Dear Doctors,
We have some exciting news to share with you!
After many years of work and collaboration as a tripartite effort with the University of Waterloo and with the Ontario Association of Optometrists, our efforts have come to fruition with the regulatory changes that have been introduced in optometry in the Province of Ontario.
It has been a long, but steady journey to bring us to the point that we have achieved this week.
Now we can be confident that the citizens of Ontario will have increased access to eye care delivered by doctors whose education and clinical training can now be more effectively utilized in many circumstances. This is also an important moment of recognition of the breadth and depth of skills ready for full implementation in the profession of optometry.
We have been working diligently in preparation for this news that has been pending from the government. We have already engaged our Quality Assurance Committee and Registration Committee in mapping out the pathway of implementation based on today’s communication from the Minister of Health to the College.
As this implementation becomes a reality, we will continue to update you. We appreciate your continued patience as we work with the Government and stakeholders in addressing outstanding important issues to increase access to eye care utilizing optometry’s full potential.
We appreciate your trust in the College to complete this important work. Know how much each of you are appreciated by the College for your consistent excellence in delivering high quality, progressive eye care to the citizens of Ontario.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mark Eltis, OD, FAAO, Dipl. ABO, President
Joe Jamieson, M.Ed., OCT, CEO and Registrar
