Optician Services

Are optician services CRA eligible in Canada?

Yes. Opticians are recognized as authorized medical practitioners under subsection 118.4(2) of the Income Tax Act in provinces that have enacted specific legislation licensing them. Services by a licensed optician are METC eligible under paragraph 118.2(2)(a) and can be reimbursed through a Health Spending Account (HSA).

As with all allied health professions under the Income Tax Act, eligibility depends on whether the optician is authorized to practice under the laws of the province or territory where the service is rendered.

What Qualifies

• Professional fitting and dispensing of prescription eyeglasses
• Contact lens fitting, training, and follow-up care
• Adjustment, repair, and modification of prescription eyewear by a licensed optician
• Professional fees charged by the optician for the service (separate from the cost of the lenses and frames, which qualify separately as vision devices)

What Does Not Qualify

• Non-prescription sunglasses, reading glasses, or fashion eyewear without a corrective prescription
• Eyewear accessories (cases, cleaning solutions, cloths) without a specific medical purpose
• Services by a retailer or salesperson who is not a licensed optician

Good to Know

• Provincial recognition: Opticians are recognized as authorized medical practitioners in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. They are not currently recognized in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, or Yukon.
• Service fees vs. product costs: Keep receipts that separate the optician's professional service fee from the cost of lenses and frames. Both the service fee and the prescription eyewear product may be eligible, but under different CRA provisions.
• Documents to keep: Receipts showing the optician's name, registration number, province, services rendered, date, and amount paid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are optician services CRA eligible?

Yes, in provinces where opticians are recognized as authorized medical practitioners. Professional fees for fitting and dispensing prescription eyewear are METC eligible.

Can I claim optician services through my HSA?

Yes. Fees paid to a licensed optician in a recognized province for prescription eyewear fitting and dispensing are eligible medical expenses that can be reimbursed through a Health Spending Account.

Is the cost of eyeglasses or lenses also eligible?

Yes, but under a different provision. Prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, and similar vision devices qualify as vision care expenses separately from the optician's professional service fee.

Source

Based on the CRA's official eligible medical expenses list and Income Tax Folio S1-F1-C1, "Vision care".