What do I need to take to my eye appointment?

• All of your glasses (current and old glasses and sunglasses are used to help design the best new pair for you, even if you don’t use or like the prescription in them).

• Current Contact Lenses and solutions

• Medicare card

• Health cards

• List of Medications (including natural treatments and eye drops)

• Relevant reports from other health professionals or teachers

• Examples of childrens writing or drawing is good to bring to a childrens eye check. 

Can you help with my sore eyes?

We are trained to get stuff out of your eyes and treat irritation and redness. If you have sore eyes, we are here to help you. Let the staff know if you have a very painful eye or a new foreign body and we will fit you into one of our emergency appointments.

I want more glasses.

You can order new glasses or spare glasses at any time. Your glasses prescription is valid for up to 3 years (1 year for over 65s). However if you think there is some change in your eyes or you prefer to get tested first, then book for an eye test before ordering. You can look at our frames and sunglasses at any time without an appointment.

I need a new referral.

Referrals to eye specialists (ophthalmologists) generally last for 12 months. If you had a recent eye test with us then ring or email to ask for a new referral to be sent to your ophthalmologist. Medicare recommends an optometrist visit before a referral is written so you may need to book an appointment with us especially if your last test here was over 6 months ago.

I have new spots in my vision!

We can check if you have a common problem with the vitreous or something more serious with the retina. It is best to get this checked within a few days of onset because delaying treatment can cause much more damage to your sight. We have urgent appointment times available each day for these problems to be assessed without delay.

can i just use magnifying glasses?

Using ready mades without an eye test is dangerous! If your eyes are healthy and have equal vision and you are over 45 years of age, then you may be suitable for ready made reading glasses. We will tell you if that is a good option for you and let you know which strength is right for you. Choosing ready mades that are too strong or using them when you need astigmatism correction or aged under 40 can make your eyes worsen more quickly. An eye test will ensure you have no other eye problem and get you in the most appropriate glasses.

WHY CHOOSE US?

We are part of the Provision community of 450 practices, the largest network of independent optometrists in Australia. We share the same values of clinical excellence, continuity of care, personalised service and quality products. Every optometrist is proudly independent to ensure your care always comes first. And our practices are locally Australian owned by the optometrists who operate them.

When you support us, you support everything we do: Sponsorship of local sporting clubs, eye tests at nursing homes or bush nursing hospitals where your relatives may live, indigenous eye care at Windamara, glasses for veterans through Veteran Affairs scheme, low cost glasses for low income families though Victorian Eyecare Scheme, urgent and emergency eye care, helping to manage children with learning problems etc. Not all optometrists will provide these services to the community.

why bother testing young children when they can see ok?

“The conditions that threaten vision can’t be detected by observing child behaviour.” Prof Frank Martin. Children can have serious eye diseases, although they are uncommon. Also, children can have lazy eye, astigmatism or significant hyperopia and still behave quite normally until it is nearly too late. Eventually these problems will affect their learning and managing these issues earlier gets better results. There is a risk the child will be permanently delayed in learning, reading and schooling. Optometrists can easily modify an eye test to check age 2 or 3 or 4 year olds. So the advice is: get your kinder kids eyes checked.

What is Behavioural Optometry? How is it different?

Behavioural Optometry is the treatment of vision and vision information processing problems. It is different from standard optometry because a behavioural optometrist believes that your visual status and the way you interpret what you see does not depend solely on how clear your eyesight is. Consideration must be given to all your visual, visual motor and visual perceptual skills.

My child has already had his eyes tested/been to an optometrist, and there is nothing wrong with his eyes. Why has the school/XYZ referred him to you?

Although there may be nothing wrong with your child’s eyes, your child has been referred to a Behavioural Optometrist because there may be problems in the way your child interprets what they see.

My child has problems at school. Do you test for Dyslexia/Learning Difficulties/Reading Problems?

Vision and eye-focusing is often involved in these problems so a eye test is part of the investigation.  We do detailed testing of visual skills to check how we can help children with reading and learning problems.  Many people need help with their vision to improve their reading ability.

Many children who appear to have dyslexia, actually have a vision problem.  We do not provide a diagnosis of dyslexia.

Do you treat learning or reading difficulties?

These difficulties may be helped by making the vision better and clearer, and so it becomes easier for the child to get accurate visual information.  Treatments that can help: part-time use of glasses, some eye exercises or a full visual perceptual training program or a combination of these.

My child already wears glasses. Can she do exercises instead?

Sometimes exercises can reduce the need for glasses or even eliminate the need for them. The exercise program usually involves about 12-20 in-office visits, one per week plus 20 minutes of home exercises.

Can you test my child for Irlen/tinted lenses to help his reading?

We do not prescribe Irlen lenses, however correctly prescribed glasses and exercises are often all that is needed and can be more effective.

Do I need a referral to see a Behavioural Optometrist?

No. Although teachers and medical professionals often refer children to see a Behavioural Optometrist, a referral is not necessary.