Atlantic Canada is one step closer to having its own school of optometry, officials announced Wednesday.
The University of New Brunswick (UNB) and the University of Waterloo in Ontario have signed a memorandum of understanding.
It would see the two schools look at partnering with the intention of establishing an optometry school in Saint John, N.B.
“This collaboration exemplifies the transformative potential of our Integrated Health Initiative,” Dr. Petra Hauf, provost and vice president academic at UNB, said in a news release.
“Partnerships like this enable us to expand health education and services, creating meaningful impact for our communities.”
The Integrated Health Initiative, located on UNB’s Saint John campus, converges interdisciplinary health education, cutting-edge research and ground-breaking innovation, which officials said provides a strong community base to support optometric education.
Currently, the University of Waterloo is the only English-language school of optometry in Canada, while a French-language program is offered at Université de Montreal in Quebec.
That means students from our region must travel to Ontario, Quebec or abroad if they are looking to become an optometrist.
“We believe a strategic partnership between our school and an institution with similar aims and values will be a strong foundation for success,” Dr. Stanley Woo, director of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science, said in the release.
Doctors of optometry take a leading role in eye and vision care as well as general patient health and well-being. They have extensive and ongoing expertise in examining, diagnosing, treating and managing ocular disorders, diseases and injuries and systemic diseases that manifest in the eye.
Officials noted there is a pressing need for better access to eye and vision care in underserved areas across the country, including Atlantic Canada.
Ocular and systemic diseases – such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, hypertension and diabetes – are prevalent in rural and Indigenous communities, with more patients suffering preventable vision loss than in urban Canada.
No timeframe was given for when the new school could be up and running.
