What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 11am - 7pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 12pm

Dr. Richard Saari Optometry PC

Home
Canada
Welland, ON
Dr. Richard Saari Optometry PC

Call to make your appointment (905) 788-0877. New location at 477 Thorold Road in Welland

We strive to provide the best comprehensive eyecare services to our patients by combining the newest information gathered from our continuing education experiences and using the latest technology. We now offer Ocular Coherence Tomography to all patients as part of our initial comprehensive examination.

02/14/2026

Happy Family Day Weekend. The office is closed Feb 14 to 16 and will reopen Tuesday Feb 17.

02/11/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Many eye-related visits to emergency rooms could be handled through community eye care. Supporting optometry reduces pressure on hospitals and keeps care close to home. Visit www.YourVisionMatters.ca to join the campaign.

02/09/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Vision care is key to independence for Ontario seniors. Protecting sight ensures people stay active, healthy, and connected to their communities. Access to eye care matters now and in the years ahead. Visit www.YourVisionMatters.ca to sign up.

02/07/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Eye care is more than just a prescription. Regular eye exams are an important part of preventive health care. Access to timely care makes a real difference. Visit www.YourVisionMatters.ca to get involved.

02/05/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Up to 80% of learning is visual. Access to regular eye care sets them up for success in and out of the classroom. Strong vision care supports strong futures. Visit www.YourVisionMatters.ca to learn more.

01/06/2026

One of the main reasons for routine eye care… not all problems are obvious since visual acuity (what you can see… ie 20/20) isn’t affected until much later in the disease process. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17YP7orZ5F/?mibextid=wwXIfr

12/15/2025

Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) and the Canadian Association of Optometrists have been continuing to discuss a collaborative approach to protecting patients and benefit plans. While optometrist's continue to advocate for the simplest solution for submission and verification of eligibility and payment, not all insurances have functioning optimal solutions.

To ensure maximum compliance with all Health Insurances we will no longer able to check for patient eligibility online with the exception of Green Shield since the others do not have a unique option to check eligibility without submitting at the same time.

In the past we would submit the assumed amount and then reverse the claim submission and resubmit when services were rendered. This is onerous on staff and if cases were not reversed appropriately then we run the risk of falling foul to the CLHIA fraud standards and risk being removed from being able to submit directly on a patients behalf. Insurance cannot be used as a deposit on products or services.

We will continue to receive updates from the CAO and hope to be able to resume eligibility checks once CLHIA portals allow for a simple process. Patients should be able to check on their insurance provider aps to determine if they are eligible prior to scheduling or receiving services.

CLHIA and the CAO want to remind users and providers to continue to avoid risky practices which can jeopardize the client or the provider such as Billing Misrepresentation (ie. using a family members insurance for another family member's service), Adjusting service dates or Invoicing for non-prescription sunglasses.

Patients are reminded that benefit plans vary and it is their responsibility to confirm eligibility and limits before incurring expenses. Providers are reminded that "Use it or Lose it" messaging is inappropriate as it may encourage unnecessary use of benefits.

If you have any questions or concerns please call, text or DM the office and we will attempt to resolve any concerns or direct you to your insurance provider for more information.

12/06/2025

Thank you to all the readers who took the time to vote us the Diamond winner for Optometrist and Optometry Services. We have new plans for 2026 to elevate our care to help children slow their myopia, seniors detect macular degeneration and glaucoma earlier and diabetics understand the effect of diabetes on their eye health.

11/26/2025

So Niagara Region since you are off-loading what are consider essential services to many small businesses like mine… when can we expect a reduction in taxes. I currently pay close to $12,000 annually and garbage/recycling pickup should continue to be a part of those taxes. Does this also mean that Niagara Region buildings will also have to contract out for recycling services which will further increase the tax burden?

11/25/2025

We are happy to announce that we have resumed business as usual... while we might have a slight delay from our normal 4-6 week ideal scheduling of new patients, we are back accepting all new patients. If any previous records are necessary we will arrange for that after the exam or if you wish us to know additional details prior please bring your last exam or chart at the time of the appointment. Please remember that OHIP eligibility is determined at the completion of the eye examination as outlined by the Ministry of Health and is not based on previous exam findings. Our triage system is still in effect for patients needing urgent services.

11/24/2025

Dr. Ralph Saari has fully retired and all remaining patient files have been transferred to Dr. Brandon Marlatt at Marlatt Optometry. Please visit their website https://marlattoptometry.com and fill out the patient intake form to request an appointment or to request your records or if you require any additional information.

10/01/2025

Starting October 6th we will be adjusting our office hours... we will no longer be answering the phone between noon and 1pm to allow staff time to eat undisturbed or catch up on morning tasks. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but will further help us serve patients more effectively. Please continue to text or email the office during that time and we will respond within 24 hours as usual.

Address

477 Thorold Road
Welland, ON
L3C3W7

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	11am - 7pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 12pm

Telephone

+19057880877

Website

http://www.drsaari.ca/

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