FAQ

> What does it cost to have my eyes examined?
Consultation fees are direct-billed to Medicare whenever possible.  In most cases this means that you will have no out-of-pocket costs for your eye examination.  If, however, a full eye examination has been claimed with another optometrist within the previous two years, Medicare may only pay around half the normal rebate, which would leave you out of pocket by about $30.  Not all patients are eligible for a Medicare rebate for consultations related to the fitting of contact lenses.

> Do I need to make an appointment to have my eyes examined?
Although there are occasions when it is possible to simply walk in to the practice and be seen immediately (and we will always do our best to accommodate you) it is advisable to make an appointment.  Most appointments can be made within a day or two's notice.

> Should I have a referral?
You do not need a referral from your GP to be eligible to be direct-billed to Medicare.  We will generally contact your GP, however, should we see eye signs of general body (systemic) disease or should you need to be referred to an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon).

> How long does an eye examination take?
In most instances we allow 30 minutes for a comprehensive eye examination, although times can be shorter or longer depending on factors such as your age and the complexity of your problems.  Follow-up visits typically take around 15 minutes, but again may vary in length.

> Will drops be used?
If you are over 40, or if you have a family history of glaucoma, we will normally measure the pressure inside your eyes.  This requires a local anaesthetic drop, which numbs your eye but has little effect on your vision.  In some circumstances we may need to use a mydriatic drop to dilate your pupils.  Mydriatics make you more sensitive to bright light and will often blur your vision for a few hours, especially up close.  We normally recommend that you do not drive for a few hours after having your pupils dilated.  Except in circumstances where it is important that your pupils be dilated immediately, we normally give you some warning of doing so in order that you can organise your day.

> How often should I have my eyes examined?
We normally recommend that you have your eyes examined every two years.  Some eye conditions require us to examine you more frequently.  The main reason that we recommend that you return on a regular basis is so we can monitor the health of your eyes.  So if you think that your vision hasn't changed, or even if you don't wear spectacles, it is still important to have an examination every two years to ensure that your eyes are healthy.

> What if I want to have my glasses made up elsewhere?
Our philosophy of eyecare is that is it is in your best interests to have spectacles made up at the same place that they are prescribed.  This way there is no argument about who is responsible for the performance of your glasses.  The vast majority of our patients agree with this approach.  You do, of course, have the option of purchasing your spectacles elsewhere, although we cannot take responsibilty for errors made in dispensing outside our practice.

> What does my private health insurance cover?
If your private health insurance cover includes "extras" cover you may be able to claim some of the cost of your optical appliances such as spectacles and contact lenses.  Private health cover does not extend to consultation fees, whether they are rebatable under Medicare or not (such as contact lens consultations).  If you hold private health cover with extras we are able to directly bill your health fund for rebates on your spectacles and contact lenses via our HICAPS terminal.  Simply bring in your plastic health fund card to save yourself the trouble of claiming manually by the post or by visiting your health fund office.

> What if I have eye disease?
One of our vital roles is to thoroughly examine your eyes for eye disease.  We take very seriously the responsibility established in law for us to detect any eye disease and to refer you to the appropriate practitioner.  In some circumstances, especially those related to minor infections and inflammations, we may provide you with a prescription for eye drops.  Should we have any concerns that you have more serious eye disease we will promptly refer you to an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) specialising in the disease area concerned.

> What information do I need to provide to the optometrist?
Some of the questions we ask when we first see you include the medications you might be taking for your general health and the sorts of visual tasks you do. These questions help us see you as a person rather than just a pair of eyes.  They enable us to inform your GP of any eye signs of systemic disease as well as help us look for specific eye signs of systemic diseases your GP may be treating already.  Where referral to an ophthalmologist is indicated, these details are also important in placing your eye condition in context with your overall health.

> Why do you ask all these questions about my work and visual tasks?
Questions about your visual tasks greatly help us advise you as to the lens designs and products that will best meet your needs.  This way we can fully understand your needs and provide you with the most thorough service and most suitable appliances.

> Why do you need to know my age?
Many changes to vision are age-related and are more likely to arise at particular times of life.  A prime example is presbyopia, the condition where the eye gradually loses its ability to focus on close objects and typically sees most people requiring spectacles to read from around the age of 45.  Age also provides an important clue to the likely strength of the reading prescription after this time.  Some tests tend to performed on patients over a certain age, for example the measurement of eye pressure which is routinely conducted over the age of 40.

> And what about my contact details?
So far as your contact details are concerned, we require a mailing address (not necessarily your residential address) and at least one contact telephone number (whether this be home, work or mobile).  We believe it is especially essential that we are able to notify you when you should be returning for the next review of your eye health.  Some of these details can also be important in determining your eligibility for health insurance benefits such as Medicare.

> Why I am I asked to complete forms and provide more information after my first visit?
We need to ensure as far as possible that the information we keep about you is current, and would normally check your contact details, medications, family history, occupation and visual tasks and needs every two years.  Our patients (and we) are frequently surprised by how often these details are out of date, despite confident assurances that "none of my details have changed"!

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