Ont. Indigenous children eye exam project expands to Sask.

The Indigenous Children Eye Exam (ICEE) project started several years ago with eyecare specialists from the Hamilton area visiting remote northern Ont. communities to provide vision screening and eye exams to Indigenous children and teens under the age of 16. The teams of optometrists, opticians and technicians from Hamilton and now Saskatoon also train local, northern healthcare providers such as nurses on how to provide vision screening and support weekly telemedicine clinics. Over 60% of kids tested needed glasses. The project’s goal is to develop a self-sustaining model of care and expand to isolated northern communities across Canada.