Privacy Policy
How we protect your personal and health information
Your Privacy Matters
U Dry Eye Institute (UDEI), 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 assessment, or interact with our services:
- Personal health information: Medical and ocular history, dry eye assessment results, tear film and meibography imaging, treatment records, and referral information, collected and managed through your clinical care at our facilities.
- Contact information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address provided when you book an assessment 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 dry eye care, diagnosis, and treatment
- To communicate with you about your appointments, treatment plans, and follow-up care
- To process referrals from and to your optometrist, family physician, or other healthcare providers
- To coordinate your care within the UVG network of specialist clinics when clinically appropriate
- 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 optometrist or physician 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.
Records Retention
Clinical records are retained in accordance with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario requirements — 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.
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
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:
U Dry Eye Institute
Phone: (416) 292-0334
Email: info@udei.ca
This policy was last updated on June 4, 2026.