Eye exam in calgary
Book an eye exam in Calgary at Core Eye Care, inside the Core Shopping Centre downtown. We offer Saturday appointments, welcome walk-ins and direct bill your insurance.
Walk-Ins
Welcome
No appointment, no problem! Come by during our operating hours and we’ll squeeze you in.
Convenient
locatioN
3rd floor of the Core Shopping Centre, inside LensCrafters, steps from the C-Train.
Flexible
Scheduling
Busy weekdays? We're open Saturdays, so you can book an exam around work.
DIRECT BILLING
AVAILABLE
We bill your insurance directly, so you skip the paperwork and the wait for reimbursement.
Eye Exam in Calgary
Book an eye exam in Calgary at Core Eye Care, inside the Core Shopping Centre downtown. Our optometrists check how clearly you see and how healthy your eyes are.
Every exam we do is a comprehensive eye exam, adapted to your age and your eyes. An adult eye exam includes Optomap imaging, with OCT and visual field testing when your optometrist recommends them.
We see patients from 6 months up, with children’s eye exams and eye exams for seniors adapted to each stage of life. We also handle your insurance through direct billing, so you don’t have to.
Why Book at Core Eye Care
- Serving downtown Calgary since 2016, right off the C-Train line.
- Two optometrists: Dr. Cynthia Du, OD, and Dr. Alyshah Hassam, OD.
- No pressure. We recommend only what fits you.
- We take time to explain your results, so you understand your eye health before you leave.
- Your optometrist walks you through your results, and we book extra time for anyone who needs it.
Comprehensive Eye Exams in Calgary
Comprehensive eye exam checks how well you see and how healthy your eyes are. It goes further than a quick vision test or eye test.
Many eye conditions cause no early symptoms. A comprehensive eye exam helps your optometrist find changes early and talk through next steps.
Clear Vision Is Only Part of the Picture
Seeing clearly doesn’t always mean your eyes are healthy. Glaucoma, for example, often has no early warning signs. A comprehensive eye exam gives your optometrist a chance to spot changes before you notice them.
A Look at Your Overall Health
The back of your eye is one of the few places where blood vessels can be seen directly. Changes there can show signs of conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. If something needs a closer look, your optometrist explains what they found and helps with next steps, including a referral if you need one.
Living with diabetes? Our diabetic eye exam takes a closer look at your retina, with dilation and an OCT scan.
Adult Eye Exams (Ages 19 to 64)
An adult eye exam at Core Eye Care is for patients aged 19 to 64. Adult eyes change with age, screen time and health conditions. Focusing up close often gets harder in your 40s.
Book one if you need a new prescription, notice a change in your vision, or are simply due. Regular comprehensive eye exams let your optometrist compare results over time and act on changes early.
What's Included in my Eye Exam?
Your optometrist decides which tests fit your eyes and your health.
Symptoms and Vision Needs
Tell us about headaches, dryness, blurry vision, or eye strain. Share how you use your eyes at work and on screens. Mention your family health history and any medications, since some can affect your eyes. Your optometrist tailors their advice to your daily life.
Vision Testing
Your optometrist measures how clearly you see at near, intermediate and far distances. This vision test, sometimes called an eye test, shows whether you need glasses or a prescription change. We also check depth perception, colour vision and how well your eyes work together.
Prescription Update
If your vision has changed, we update your glasses or contact lens prescription and explain your options.
Eye Health Assessment
Your optometrist examines the front and inside of your eyes. They look for signs of conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
Eye Pressure Check
When appropriate, your optometrist measures the pressure inside your eyes. This helps assess your risk of glaucoma. We have three tonometers, and for glaucoma testing we use the Tono-Vera or a Goldmann tonometer. The Tono-Vera does not use an air puff.
Retinal Health Review
The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye. Your optometrist reviews its health with an Optomap image. Every adult comprehensive exam includes Optomap imaging, and OCT and visual field testing when your optometrist recommends them, with no added fee, all done with our in-clinic diagnostic technology.
Routine and Annual Eye Exams
A routine eye exam checks your eyes when nothing feels wrong. It also shows how your vision changes over time.
How Often Should You Book an Eye Exam in Calgary?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends an eye exam every two years for adults aged 20 to 64. It recommends an annual eye exam for school-age patients and for seniors, or as advised.
Your optometrist may suggest more frequent visits based on your health, family history, or symptoms.
Who Should Book a Routine Eye Exam?
Book a routine eye exam if:
- you wear glasses or contact lenses and want to check your prescription.
- you notice blurry vision, headaches, dryness, or eye strain.
- you have a health condition, a family history of eye disease, or have never had a comprehensive eye exam.
What to Expect at Your Visit
You’re greeted at the LensCrafters front desk and directed to our clinic at the back of the store. At our own reception desk, we update your information and check your insurance before your exam starts, so there are no billing surprises afterward.
An assistant pretests your eyes and updates your medications and allergies before you see the doctor.
Your optometrist walks you through your results as she goes, including your retinal photos and scans if you had them, so you understand what she’s looking at and why.
If you need a follow-up visit, we let you know before you leave and our front desk helps you book it. If you need a referral to a specialist, your optometrist explains why and refers you out.
How to Book Your Eye Exam
We welcome patients from across Calgary and the surrounding area, and the mall’s underground lot makes parking easy.
Three ways to book:
- Book online: It runs through LensCrafters, the store we work inside.
- Call us: Phone 403-290-1535.
- Walk in: Walk-ins are welcome during business hours, subject to doctor availability.
Booking Online, Step by Step
- Click Book My Appointment and Choose “Comprehensive Eye Exam.” That includes medical eye exams and exams for adults, seniors and children. Only choose “Contacts” if you need a contact lens exam or fitting.
- Pick a time that works for you.
- Enter the patient’s name, birthday and email. We use the birth day to set up the right exam for their age.
Frequently Asked Questions - Eye Exam Calgary
How Much Does an Eye Exam Cost in Calgary?
It depends on your age and your coverage.
- 18 and under: Alberta Health Care (AHCIP) fully covers one routine eye exam each benefit year. Optional Optomap imaging is $30.
- Adults 19 to 64: Your exam includes Optomap, OCT and visual field testing when needed. Cost depends on your plan. We direct bill the insurance companies listed on our Insurance page.
- 65 and older: AHCIP partly covers one routine eye exam each benefit year. We charge a $35 copay, which includes an Optomap image.
Anything your plan doesn’t cover is paid at your visit by credit card or debit.
Do You Offer Walk-In Eye Exams in Downtown Calgary?
Yes. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours, subject to doctor availability. If you’d rather not wait, you can book ahead for a specific time instead.
What is included in a comprehensive eye exam?
It includes vision testing, a prescription update, an eye health assessment, and a retinal health review. Your optometrist also checks eye pressure when appropriate.
What is the difference between an eye exam and a vision test?
A vision test, also called an eye test, checks how clearly you see. A comprehensive eye exam adds an assessment of your eye health by an optometrist. At Core Eye Care, every exam is a comprehensive eye exam. We don’t offer a vision-only test.
Is there an eye exam near me in downtown Calgary?
Yes. Core Eye Care is on the 3rd floor of the Core Shopping Centre, inside LensCrafters, right off the CTrain line. We offer eye exams for every age, from a routine eye checkup to a full look at your eye health. It’s an easy stop for an eye test on your lunch break.