. Transitions XTRActive new generation lenses are specially designed using powerful dyes and the latest nano-composite matrix to provide the best extra darkness and the best extra light protection.

Transitions XTRActive lenses block out 100% UVA and UVB, and have the best blue-violet light protection.
They have up to 35% faster fadeback and are clear indoors with a hint of protective tint.
These lenses are darkest in hot temperatures and can activate in a car despite the UV-protected windows so that you are able to use them while driving.
Transitions XTRActive lenses provide clarity of vision allowing the wearer to see their environment quickly and precisely.

Transitions XTRActive lenses come in three colors including grey, brown and graphite green. They come in five style mirrors including style mirrors silver, style mirrors flash gold, style mirrors blue green, style mirrors blue violet and style mirrors copper, allowing you to personalize your lenses (subject to availability and lens index material).

3. Transitions XTRActive Polarized

Our Transitions XTRActive Polarized lens is the only photochromic polarized lens and the best currently available. This lens is for wearers who are frequently exposed to bright light and reflective glare.

They provide sharper vision and larger outdoor views allowing you to see vivid colours through their dynamic polarization.
Transitions XTRActive Polarized lenses block out 100% of UVA and UVB rays thereby protecting your eyes from the sun.
They also provide the best blue-violet light protection indoors and have up to 90% polarization efficiency.

These extra dark and polarized lenses are able to activate in the car and have up to 2x faster fade back returning to clear when you are indoors. Transitions XTRActive Polarized lenses come in grey color and a variety of index lens materials such as CR39, poly, trivex and hi-index.

4. ACUVUE Oasys with Transitions

ACUVUE OASYS are unique Transitions contact lenses with superior Transitions photochromic technology that is formulated to instantly activate, thereby providing you with a revolutionary contact lens experience.

These lenses help your vision recover from bright light within 5 seconds.
They are designed to reduce the stressful impact that light can have on your eyes.
ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions offers the highest level of UV protection in contact lenses and filters blue-violet light to provide maximum protection to your eyes.
It also reduces halos and starbursts by up to 28% and provides crisp clear vision at night.
ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions can also be worn with non-prescription sunglasses to get complete sun protection.
ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions was recognized by TIME as one of their BEST Inventions of 2018³.

A first-of-its-kind contact lens that is able to adapt from clear to dark and back while balancing the amount of indoor and outdoor light entering the eyes. When you’re outdoors, the lens activation continues to change in response to light so that it’s not always at its darkest state. Check out our other blog post to learn more.

Transitions lenses have superior photochromic lens technology that offers you convenience alongside clear and comfortable vision. They remove the need to use multiple eyeglasses and protect your eyes from harmful radiation. Transitions Signature GEN 8 blocks at least 20% of harmful blue light indoors and over 87% of harmful blue light outdoors. Transitions Signature lenses style colors, on the other hand, block over 75% outdoors. These lenses are the perfect companion for all outdoor activities in which you’ll want to have the clearest vision possible. Not only Transitions lenses are useful, but can be very stylish depending on the frame, mirror or colour option you choose.

The first step to knowing whether Transition lenses are right for you is to book a consultation with us and get a comprehensive eye exam. Our Optometrist and team will help you determine which of these specialty lenses is right for you and what benefits you can receive from them, such as the extra protection against glare. Reach out to us today to begin your journey towards a more comfortable vision at all times!

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References

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What you should know about OHIP for vision care​

​Brief overview

OHIP changes for annual exams

OHIP changes for follow-up assessments

OHIP changes on eligible conditions vs. age

I. Changes for those aged 19 or below

II. Changes for those aged 20 to 64 years

a. Qualified for OHIP-insured eye exam

b. Not qualified for OHIP-insured eye exam

III. Changes for seniors aged 65 years and above

a. Seniors Qualified for OHIP-insured eye exam (every 12 months)

b. Seniors qualified for an OHIP-insured eye exam (every 18 months)

Introducing ACUVUE® Abiliti™ Contact Lenses

Let’s talk about Myopia. What is it?

Watch the video below to understand Myopia and its impact

What are the risks of Myopia?

Rx Changes Matter

Talk to an Eye Doctor

The Solution: Abiliti 1-Day or Overnight Soft Therapeutic Contact Lenses for Myopia Management

Proven Efficacy

RingBoost Technology

Pediatric Eye-Inspired Design

ACUVUE Abiliti & Sight for Kids

How to Put On and Remove Abiliti™ 1-Day Contact Lenses

Back-to-school Eye Exams​

Why Are Back-to-school Eye Exams Important?

Vision and Learning

Signs To Look Out for in Kids

What Goes into a Kid’s Eye Exam?

1. Visual Acuity

2. Eye Muscle Control

3. Depth Perception

4. Eye Coordination

5. Colour Vision

Do Kids Really Need a Yearly Eye Exam?

Conclusion

Sun damage to your eyes, eye sunburn, and more conditions to look out for this summer

UV rays and the eyes

Did you know you can get a sunburn on your eyes?

8 sun damage conditions that can happen to your eyes

1. Corneal sunburn

2. Cataracts

3. Photokeratitis

4. AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration)

5. Growths on the Eye

6. Sunspots in your eye

7. Aging

8. Pinguecula and pterygia

What does sun damage on the eyes look like?

Can you prevent sun damage to your eyes?

How to treat eye damage from the sun

Summer Sunglasses Sale!

SUNGLASSES

Everything you should know about Transitions lenses

What are Transitions lenses?

How are Transitions lenses made?

1. Transitions Signature GEN 8

2. Transitions XTRActive new generation

3. Transitions XTRActive Polarized

4. ACUVUE Oasys with Transitions

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What you should know about OHIP for vision care

Brief overview

Back-to-school Eye Exams