Based in Yellowknife, our Eye Clinic offers routine appointments and emergency services to NWT residents.  While the physical clinic is located in Yellowknife, our clinic offers services across the NWT.  The clinic is employed with an Ophthalmologist and Ophthalmic Technicians (OMTs), and our Ophthalmic Technicians travel to NWT communities on a regular basis, and the Ophthalmologist travels to Fort Smith, Hay River, and Inuvik.

The Ophthalmic Technicians perform all the routine eye examinations referring to the Ophthalmologist as needed. 

The Ophthalmologist is a medical and surgical physician. Conditions and diseases diagnosed and treated by an Ophthalmologist include:

• Cataracts,
• diabetic related complications,
• glaucoma,
• age related macular degeneration,
• strabismus, and
• any other eye related problems.

Surgical procedures offered by our Ophthalmologist include:

• cataract surgery,
• strabismus sx,
• Lid procedures, and
• many other minor procedures.

Many specialized tests are performed at the Eye Clinic which include visual fields, fundus photography, Optical Coherent Tomography (OCT), IOL Master, Keratometry, and Pachymetry. A Tele-ophthalmology program also allows us to communicate directly with Retinal Specialists in Edmonton.

Clinic Hours and Services

The Eye Clinic offers booked routine appointments and eye emergency services Monday to Friday. Call our clinic to book an appointment. Starting June 02, 2022, a walk-in clinic will be offered every Thursday. The walk-in clinic is for routine eye examinations, done on a first-come, first-served basis.

Who can access this Service? While the physical clinic is located in Yellowknife, our clinic offers services across the NWT.  Click here to find out when our Ophthalmic Technicians (OMTs) are visiting your community.

All residents are eligible for eye examinations. We recommend that adults come in for an eye examination every two years, and children/youth who are 18 years or younger are examined every year. An eye exam for diabetic patients is recommended on a yearly basis and requires dilation.  A doctor’s referral is not necessary for booking diabetic exams; this can be booked directly by the patient. You do not need a referral for emergency eye services.

For our travel clinics, the community Health Centres will notify the public 1-2 weeks in advance of the upcoming Eye Team visit to their community. The Eye Team refers to the Ophthalmic Technician and the representative from the Optical Store who provides the glasses.

What to Bring to your Appointment

For your eye examination, please bring:

• all your eye drops,
• a list of your medications,
• current eye glasses,
• health care card, and
•  sunglasses (if you’re requiring eye dilation).

Follow-up

The eye clinic will contact patients for all medically necessary follow up.

Fees

Eye Examinations are covered in the NWT unless required by 3rd party, Non-resident and /or no NWT health care plan.