The Eye Van, a mobile clinic providing specialized eye care to Northern Ontario, is concluding its visit to Cochrane at Lady Minto Hospital on May 13, 2026. The clinic offers residents access to ophthalmology services that are not typically available locally, helping to reduce the need for travel.
Operated by Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health, the mobile unit is equipped to conduct vision exams, treat various eye conditions, and perform minor surgeries. The program, which has been in operation since 1972, travels to 23 communities annually across Northern Ontario.
According to the Équipe Santé Ontario Cochrane District Ontario Health Team, appointments for the Eye Van must be arranged through a referral from a family doctor, optometrist, or nurse practitioner. Residents seeking more information or having questions about the service can contact the Eye Van office at 705-408-6789.
This stop in Cochrane is part of a 27-week tour that began on April 20 and will continue until October 30. The mobile clinic provides care to approximately 5,000 patients each year as it travels more than 6,000 kilometres throughout the region.
