Alexander Heights
Ph (08) 9343 0278 or 0422 710 020
OPENING HOURS
Mon ~ Fri: 10am - 5:30pm
Sat: 10am - 5:00pm
(Some Sat: 10am - 1pm)
Sundays & Public Holidays Closed
Other Times By Appointment
Do you bulk bill?
From 1 Jan 2015, the government reduced the scheduled fee by nearly 6% and froze any increment for inflation till Jun 2019 and removed the cap placed on optometrists. This has resulted in the current fee schedule being insufficient to cover the costs of running a professional practice – staff, training, equipment and supplies.
However, we still bulk bill some consultations to our clients. We provide various consultations to suit individual visual and eye care
needs. They range from bulk billed Classic Testing and Consultation to private billed Speciality Testings and Consultations. We believe that this is the best for our clients and they have the opportunity to have the specialised advice, options and services available. We often see clients are much more satisfied with our experienced professional advice and services with gold standard premium equipment
and products rather than low-priced basic services with basic equipment and products. Ultimately, we often help them to meet their requirements, avoid costly mistakes, save time and money and be much happier.
Gap payments apply for a portion of the fee that cannot be bulk billed to Medicare.
What is behavioural optometry?
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.
How long will an eye test take?
A classic initial examination will usually take about 20 to 30 minutes. Additional testings will be scheduled if necessary. Subsequent or review visits vary in length.
How often should I have my eye tested?
For children: at 6 months, 2 years, 5 years of age then every year thereafter.
For adults aged under 65: every 2 years.
For adults aged 65 or over : every year.
Daytime contact lens wearers: after 1 week, 1 month, 3 month, then every 12 months.
Overnight contact lens wearers: after 1 night, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, then every 6 months.
These are the recommended frequencies in the absence of any abnormalities, whereby we may recommend more frequent visits on an individual basis.
Why should I have my eye tested?
The reasons vary depending on whether it is for a child or an adult. A child should have their eyes tested to ensure for healthy development of the eyes. We often see children who have had lazy eyes and high prescriptions picked up purely because their parents happened to bring them in for an eye test. Such instances are examples of how a parent may not always be aware that their children cannot see.
For adults, routine eye tests are necessary to ensure good eye health. Diseases such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration are often not symptomatic and can be silently damaging your vision without your knowledge.
I'm seeing spots or flashes , Should I worry?
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.
Can I get assistance with payment for my glasses, contact lenses or consultation ?
You can if you are:
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.
We also offer payment plans and interest free payment options, such as Openpay.
I can see fine. Why do I need an eye test?
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.
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.