Privacy Policy

How we protect your personal and health information

Your Privacy Matters

U Optical, part of U Vision Group (UVG), is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information, including your personal health information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information in accordance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information when you visit our website, book an eye exam, or interact with our services:

  • Personal health information: Eye examination records, refraction results, contact lens fitting data, prescription history, and referral information, collected and managed through your optometric care at our clinics.
  • Contact information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address provided when you book an appointment or submit an inquiry.
  • Website usage data: We use Google Analytics (GA4) to collect anonymized data about how visitors interact with our website, including pages visited, time on site, and general geographic region. This data does not identify you personally.
  • Cookies and consent preferences: Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. You may manage your cookie preferences through the consent banner displayed when you first visit our site.

How We Use Your Information

  • To provide and coordinate your optometric care across the UVG network of specialist clinics
  • To communicate with you about your appointments, prescriptions, and follow-up care
  • To process referrals from and to your family physician, ophthalmologist, or other healthcare providers
  • To improve our website and services based on anonymized usage patterns
  • To comply with legal and regulatory obligations

How We Protect Your Information

Your personal health information is stored securely in compliance with PHIPA requirements. Our website is hosted in Canada with Canadian data residency. We use encryption, access controls, and regular security audits to protect your data. Only authorized clinical and administrative staff have access to your personal health information, and only to the extent necessary to provide your care.

Disclosure of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your personal health information only in the following circumstances:

  • Within the UVG network: To coordinate your care across our specialist clinics (Uptown Eye Specialists, U Eye Laser Cosmetic, U Optical, U Dry Eye Institute, U Surgical Centre) when clinically appropriate.
  • With referring providers: To communicate with your referring physician or other healthcare provider as part of your care pathway.
  • As required by law: When disclosure is required by law, regulation, or court order.
  • With your consent: When you have provided explicit consent for a specific disclosure.

Cookies and Analytics

Our website uses cookies and Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site. Analytics data is collected in aggregate and does not identify individual visitors. You may adjust your cookie preferences at any time using the cookie settings link in the footer of our website. We honour your consent choices in accordance with PIPEDA.

Your Rights

Under PHIPA and PIPEDA, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal health information held by our clinics
  • Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Withdraw consent for non-essential uses of your information
  • File a complaint with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) if you believe your privacy rights have been violated — ipc.on.ca · 1-800-387-0073

Records Retention

Clinical records are retained in accordance with applicable Ontario regulatory requirements — optometric records per the College of Optometrists of Ontario standards, and physician records per the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (a minimum of ten years from the date of the last entry, or for patients under 18, ten years from the day the patient reached or would have reached the age of majority) — after which records are securely destroyed.

Third-Party Services

Appointment requests made through our online booking links are processed by Calendly, a third-party scheduling provider whose servers may be located outside Canada. Only the information you enter into the booking form (such as your name, contact details, and appointment preference) is shared with this provider — no clinical records are transmitted. By using online booking you consent to this processing; you may always book by phone instead.

Email Communications

If you subscribe to our newsletter or updates, we will send you email communications only with your consent, in accordance with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). Every commercial email we send identifies the sender and includes a working unsubscribe mechanism. You may withdraw your consent at any time, and appointment-related communications are unaffected by your marketing preferences.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

U Optical
Phone: (416) 292-0336
Email: info@uoptical.ca

This policy was last updated on June 4, 2026.