About Our Practice in Signal Hill

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Putting Our Patients First

Welcome to Focus West Optometry! Since our founding in 1997, our team has been proud to serve the Calgary community and provide comprehensive eye care for the whole family. We offer a wide range of eye care services, including addressing dry eyes, an extensive optical boutique, and innovative technology to make your visit as efficient as possible.

Our team looks forward to welcoming you and your family to the Focus West Optometry family!

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Our Mission

The high road to service is travelled with integrity, compassion, and understanding. Our patients don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care.

Our mission is to always provide a high level of care with attention to detail, showing how much we value our patients. We strive to help you reach your vision goals!

Meet Our Team

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Dr. Derek Gaume

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Dr. Julie Lee-Ying

Frequently Asked Questions

We want to help answer any questions or concerns you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call or send an email if you’re curious about something our FAQ doesn’t cover.

Do You Accept Walk-In Patients?

While appointments are always recommended, we are happy to accommodate emergency and walk-in patients at our Calgary office whenever possible.

We offer 2 types of eye exams: An eye examination, which should be scheduled every year or 2 to check for vision and eye health issues, and a contact lens examination, which determines how your eyes are reacting to the presence of contact lenses.

Contact lenses should be removed approximately 2 hours before your eye examination so that your eyes can return to their relaxed state. You should wear your contact lenses as usual if you have a contact lens exam.

It is important to have your eyes examined regularly throughout your lifetime, but patients of a certain age or those at a higher risk for eye diseases like glaucoma should have their eyes examined more frequently.

A good exam schedule to follow is:

  • Every 2 to 4 years before the age of 40.
  • Every 1 to 3 years between the ages of 40 to 54.
  • Every 1 to 2 years between the ages of 55 to 64.
  • Every 6 to 12 months, age 65 and up.

Some vision problems come on so gradually that we only know of changes once they have progressed. Early detection through regular and complete eye examinations performed by a licensed optometrist is the key to protecting your vision from damage caused by glaucoma and other issues.

The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) provides coverage for a yearly eye exam for kids under 19 and seniors over 65. Eye examinations for adults 20 to 64 years of age are not covered.

Focus West Optometry offers direct billing through Blue Cross only. Still, we are happy to submit a bill to other select companies on your behalf. Contact us for details.

Come Visit Us

Our Address

  • 268 Stewart Green SW
  • Calgary, AB T3H 3C8

Contact Information

Hours of Operation

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Our Blogs

How Winter Sunlight Can Damage Your Eyes?

Eye Conditions, Sunglasses

Winter sunlight can damage your eyes due to reflections caused by snow and the lower angle of the sun. These factors combine to increase your exposure to harmful UV rays, making it important to wear sunglasses even in the winter.
[…]

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December 2, 2025
Focus West Optometry

What Is Digital Retinal Imaging?

Eye Exams, Eye Health

Digital retinal imaging is an innovative tool that our team uses to capture a detailed picture of the back of your eye, including the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels, during a comprehensive eye exam.
[…]

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November 29, 2025
Focus West Optometry

Are Eye Exams Free in Alberta?

Eye Conditions, Eye Exams

While not all eye exams are free, AHCIP does cover the full cost of many medically necessary appointments and annual exams for specific age groups. […]

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October 30, 2025
Focus West Optometry
Person wearing sunglasses and a winter jacket standing outdoors with snowy mountains and a clear blue sky in the background.

Winter sunlight can damage your eyes due to reflections caused by snow and the lower angle of the sun. These factors combine to increase your exposure to harmful UV rays, making it important to wear sunglasses even in the winter.
[…]

Read More…

Close-up of a printed digital retinal image showing the orange and yellow patterns of the eye’s internal structures, with a pair of glasses resting on the paper.

Digital retinal imaging is an innovative tool that our team uses to capture a detailed picture of the back of your eye, including the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels, during a comprehensive eye exam.
[…]

Read More…

Close-up of a woman’s eye during an eye exam, with a Snellen vision chart visible in the background.

While not all eye exams are free, AHCIP does cover the full cost of many medically necessary appointments and annual exams for specific age groups. […]

Read More…

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