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Overview
Optometrists and ophthalmologists in Canada offer microcurrent stimulation for macular degeneration if they have adopted an authorized device and integrated it into their AMD management practice. Not every eye care clinic offers this therapy. It is available at practices that have specifically chosen to invest in the device, train their clinical team, and establish a treatment protocol for eligible patients.1
In Canada, the authorized device for this indication is MacuMira, which holds a Health Canada Medical Device Licence and is indicated to improve visual function in patients with dry AMD. Patients can locate a nearby provider through the MacuMira clinic finder or by asking their current eye care provider for a referral.2
Who Provides Microcurrent Stimulation Therapy for Dry AMD?
Optometrists
Many of the clinics offering authorized microcurrent stimulation for dry AMD in Canada are optometry practices. Optometrists are regulated eye care professionals licensed to diagnose AMD, monitor disease progression and manage ongoing care.
An optometrist offering MacuMira may conduct a full AMD assessment before beginning treatment, including a review of retinal imaging such as OCT, confirmation of AMD stage and a measurement of baseline visual acuity. They can also integrate device-based therapy into an existing monitoring and supplementation plan, rather than offering it as a standalone service.
Patients whose current optometrist does not offer microcurrent therapy may receive monitoring and supplementation management from their regular provider while accessing device-based therapy at a separate practice. Some clinics explicitly offer co-management arrangements for this purpose.
Ophthalmologists and Retinal Specialists
Some ophthalmology practices and retinal specialist clinics also offer MacuMira for dry AMD, particularly those with a focus on medical retina and non-surgical AMD management. Ophthalmologists bring specialist-level diagnostic capability, which can help patients with more advanced disease or complex presentations where AMD stage is uncertain.1
Access to an ophthalmologist in Canada often requires a referral from a family physician or optometrist. However, some private ophthalmology practices may accept direct patient inquiries for specific services.
How to Find a Clinic Offering MacuMira
Use a Manufacturer Clinic Locator
A fairly direct route is to use the clinic finder provided by the device manufacturer. MacuMira’s clinic locator lists practices across Canada that have purchased the device, but it is worth confirming that the device is still active and in use.
When using a clinic locator, call the practice to confirm they are taking new patients and what documentation they recommend for a first appointment. Clinic locators are not always updated in real time, so a phone call may help you save time before travelling.
Ask Your Current Provider for a Referral
If you see an optometrist or ophthalmologist who doesn’t offer MacuMira, asking for a referral to a practice that does is a reasonable and appropriate request. Even providers who don’t use the device may know which local practices do and can provide relevant clinical documentation to support an efficient intake process.
A letter from your managing optometrist or ophthalmologist confirming your AMD diagnosis, stage and recent visual acuity measurements may be helpful to bring to any consultation at a new clinic, though every practice is different.
What to Expect at a Consultation
A first appointment at a clinic offering microcurrent stimulation for dry AMD will most often begin with a clinical assessment, not with treatment. The clinician can review your AMD history and any current imaging, measure or confirm your current visual acuity and assess whether your disease stage and baseline function place you within the population for which the therapy has evidence.
For MacuMira, the published clinical trial enrolled patients with dry AMD and visual acuity between 20/50 and 20/200. The trial evidence most directly supports patients within this range. Patients with better baseline acuity may still be candidates, but the scope for measurable improvement is smaller because of a ceiling effect, and the discussion of expected outcomes should reflect that.2
After the eligibility assessment, the clinician should explain what the therapy involves, what the published evidence shows and what to expect in terms of timing of any response. In patients who respond to treatment, improvement in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity typically depends on individual disease characteristics.
The providing eye care professional can recommend the ongoing treatment schedule. Patients should understand this maintenance requirement before committing to treatment, as the benefit may not be sustained without ongoing sessions.2
Cost and Practical Considerations
Patients should ask the clinic for a clear breakdown of all costs before beginning treatment. This includes the initial assessment fee, the cost of the active treatment sessions and the cost of ongoing maintenance visits. Understanding the full financial commitment of a multi-year maintenance schedule is an important part of informed consent.
In some cases, private benefit or insurance plans may cover part of the treatment cost, or a health spending account could be used. Always check your individual plan before committing to treatment.
For patients in rural or remote areas, travel to a city may be necessary.
Questions to Ask Your MacuMira Provider
- What does the eligibility assessment involve and what records should I bring?1
- Based on my AMD stage and current visual acuity, what response can I expect?
- What is the full cost of the initial treatment course and the ongoing maintenance schedule?
- Do you accept health spending accounts as a payment method?
- Can this clinic co-manage with my existing optometrist or ophthalmologist?
- How will we measure whether the treatment is working for me, and when would we reassess?
Conclusion
In Canada, optometrists and ophthalmologists may offer MacuMira, an authorized device indicated to improve visual function in dry AMD patients. If you’re interested in MacuMira, you can locate a provider through the clinic finder or through a referral from their current eye care provider. Use MacuMira only under the supervision of an eye care professional.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or a referral to any specific provider. Patients should consult a qualified eye care professional to determine whether microcurrent stimulation therapy is appropriate for their specific condition and stage of disease.
Glossary
Microcurrent stimulation: Delivery of very low-level electrical current to tissues near the eye using electrodes placed on the skin. Used in approved devices to improve visual function in dry AMD patients.
MacuMira: An approved medical device indicated to improve visual function in patients with dry AMD, delivered via low-level electrical stimulation in a clinical setting under the supervision of an eye care professional. Not indicated for wet AMD.
Health Canada Medical Device Licence: Regulatory authorization confirming that a medical device meets Canadian safety and efficacy standards for its approved indication.
Dry AMD: A progressive retinal condition in which the macula deteriorates gradually, affecting central vision. The most common form of AMD. Distinct from wet AMD.
Wet AMD: A form of AMD involving abnormal blood vessel growth beneath the retina. Requires different treatment from dry AMD. Approved microcurrent devices are not indicated for wet AMD.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT): A non-invasive retinal imaging technology that produces cross-sectional images of the macula. Standard for AMD staging and monitoring.
ETDRS scale: The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity scale, scored letter by letter. The standard outcome measure in AMD clinical trials.
Contrast sensitivity: The ability to distinguish objects from their background at varying contrast levels. Often reduced in dry AMD independently of high-contrast visual acuity.
Ceiling effect: In clinical trials, the limited room for measurable improvement when a patient’s baseline function is already near the upper end of the scale.
Health spending account: An employer-provided benefit allowing use of pre-tax funds for eligible medical expenses, including some treatments not covered by provincial health insurance.
Co-management: An arrangement in which two different clinicians or practices share responsibility for different aspects of a patient’s care.
References
1. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health. Last reviewed November 2023. Accessed June 2026. https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration.
2. Evaluation of visual acuity in dry AMD patients after microcurrent electrical stimulation. Parkinson KM, Sayre EC, Tobe SW. International Journal of Retina and Vitreous. Published May 2023. Accessed June 2026. https://macumira.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MacuMira-Clinical-Trial.pdf.
3. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Date not listed. Accessed June 2026. https://www.seethepossibilities.ca/eye-health/age-related-macular-degeneration/.
4. Medical Expenses You Can Claim. Canada Revenue Agency. Date not listed. Accessed June 2026. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/lines-33099-33199-eligible-medical-expenses-you-claim-on-your-tax-return/details-medical-expenses.html
5. Medical Device Licences. Health Canada. Date not listed. Accessed June 2026. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medical-devices/licences.html
