Customer Care – Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, IRIS carries a large selection of frames for children aged four and up. For children under four years old, it is still possible to find frames that suit them. We also offer kids and teens packages that combine some of our most popular children’s frames with fully coated lenses from the world’s leading manufacturers including Zeiss and our exclusive brand of Nikon i-View lenses. All children require regular eye examinations to determine correction needs and maintain their vision health to ensure they are seeing well during their years of growth and development. Many eye conditions that are diagnosed before age 6 can be easily treated and depending on the condition, prevent permanent vision loss.

Yes, IRIS carries a wide selection of beautiful sunglasses to meet all of your vision and lifestyle needs. Brands such as Maui Jim, Serengeti, Spy, Bolle, Adidas and many more are also available in non-prescription, single vision and progressive (multi focal) lenses. IRIS is the leader in sun solutions: matching your vision needs with optimal sun protection. Protecting your eyes from sun damage with quality sunglasses is critical to your eye health and long-term vision.

Yes, IRIS Optometrists prescribe custom designed glasses to meet all of your vision needs. This includes task specific reading, computer, progressive (multi-focal) and single vision lenses. Even if you have 20/20 vision with no difficulty seeing at a distance, you have options for optimum quality reading glasses that are fashionable and functional. We strongly encourage you to have an eye exam to allow the optimal prescription to experience better vision. Optometrist and their team to determine which options you should consider for best vision in all aspects of your life.

All IRIS locations carry an extensive safety eyewear selection. This includes optical quality protection that allows you to work in complete comfort with maximum eye protection and optimum vision. Ask your IRIS Optometrist or Optician about our eyecare benefit partner program and whether this may be available through your employer.

Learn more about our Safety Eyewear Program.

IRIS offers the thinnest and lightest lenses available. Industry leaders Nikon and Zeiss design and manufacture the world’s cutting edge lens technology. Custom lens technology allows eyeglass wearers with stronger prescriptions to enjoy the greatest comfort and optimum vision.

Sometimes. There are a wide number of factors to determine if this is a suitable option for you. Visit your IRIS location to help you determine your best course of action.

It’s possible to use your old frame with new lenses from IRIS. Frames will be inspected for structural condition and to determine if they will work with your new lenses. You may find that new lens technology expands the selection of frame style available to you, enabling you to wear the frame you’ve always wanted.

Progressive lenses provide vision correction across a range of distances. This means that progressive lenses can correct your distance vision and provide the ability to read up close. Progressive lenses offer smooth and natural vision. New technology provides a wider field of vision than ever before with greater comfort and easy adaptation. IRIS offers a wide range of progressive lenses from Nikon and Zeiss to meet your specific needs and budget.

Yes, we carry photochromic or changeable lenses. How they work is the lens reacts to direct sunlight. Indoors they are clear, outdoors they become darker in relation to the amount of unfiltered sunlight. This lens is ideal for someone who is indoors and outdoors throughout the day. IRIS always recommends sun protection for your vision.

Yes, contact lens wearers require regular eye examinations to ensure a correct prescription, product selection, fit of the contact lens and overall eye health. IRIS recommends annual eye examinations for all patients. This is crucial if you are considering wearing contact lenses, or are currently a contact lens wearer. Contact lens technology is improving rapidly to provide better solutions. If you have never worn contact lenses, or are changing brands, your IRIS Optometrist will work with you to determine which lens is best suited to your vision needs.

IRIS carries contact lenses from leading manufactures such as Johnson and Johnson Vision Care, CIBA Vision, CooperVision, and Baucsh & Lomb. Contact lenses are available for most prescriptions including toric lenses for astigmatism, and multifocal designs for all ranges of vision requirements such as office and computer, reading and driving.

IRIS carries the top brands of contact lenses. Many of these brands offer colour options. A contact lens is a medical appliance. Care must always be given to use safe. professional fitted products in the eye. When considering colour contacts we recommend that you have an eye examination with an IRIS Optometrist.

Today, advances in contact lens technology can correct for most prescriptions including astigmatism. These lenses are referred to as toric lenses. Schedule an appointment with an IRIS Optometrist to determine if toric lenses for astigmatism are the right option for your vision.

With daily disposable lenses, and high oxygen disposable lenses children as young as 9 are able to safely wear contacts under parent supervision. Younger children can wear contact lenses if the optometrist has determined it is suitable for the patients visual needs or certain activities. It is always at the discretion and commitment of the parent to allow their children to wear contact lenses.

Yes, multifocal contacts that correct your vision for both distance and reading are available. Schedule an appointment with an IRIS Optometrist to determine if multifocal contact lenses are the right option for your vision.

Contact lens technology offers lenses for a wide range of ages and visual needs. Your IRIS Optometrist will discuss all the options and help you determine if contact lens use is the right option for your child. It is always at the discretion and commitment of the parent to allow their children to wear contact lenses.

At IRIS, a Doctor of Optometry provides an eye examination. Your examination will take between 30 and 45 minutes. The doctor will ask what your daily visual demands are, review your eye health history, and any diseases such as glaucoma or diabetes that may run in your family. The doctor carries out a series of tests to determine your visual acuity, and the lens powers necessary to correct your vision if required. The doctor will make sure that your eyes are working and functioning together at their highest level of efficiency. During your complete eye health and vision examination, the doctor will be testing your eyes for signs of disease including: glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and high cholesterol. Eye exam technologies such as visual field testing and retinal digital imaging are useful tools in detecting eye disease early and can help prevent vision loss. Annual eye health and vision examinations are important.

Visit our eye exam page to learn about what to expect from an eye exam and the importance of having one annually.

Who is an Optometrist?
Optometrists are healthcare professionals who provide primary vision care including vision testing and correction. They are trained to detect certain eye diseases and evidence of systemic abnormalities. Optometrists refer to other medical specialties for treatment and co-management. In Canada, optometrists hold a Doctorate of Optometry degree and are licensed by the regulatory colleges in the provinces they wish to practice.

Who is an Ophthalmologist?
Ophthalmologists perform eye surgeries and treat systemic diseases. They are medical doctors and have completed 4 years of medical school, 4 to 5 years of Ophthalmology residency, and often 1 to 2 years of fellowship in an ophthalmological sub-specialty. Optometrists and Ophthalmologists often work together in the treatment and management of patients with various eye conditions.

Who is an Optician?

Opticians are eyecare professionals who have been educated to specialize in dispensing eyewear, contact lenses and related eyecare services. They understand the technical aspects of optics, types of lenses and coatings to maximize the optical quality of your vision. In addition, opticians have the experience and knowledge to help you select frame styles to match your face shape. Some Opticians are also contact lens fitters that can measure eye shape, evaluate the contact lens fit and assess the comfort and vision of the lenses. All IRIS Opticians are licensed by the regulatory colleges in the province they wish to practice.

Wearing glasses should be based on achieving the best possible vision while considering the characteristics and condition of your current lenses and frame. Changes to your vision can occur gradually and what you perceive as good vision may not be. Technology of glasses/lenses evolves quickly and there may be new products available to improve your vision:

• Spend extended time on a computer? There are lens designs that reduce fatigue of the eyes.
• Wear progressive lenses? New designs can enhance your vision by reducing distortion.
• Thinner, lighter weight lenses can increase comfort.
• New coatings repel dirt and oil, keeping the lens clearer, longer.

An IRIS doctor of Optometry and their team will work with you to determine if your current lenses are functioning fully and provide you with options so you can experience better vision.

Wearing the wrong prescription can fatigue the eyes leading to eyestrain. This can cause headaches, loss of concentration and even wrinkles around the eyes. Seeing well enhances your performance at work, school and all other activities in your life, including: safe driving and navigating through your day.

IRIS recommends annual eye exams to ensure eye health and great vision. Changes to your eyes and vision can occur throughout your life for a variety of reasons. During regular eye examinations the Optometrist can monitor these changes and provide you with a treatment plan that will keep your eyes healthy and operating at their optimum level.

An eye examination will determine if you have a change in your prescription. Your current eyewear will be reviewed and inspected for any wear and tear as well as prescription changes. New technology may be an option to help you experience better vision.

• Eye problems generally originate from three sources: light refraction, eye muscle coordination and eye health issues.
• Common light refraction problems include: Nearsightedness, Farsightedness, Astigmatism, and Presbyopia.
• Common eye muscle coordination issues include convergence insufficiency or difficulty pulling eyes together for near tasks.
• Common eye health issues include: Dry Eye Syndrome, Cataracts, and Macular Degeneration.

Yes, everyone, if they live long enough, will eventually develop cataracts. Cataracts are the result of the natural aging process. Cataract development speeds up with increased exposure to harmful UV rays. The best way to delay cataracts is to make sure you wear sunglasses that give you 100% protection from sun damage. Visit our cataracts section for more information.

Macular degeneration is the progressive deterioration of a critical region of the retina called the macula. The macula is an area in the retina that is responsible for central vision. This disorder leads to irreversible loss of central vision.

The following measures may help you avoid AMD:

• Have routine eye exams. It is recommended to have a complete eye exam every year.
• Wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection and a blue light filter to prevent damaging radiation from reaching the macula
• Stop smoking. Smokers are more likely to develop macular degeneration than are nonsmokers.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Choose a diet of fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants and vitamins to reduce your risk of developing AMD.
• Increase the Omega3 fatty acids in your diet. Visit our Omega 3 nutrition section for more information.

Task specific lenses by Nikon or Zeiss reduce the stress on your focusing muscles when doing computer work. This is especially important if you spend hours a day on a computer and/or desk work. IRIS has various lifestyle lenses to help your evolving visual needs. A tip for making your eyes more comfortable when doing any extended focus task is to take a break every 20 minutes. Relax your focus for 20 seconds by looking at an object at least 20 feet away.

A child’s first eye health and vision exam should be at 6 months of age and then on an annual basis thereafter. The first 6 years of life are the most crucial to long-term eye health and vision. Many eye conditions that are diagnosed before age 6 can be easily treated and depending on the condition, prevent permanent vision loss.
To book a child examination, click here.

Ultra violet radiation from the sun is as harmful to your eyes as it is for your skin. UV is the most common environmental cause of eye cancer, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and pterygiums. You can protect your eyes by wearing quality prescription and non-prescription sunglasses from reputable manufacturers available at IRIS.

Gift Cards are available at all IRIS locations.

IRIS provides the No Matter What Guarantee. Please click here for details.

There are many ways to book an eye exam with an Optometrist IRIS.

Please select the option most convenient for you:

• Online through our Livechat service
• Calling an IRIS representative at: 1.800.474.7429
• Contacting your nearest IRIS location. Please click here to find the store nearest you.

Only IRIS offers AIR MILES® reward miles on all your eyewear purchases. You’ll receive 1 reward mile for every $20 spent at IRIS. Want to make a purchase with AIRMILES? Redeem your AIRMILES through airmiles.ca to receive a certificate application on all product purchases.