Cataracts After 60: Who Handles the Care Before and After Surgery? A Downtown Vancouver Optometrist Explains
Vancouver, Canada - October 27, 2026 / Gastown Optometry /
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, October 27, 2026 — Three in four Canadians who report cataracts are over the age of 60, according to Fighting Blindness Canada, and cataract surgery remains one of the country's most commonly performed procedures. Gastown Optometry, an optometrist downtown vancouver patients can see for an assessment, is outlining the referral and follow-up care it provides for patients considering cataract surgery through the Medical Services Plan.
Cataract Prevalence and Wait-Time Figures
Fighting Blindness Canada reports that 75% of Canadians who report cataracts are over the age of 60. Cataract surgery is covered by MSP in British Columbia for standard procedures, although some premium lens implant options may involve additional out-of-pocket costs, according to Gastown Optometry.
Wait times remain a national concern. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), in "Wait Times for Priority Procedures in Canada, 2025," reported that 69% of cataract surgeries nationally were completed within the recommended 112 days (16 weeks) in 2024.
What an Optometrist Does Around Cataract Surgery
Gastown Optometry does not perform cataract surgery. Its role, according to the clinic's website, is to assess cataracts, refer patients to a trusted surgeon and provide pre- and post-operative care through its laser surgery and co-management program with ophthalmologists. Before surgery, the clinic conducts a thorough evaluation and discusses intraocular lens (IOL) options. After surgery, it monitors healing, manages follow-up prescriptions and checks that vision is recovering as expected.
The clinic lists common signs of cataracts as blurred, cloudy or dim vision, sensitivity to light and glare, halos around lights, and fading or yellowing of colours. It states that most patients notice significantly improved vision within a few days of surgery and that full recovery typically takes three to six weeks. A secondary cataract can develop after surgery and is treated with a quick, painless laser procedure, according to the clinic.
For residents researching cataract surgery vancouver options, an optometrist can be the first point of contact for an assessment and referral. Gastown Optometry is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and can be reached at (604) 974-8008.
About Gastown Optometry
Gastown Optometry is an eye care clinic at 315 W Cordova St in Vancouver, British Columbia, led by Dr. Errin Bligh, a Doctor of Optometry, University of Waterloo valedictorian, former President of BC Doctors of Optometry and adjunct faculty member at the UBC School of Nursing. The clinic provides adult and children's eye exams, contact lens fitting, specialty contact lenses, laser surgery co-management and medical management of eye conditions, and provides pre- and post-operative care for cataract surgery vancouver patients. Learn more at gastownoptometry.com.
Contact Information:
Gastown Optometry
315 W Cordova St
Vancouver, BC V6B 1E5
Canada
Errin Bligh
+1 604-305-3104
https://gastownoptometry.com/
