Ophthalmia Neonatorum Information for Health Care Providers

Effective January 1, 2019, an amendment to Regulation 557 Communicable Diseases - General was made, which allows parents, under certain conditions, to opt-out of the mandatory prophylactic eye treatment administered to all infants at birth to prevent transmission of Ophthalmia Neonatorum, which can be caused by sexually transmitted infections including gonorrhea and chlamydia.

The amended Regulation stipulates that an opt-out request, made by a parent in writing to their healthcare professional, may only be granted if the healthcare professional attending at the birth of the child is satisfied that certain conditions have been met.

Further information on Ophthalmia Neonatorum and the conditions required for the granting of an opt-out request can be found in the fact sheet below.

Ophthalmia Neonatorum Fact Sheet (PDF)

For more information:

Contact your local public health unit: public health units on SouthWesthealthline.ca
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website: www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/legislation/opth_neo/default.aspx