Kamloops optician brings eye care to seniors with mobile clinic

A growing senior population in BC means more aging loved ones are coping with cognitive and mobility challenges that can make getting to medical appointments difficult.

Kamloops optician Jessica Polnicky is aiming to relieve some of that stress by bringing eye care to senior retirement homes with her new mobile optical service Sagebrush Mobile Optical.

“My goal is to make eyewear support as affordable, accessible and stress-free as possible,” Polnicky told iNFOnews.ca said.

During her ten years in the optical field, she saw how difficult it can be for some seniors to get to appointments and decided to do something about it.

“Working in the optical industry I received so many calls from people themselves or their loved ones in care having trouble getting into a clinic, it’s something I saw all the time and wanted to meet that need,” she said. “It’s something other opticians are starting to get into as they see a growing need, which I think Kamloops has a need for as well.”

The seniors’ population has grown 45% over the past 10 years, according to a report from the Office of the Seniors Advocate BC. By 2035, approximately 25% of people in B.C. will be over the age of 65.

Polnicky is currently connecting with retirement communities, helping with things like glass adjustments, repairs, senior-friendly frames and prescription lenses. She will up a table in common areas with her frames and tools where residents can come by to get their glasses serviced and repaired or buy new ones.

Cleaning and minor adjustments of glasses are free of charge for all residents, and Polnicky will do in room appointments as well.

“Providing appointments is especially helpful for residents who have mobility issues and are unable to make it to a common area, or for anyone who has a preference for a more private appointment,” she said. “It gives the opportunity for families who want to come too, which can be helpful for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s feel the most comfortable.”

While there are a handful of mobile optical clinics in the Lower Mainland, it is a newer concept in Kamloops and the Okanagan.

“It takes the right set of skills to be able to do it and there’s not as many of us licensed opticians working in the industry as I’d like to see,” Polnicky said. “But it gives me a good edge. I know glasses and I know lenses so I’m looking forward to help people under my own business.”

Polnicky went to Douglas College in the Metro Vancouver and earned a diploma in optical sciences. She challenged the National Examinations for Canadian Opticians exam and became a licensed optician.

She’s booking appointments for May and June through her Sagebrush Mobile Optical website.

“It’s important to me that everyone has clean, comfortable glasses,” she said. “At the end of the day, I’m helping people see and take care of their vision which will impact every moment of their day.”