File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

EYE CARE

Kamloops White Cane Club’s petition reaches BC legislature

May 21, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — May is Vision Month and last week, a petition created by the Kamloops White Cane Club was presented in the B.C. legislature.

Last Wednesday (May 15), BC United MLA Peter Milobar rose in Victoria to enter a petition into the legislature record.

“Asking that all resident seniors and persons with disabilities in B.C. have free access to eye exams through their own registered optometrists,” said Milobar. “These user fees charged by the optometrist will cause — and do cause — hardship on our seniors and persons with disabilities.”

The club feels the fees charged for eye care create a barrier to health care for seniors and those with disabilities.

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Vern Short with the Kamloops White Cane Club highlighted how the cost of eye care can pose a significant hurdle for seniors and others on fixed incomes, especially in light of rising inflation.

“You have to understand, it’s a hardship to the majority of seniors and persons with disabilities in British Columbia. Not everybody has a municipal pension they can rely on for benefits for having your eyes examined at an optometrist,” Short told CFJC News.

While the letter attached to the petition was addressed to Health Minister Adrian Dix, the hope is that the message and the need is realized by all parties in the legislature.

“Certainly, the intention and the purpose was to make a point and maybe it will resonate with other MLAs, whether they are government or opposition, that, ‘Hey, your seniors incur a hardship with having to pay these optometrists’ fees,” added Short.

The Southern Interior of B.C. has approximately 8,500 people with varying degrees of vison impairment.