The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) is the national voice of ophthalmology in Canada, representing medical doctors and surgeons who specialize in the diagnosis, medical management, and surgical treatment of eye disease.

Through the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines, national advocacy, and ongoing professional education, COS helps ensure that Canadians have access to high-quality, patient-centered eye care. Their work supports a healthcare system that prioritizes prevention, early detection, timely intervention, and equitable access to vision care across the country.

The “See the Possibilities” initiative reflects this commitment. It emphasizes that many causes of vision loss are preventable or treatable, particularly when identified early. Just as importantly, it reinforces a central principle of modern eye care: protecting vision requires a coordinated and collaborative approach that integrates patients, providers, education, advocacy, and systems of care.

In a healthcare environment where information is widely available—but not always reliable—COS serves as a trusted, evidence-based authority, helping guide both clinicians and the public with clarity, consistency, and scientific integrity.

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Know Your O’s: The Eye Care Team

Eye care in Canada is delivered through a collaborative, team-based model often referred to as the “three O’s.” Each member of this team plays a distinct and essential role in ensuring patients receive comprehensive, continuous, and accessible care throughout every stage of life.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors and surgeons specializing in the diagnosis and management of eye disease, including complex and sight-threatening conditions. They provide advanced medical and surgical care and often manage patients with serious ocular or systemic disease affecting vision.

Optometrists are primary eye care providers who perform comprehensive eye examinations, prescribe corrective lenses, diagnose and manage a variety of primary ocular conditions, and play a critical role in prevention, early detection, and ongoing monitoring of eye disease.

Opticians are regulated professionals who design, fit, and dispense eyewear, ensuring prescriptions are translated into accurate, functional, and personalized visual correction tailored to each patient’s needs.

This model is not hierarchical—it is integrated. Each profession contributes to a cohesive system of eye health and eye care delivery, where collaboration supports timely access, appropriate referral, continuity of care, and improved patient outcomes. When functioning well, this coordinated approach strengthens not only the quality of care, but also the overall patient experience.

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A Special Shout-Out to the “Fourth O”: Orthoptics

There is also a highly specialized group whose role is essential to this collaborative model of care: orthoptists.

Orthoptists are experts in eye movements, binocular vision, and visual development. They play a critical role in the assessment and co-management of strabismus, pediatric eye conditions, and complex neuro-ophthalmic disorders in partnership with ophthalmologists. Their work involves highly detailed functional assessment, precise measurement, and close collaboration with the broader eye care team.

In pediatric ophthalmology, early detection and treatment of visual disorders can have lifelong impact, and orthoptists are central to that process. In neuro-ophthalmology, their expertise is often indispensable in identifying subtle abnormalities that help guide diagnosis and management.

These subspecialties simply could not function at the same level without them. Orthoptists represent an essential extension of the eye care team and reinforce the importance of a truly collaborative, integrated, and patient-centered approach to vision care.