Glory Eyecare Optometrists

Optometric Eye Examination

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The Importance of Regular Optometric Exams

 

Even if your vision seems fine, routine eye checkups are vital for long-term eye health and vision. Here’s why:

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1. Detect Silent Eye Diseases Early

Many serious conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy develop without symptoms. Early detection can prevent vision loss.

2. Keep Your Prescription Up to Date

Vision changes gradually. An updated prescription ensures clearer sight, less eye strain, and fewer headaches.

3. Uncover Hidden Health Issues

The eyes can reveal signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, and even auto-immune, neurological and brain disorders (e.g. brain tumours) before other symptoms appear.

4. Reduce Digital Eye Strain

Staring at screens causes dry eyes, fatigue, and blurry vision. An optometrist can recommend special lenses and features, eye drops, or other treatments for relief.

5. Protect Children’s Vision

Undiagnosed vision problems can affect learning. Regular exams ensure kids see clearly in school and beyond.

6. Monitor Age-Related Changes

After 60, risks for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and other diseases increase. Yearly exams help catch issues early.

 

Recommended Checkup Frequency

✔ Children (0-14): First exam at 6 months, before school, then yearly.

✔ Teenagers (15-17): Every 1–2 years.

✔ Adults (18–60): Every 1–2 years.
✔ Seniors (60+): Yearly (higher risk of eye diseases).

✔ Glasses/contact lens wearers (any age): Yearly.
✔ High-risk patients (diabetes, eye diseases, family history): As advised (often every 6–12 months).

 

Regular optometric exams are a proactive way to protect your sight and overall health. Think of them as preventive care—like dental checkups for your eyes! 

Don’t take your eyes for granted—schedule an exam! 👓🔍

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​​Do You Bulk Bill?

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Due to low Medicare benefits, bulk billing limit our ability to provide thorough, optimal care. However, we still offer bulk-billed Classic Eye Tests for basic consultations.

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For comprehensive or specialized testing, private fee applies. This ensures you receive:
✔ Expert advice from experienced optometrists
✔ Gold-standard equipment for accurate results
✔ Personalized solutions to save time & money in the long run

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Gap payments may apply where Medicare doesn’t cover the full cost. We aim to provide the best care—not just the cheapest.

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How Long Does an Optometric Eye Exam Take?

 

Standard Bulk-Billed Exam (15-20 minutes):
✓ Basic visual acuity testing
✓ Eye pressure measurement (glaucoma screening)
✓ Preliminary eye health evaluation

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Comprehensive Private Exam (30-45 minutes):
✓ Detailed refraction assessment
✓ Advanced retinal imaging and other testings (where clinically indicated)
✓ Thorough ocular health evaluation
✓ Extended consultation time for discussion

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Why the Time Difference?
Due to Medicare funding constraints, bulk-billed consultations must focus on basic testing. Our private examinations allow for:
• More thorough assessments
• Access to advanced diagnostic technology
• Additional time for patient discussion and education

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For optimal care, we recommend the comprehensive examination.

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Who should children see for eye exam?​

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Feature                          School Nurse                       Standard Optometrist               Behavioural Optometrist            Paediatric Ophthalmologist

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Duration                           3-5 minutes                                  20-30 minutes                                  60-90 minutes                                     45-90 minutes

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Detects             Obvious myopia & eye turn                   • Refractive errors                • Learning-related vision issues                    • Retinoblastoma

                                                                                      • Common eye conditions                 • Developmental delays                         • Paediatric cataracts

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Strabismus surgery

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Key Tests                 Distance visual acuity                            • Refraction                                 • Visual processing                               • Medical eye exam

                                                                                              • Basic eye health                                • Eye tracking                                   • Surgical assessment

                                                                                                                                                           • Binocular vision                • Emergency Use Authorization* if needed

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Prescriptions                     None                                      Glasses/contacts                                • Special lenses                                         • Medications

                                                                                                                                                             • Vision therapy                                        • Surgical plans

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Medicare Coverage     Not covered                                     Bulk-billed                                            Limited                                        Partial (requires referral)

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Typical Private Gap            Free                                                $0−80                                         $150−400 initial                         $200−500 (50-70% Medicare rebate)

                                                                                                                                                             $80−150/session

 

Referral Needed?                 No                                                     No                                                      No                                                               Yes

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Follow-up                   Referral if failed                                     1-2 yearly                       10-20 therapy sessions common           As needed for medical conditions

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Key Notes for Australia:

1. Behavioural Optometry:

Focuses on vision development (e.g., tracking issues affecting reading)

Not Medicare-covered for therapy (parents pay $1,500−3,000 for programs)

2. Paediatric Ophthalmology:

2+ year wait in public system (shorter privately)

Bulk-billed only in hospital clinics (e.g., Perth Children Hospital)

Did You Know?

1 in 5 Aussie kids has an undiagnosed vision problem detectable only by optometrists/ophthalmologists (not school screenings).

Some private health fund may cover behavioural optometry therapy program for eligible children.

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What is behavioural optometry?

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It is an approach whereby we consider your vision beyond the extent of your sight. That is to ensure that your eyes not only have good

sight, but also able to work together efficiently and give you comfortable vision.  This is especially important for assessing children

vision and to identify and rectify visual and behavioural problems for maximising their potential and development which could have a

substantial impact on their life and future.

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I'm seeing spots or flashes , Should I worry?

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You should worry if there is a sudden increase in spots and associated flashing, if they are in a constant position, or if they are increasing in size. If any of these things are true, make an appointment immediately. If the spots are small in number, not associated with other signs and they move out of your vision when you try to look at them tell us at your next visit.

 

Flashing lights can be associated with migraines or may be an indication of retinal or vitreous detachment and should be investigated. When in doubt, make an emergency appointment to see our optometrist.

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Can I get assistance with payment for my glasses, contact lenses or consultation ?

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You can if you are:

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In a private health fund.

A pensioner or senior through the State Government spectacle subsidy scheme.

An eligible veterans affairs card holder.

A concession card holder you may get assistance from CentreLink.

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We also offer payment plans and interest free payment options, such as Openpay.

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I can see fine. Why do I need an eye test?

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There are many sight- and some life-threatening diseases, including eye and brain tumours, that are symptomless until it is too late to treat them. Gradual loss of vision, especially peripheral vision, of non-dominant eye do not usually have symptoms until advanced stages. A regular thorough eye examination should identify many of these conditions while they are still treatable, and preserve your sight and life for many years to come.

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Why does the optometrist want to know about other medications?

 

Some medications , including alternative remedies, and general health conditions can have an altering, or in some cases adverse effects on eye health and vision.  They may cause fluctuating and unstable vision and prescription.

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