Eye Exams for Seniors Calgary
Take your time with us. Every senior eye exam in Calgary comes with extra time, help from Alberta Health Care, and plenty of room for family.
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 Exams for Seniors in Calgary
Book an eye exam for seniors in Calgary at Core Eye Care, inside the Core Shopping Centre downtown. Our optometrists check your vision and your eye health.
Alberta’s health plan (AHCIP) helps cover a yearly eye exam at 65 and older, and Core Eye Care charges a $35 copay for the remainder.
Your exam is a comprehensive eye exam, with extra time built in. Your optometrist may recommend additional tests based on your eyes and your health.
Why seniors and families book at Core Eye Care
- Downtown Calgary since 2016, right off the CTrain line.
- Two optometrists: Dr. Cynthia Du, OD, and Dr. Alyshah Hassam, OD.
- No pressure. We recommend only what fits you.
- We book a 30-minute appointment for every senior exam, and for anyone who needs more time, instead of our usual 20 minutes, so no one is rushed.
Eye Care for Seniors and Their Families
Senior eye exams at Core Eye Care are for adults 65 and older, and family members are always welcome to help book and come along. A senior eye exam checks how well you see and how healthy your eyes are as you age.
Why Eye Exams for Seniors Matter
Many age-related eye conditions cause no early symptoms. Regular eye exams for seniors help your optometrist find changes early and talk through next steps with you. Seniors and their families most want reassurance that there are no signs of common conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. We go through every finding with you and your family, in plain language, so everyone understands what we saw and why.
What's Included in a Senior Eye Exam?
Your optometrist decides which tests fit your eyes and your health. We check for the most common eye problems in seniors, including cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and dry eye.
Vision and Prescription Testing
Your optometrist measures how clearly you see, near and far. We update your glasses prescription if your vision has changed.
Eye Health Assessment
Your optometrist examines the front and inside of your eyes for signs of age-related eye conditions.
Eye Pressure Check
When appropriate, your optometrist measures the pressure inside your eyes. 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
We perform an Optomap retinal scan for every senior patient as part of your exam; it’s included in your $35 copay. Your optometrist may also recommend an OCT scan or a visual field test for a closer look.
Cataract Assessment
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens. Your optometrist assesses your lenses for signs of cataracts.
Glaucoma Assessment
Glaucoma can damage the optic nerve, often with no early symptoms. Your optometrist assesses your eye pressure and the health of your optic nerve.
Macular Degeneration Assessment
The macula is the central part of the retina. Your optometrist assesses it for signs of age-related macular degeneration, which affects central vision.
Diabetes-Related Eye Health Review
If you have diabetes, your optometrist reviews your retina for signs of diabetes-related eye changes.
Dry Eye Assessment and Treatment
Dry eye becomes more common as you age. Your optometrist can assess it and recommend treatment as part of your visit.
How Often Should Seniors Have Eye Exams?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends an annual eye exam for seniors aged 65 and older, or as advised. The Alberta Association of Optometrists also advises a yearly exam.
Routine eye examinations for seniors let your optometrist compare your eyes with your last visit. Your optometrist may suggest more frequent visits based on your eye health, medical conditions, or symptoms.
Signs You Should Book Sooner
- Blurry or cloudy vision.
- Trouble seeing at night or in dim light.
- Eye pain, redness, or dryness.
Simple Ways to Protect Your Vision at Home
A few everyday habits support your eye health between visits.
- Improve the lighting in your home, especially on stairs, and use nightlights in hallways and bathrooms.
- Reduce glare where you can.
- Mark stair edges so they’re easier to see.
- Reduce screen time and take regular breaks from screens.
- Clean your eyelids daily and keep up good eyelid hygiene.
- Use a good artificial tear, especially in Alberta’s dry climate.
Alberta Coverage for Senior Eye Exams
Here is how coverage for eye exams for seniors in Alberta works. Alberta’s health plan (AHCIP) partly covers one comprehensive routine eye exam each benefit year for adults 65 and older. The benefit year runs July 1 to June 30.
AHCIP’s reimbursement for a senior exam no longer covers the full cost, so Core Eye Care charges a $35 copay for the remainder. That copay includes your Optomap retinal scan. AHCIP does not cover glasses or contact lenses.
Follow-Up Visits and Additional Testing
If your optometrist asks you to come back for a follow-up, for example after a glaucoma or macular finding, the follow-up visit itself is fully covered by AHCIP. If you need additional imaging at that visit, such as retinal photos, an OCT scan, or a visual field test, one test costs $20, two cost $30 total, and all three cost $50 total.
Dilated Eye Exams
We do dilate senior’s eyes. A new AHCIP rule separates dilation from a senior’s routine exam, so you’ll come back another day for it. If you’d rather do it the same day, we can, for a separate fee. If we dilate your eyes, bring sunglasses for the drive home; if you don’t have a pair, we can provide disposable ones.
We also handle your insurance through direct billing. Your copay, and anything your plan doesn’t cover, is paid at your visit by credit card or debit. Coverage rules can change, so call 403-290-1535 if you have questions before you book.
Questions about coverage? Call 403-290-1535, or pick a time online.
How to Book a Senior Eye Exam
We welcome patients from across Calgary and the surrounding area, and the mall’s underground lot makes parking easy.
Looking for an optometrist for seniors in Calgary? Dr. Cynthia Du and Dr. Alyshah Hassam examine adult and senior eyes at Core Eye Care, and you can meet the team before your visit.
Three ways to book:
- Book online. It runs through LensCrafters, the clinic is within the store.
- 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 birthday to set up the right exam for their age.
Booking for a Parent or Spouse
You can book online or by phone for a parent or spouse. Core Eye Care doesn’t need their consent to book on their behalf. When you book online, enter their name and birthday.
You’re welcome to join them in the exam room. Our exam rooms are small, so we ask for one guest at a time when possible, though we can fit two if needed.
Bring their Alberta health care number, any additional insurance information, a list of medications and allergies, details of any previous eye surgeries, their current glasses if they wear them, and their contact lens prescription if they wear contacts.
Getting to Our Clinic and Accessibility
If you’re taking the C-Train, the station connects directly into the mall on the first floor. Two elevators there take you up to the 3rd floor, where you’ll find our clinic. If those elevators are down, freight elevators elsewhere in the mall are available for customer use.
There’s room in our clinic for walkers, and one of our exam rooms fits a wheelchair for patients who aren’t able to transfer to the exam chair. Waiting room seating can be moved to make space.
If you or a family member has memory, hearing, or vision loss, let us know when you book. We schedule extra time so there’s no need to rush.
Frequently Asked Questions - senior eye exams
Are eye exams free for seniors in Alberta?
No. AHCIP partly covers one routine eye exam each benefit year for adults 65 and older, and Core Eye Care charges a $35 copay for the rest, which includes your Optomap retinal scan. Additional imaging at a follow-up visit costs $20 per test, with a discount if you need two or three.
How often should seniors have an eye exam?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends an annual eye exam for adults 65 and older, or as advised. Your optometrist may suggest visits more often based on your health and symptoms.
What age qualifies for senior eye exam coverage in Alberta?
AHCIP partly covers a routine eye exam for adults 65 and older. The benefit year runs July 1 to June 30, so your benefit renews each July 1.
Are senior eye exams different from regular eye exams?
A senior eye exam includes the same core checks as a routine adult exam. It adds extra attention to age-related eye health. Your optometrist chooses the tests that fit your eyes and your health history.
Can a Family Member Come Into My Appointment?
Yes. You’re welcome to bring someone with you. Our exam rooms are small, so we ask for one guest at a time when possible, though we can accommodate two if needed.
Is Core Eye Care Accessible for Wheelchairs and Walkers?
Yes. Two elevators connect the mall’s first floor to our clinic on the 3rd floor, with freight elevators as a backup. There’s room for walkers, and one of our exam rooms fits a wheelchair for patients who aren’t able to transfer to the exam chair.