Eye Care Services
At Options Eyecare, our highly qualified, experienced Optometrists provide the most advanced eyecare diagnosis and specialised treatment for complex contact lens needs and paediatric vision conditions.
Eye Examination
Our Optometrists play an important role in your eye health.
If you have not had your eyes examined for quite some time you may not be aware of all the tests involved in a comprehensive eye examination. If it has been more than two years since your last eye test, we generally allow 45 minutes to complete a comprehensive consultation.
Our team of experienced Optometrists detect, diagnose, and treat eye health and vision conditions that affect vision including glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, lazy eye and cataracts.
They can also identify general health conditions that are first detected via an eye exam, provide referrals to eye surgeons (ophthalmologists) and often help manage post-eye-surgery health.
The majority of our services attract a Medicare rebate.
Every consultation and eye examination is with an experienced Optometrist using the latest and most advanced eyecare procedures. With our full eye health examination (45 minutes), comprehensive internal and external eye testing is standard and includes:
- Field of vision
- Eye muscle control
- Visual acuity
- Ability to focus
- Ability to see colour
We request you bring the following to your eye examination
- Your medicare card
- Your latest pair of prescription glasses
- Your latest pair of prescription sunglasses
- Any contact lenses you may use
- Previous prescription details or Optometrist’s reports if you are new to our practice
Colour Vision
At Options Eyecare, we believe in helping individuals unlock the full spectrum of colours through our innovative colour vision treatment. Designed for those with colour vision deficiencies, our specialized therapy enhances colour discrimination and perception, opening up a world of vibrant hues.
How does colour vision treatment work? Through a series of targeted exercises and activities, our experienced team stimulates and trains the visual system to improve colour perception. These tailored techniques aim to break down barriers in colour vision and empower individuals to see the nuances and richness of the world around them.
The benefits of our colour vision treatment are remarkable:
- Improved colour Discrimination: Experience a heightened ability to distinguish between different colours, allowing for a more accurate and nuanced perception of your surroundings.
- Enhanced colour Perception: Witness the true beauty of colours as your visual system becomes more attuned to subtle variations and shades.
- Tailored Treatment Approach: Our experts create a customized treatment plan based on your unique needs, ensuring targeted exercises and activities that address your specific colour vision deficiencies.
- While colour vision treatment cannot completely cure colour blindness, it can significantly improve your ability to perceive and differentiate colours, leading to a richer visual experience. Our qualified optometrists and vision therapists specialize in this area, providing guidance and supervision throughout the treatment process.
Take the first step towards embracing the vibrant palette of life by booking a consultation.
Therapeutics
Therapeutic treatments for eye conditions can include:
Medications: Eye drops, ointments, or oral medications may be prescribed to treat infections, inflammation, allergies, glaucoma, dry eye syndrome, or other eye-related conditions.
Laser Therapy: Laser treatment may be used for various purposes, such as correcting refractive errors (LASIK or PRK), treating glaucoma, or managing certain retinal conditions.
Intraocular Injections: In some cases, medications are directly injected into the eye to treat conditions like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or retinal vein occlusion.
Surgical Interventions: Therapeutic eye surgeries are performed to address specific eye conditions, such as cataract surgery to remove a cloudy lens, corneal transplant surgery to treat certain corneal disorders, or retinal surgery to repair retinal detachments or tears.
Therapeutic Contact Lenses: Specially designed contact lenses may be used for therapeutic purposes, such as managing corneal irregularities or promoting healing in certain eye conditions.
The specific therapeutic approach depends on the diagnosis and the underlying eye condition being treated. It is important to consult with an optometrist, to determine the most appropriate therapeutic treatment for an individual's specific eye condition.
Optical Coherence Tomography
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses light waves to create detailed images of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. OCT can be used to diagnose and monitor a variety of eye conditions, including:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Retinal detachment
OCT can also be used to measure the thickness of the retina and to assess the health of the optic nerve. This information can be used to track the progression of eye diseases and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
OCT treatment is typically done in a practice. The patient will sit in a chair and rest their head on a chin rest. The Optometrist will place a contact lens on the patient's eye and then use the OCT machine to scan the retina. The scan takes a few minutes and is painless.
The images created by OCT are stored in a computer and can be reviewed. We can use the images to diagnose eye diseases, to track the progression of eye diseases, and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
OCT is a safe and effective imaging technique. There are no known side effects associated with OCT treatment.
If you are concerned about your eye health, talk to our Optometrist about OCT treatment. OCT can be a valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring eye diseases.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a condition that causes progressive damage to the macular, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Australia and will affect 1 in 7 people over the age of 50 and the incidence increases with age*. Those with early macular degeneration may have no noticeable symptoms but the disease can cause central vision loss if not treated early.
Early detection of macular degeneration is aided by having regular eye tests. At Options Eyecare we utilise Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a non-invasive imaging test to detect macular degeneration. OCT uses light waves to take cross-sectional images of your retina. OCT allows the Optometrist to see each of the retina’s distinctive layers and pick up early signs of macular degeneration, which can include fatty deposits known as drusen, pigment cell disruption or leaking blood or fluid.
For optimum eye health, it’s recommended that everyone over the age of 40 have their eyes tested every two years.
* Source: Macular Disease Foundation
Behavioural
Behavioural eye conditions are caused by problems with the way the brain processes visual information. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, learning disabilities, and brain injuries.
The treatment for behavioural eye conditions will vary depending on the specific condition. However, some common treatments include:
- Vision therapy (VT): This is a type of therapy that helps to improve the way the brain processes visual information.
- Occupational therapy (OT): This is a type of therapy that helps to improve the coordination of the eyes and the hands.
- Prism glasses: These glasses can help to align the eyes or to improve convergence.
- Surgery: Surgery may be an option for some people with strabismus or DVD.
Childrens Vision- Myopia/VT/Amblyopia/Strabismus
If your child has 20/20 or 6/6 vision, this is only a small part of having good vision. Your child must also be focussed in each eye, must have good eye movement control, good eye-hand co-ordination, good eye health and normal visual perception.
At Options Eyecare we have a special interest in making sure that your child develops the best possible vision. We test all the visual skills necessary develop good vision.
There are many vision problems that children can have. They include:
- Strabismus
- Amblyopia
- Myopia
- Hyperopia
- Astigmatism
- Muscle Inco-ordination
- Colour Vision Defects
- Visual Perceptual Deficits
Some of these are very obvious and are picked up early in childhood and others are much less obvious.
Strabismus is a condition that interferes with binocular vision because it prevents a person from directing both eyes simultaneously to align with each other at the same spot. This is often known as a squint. Strabismus is present in about 4% of children. Treatment should be started as early as possible to ensure the development of the best possible vision.
Amblyopia (also called lazy eye) is a disorder of sight. It results in decreased vision in an eye that otherwise appears normal. Whenever the brain does not receive visual signals from an eye for a long period of time, there is a risk of amblyopia. It also can occur when the brain “turns off” the visual processing of one eye to prevent double-vision. It is common in children with strabismus.
Detecting the condition in early childhood increases the chance of successful treatment; this disorder has been estimated to affect 1–5% of the population.
Myopia is a condition of the eye where the light that comes in does not directly focus on the retina but in front of it, causing the image that one sees when looking at a distant object to be out of focus, but in focus when looking at a close object. It also known as short-sightedness.
Hyperopia is a defect of vision causing difficulty focusing on near objects, and in extreme cases causing a sufferer to be unable to focus on objects at any distance. Children with hyperopia can experience blurred vision, headaches, accommodative dysfunction, binocular dysfunction, amblyopia, and strabismus. Most school age children are in fact slightly hyperopic and therefore must exert an extra effort to bring their vision into sharp focus for both far and near tasks. For some children it will interfere with their ability to do schoolwork.
Astigmatism is a refraction error of the eye in which there is a difference in degree of power in different meridians. Astigmatism causes difficulties in seeing fine detail. Astigmatism can be often corrected by glasses with a lens that corrects for the difference in power.
Muscle Inco-ordination occurs when the complex muscle system for co-ordinating the two eyes to work as a team are not properly balanced. They often occur together with other vision problems and if left untreated contribute to a worsening of the vision problem.
Colour Vision Defects occur in about 9% of boys and 0.5% of girls. They are almost always inherited but can be the result of disease or injury. Almost all people with colour vision defects see most colours but due to the imbalance of their colour receptors they see them slightly differently to the way someone with normal vision sees them. They will therefore have difficulty in identifying some colours and will confuse some colours.
Visual Perception is the ability to analyse and understand what the eyes are seeing. Children with vision problems are more likely to have difficulty with their visual perception; however these problems can occur with otherwise normal vision. If this problem does exist, the underlying vision problem is treated first and then a program of visual perceptual therapy is administered.
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It can cause vision loss, and in some cases, blindness.
There are two main types of diabetic retinopathy: non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).NPDR is the milder form of diabetic retinopathy. It is characterized by the growth of small blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels can leak fluid, causing swelling of the retina.
PDR is the more advanced form of diabetic retinopathy. It is characterized by the growth of new blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels are fragile and can bleed easily. Bleeding in the retina can cause vision loss.
There are a number of treatments available for diabetic retinopathy. The type of treatment that is best for you will depend on the severity of your retinopathy.Laser treatment is a common treatment for NPDR. Laser treatment can help to seal off leaky blood vessels and prevent them from growing.
Injections of medications called anti-VEGF drugs can also be used to treat NPDR and PDR. These medications help to shrink new blood vessels and prevent them from leaking.Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure that can be used to remove blood from the retina or to remove scar tissue that is causing vision loss.
If you have diabetes, it is important to have regular eye exams. Early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy can help to prevent vision loss.Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology (ortho-k) is the fitting of specially designed gas permeable contact lenses (RGP) that you wear overnight. While you are asleep, the lenses gently reshape the front surface of your eye (cornea) so you can see clearly the following day after you remove the lenses when you wake up. Ortho-k lenses are prescribed for two purposes: To correct refractive errors To slow the progression of childhood myopia
Eye Care Services
At Options Eyecare, our highly qualified, experienced Optometrists provide the most advanced eyecare diagnosis and specialised treatment for complex contact lens needs and paediatric vision conditions.
Our Optometry team have created a Unique Operating System (UOS) that details a quality standard for our consultations. We call it our 35 Point Eye Test and these 35 points are listed below.
- Case History
- Motility
- Cover test
- NPC
- Pupils
- PD
- UVA (D&N)
- VA with specs
- Phorias with own specs
- Retinoscopy
- Subjective Refraction
- VA R&L
- Binocular Balance
- Phorias with new refraction
- Near Add
- Near Phoria
- Trial Frame
- Slit Lamp
- Lids and lashes
- External adnexae
- External adnexae
- Conjunctiva
- Corneas
- AC/angles
- Lens
- Fundoscopy
- C/D ratio
- Disc margins
- Macula
- Vessels
- Periphery
- Photos
- Diagnosis
- Management
- Advice
The important first part of an eye examination (any consultation for that matter) is to create a Case History. Your optometrist will collect information regarding the history of your eyes and vision as well as any general health issues, medication, allergies and family history which can impact on risk factors for the health of your eyes and your vision.
The next collection of tests are a few short preliminary tests. These are designed to check your pupil reactions and to ensure your eye muscles are all working correctly. This will involve shining some lights in your eyes, asking you to move your eyes and covering and uncovering your eyes.
Your vision in the distance without spectacles will be measured. The optometrist will then work out your distance prescription to see if any lenses will help you see more clearly. You will be asked which lenses are clearest. Once this has been determined the optometrist will also measure your prescription for near work, including for reading and the computer if you use one. This is similar to the distance testing. The optometrist will also check that your eyes are co-ordinated well in your new prescription.
After the spectacle prescription (if any) has been determined the optometrist will examine the health of your eyes. Local anaesthetic and orange drops will be used so that the optometrist can measure the pressure in your eyes and have a look at the front surface of your eyes. An increase in the pressure in your eyes makes glaucoma more likely. The optometrist will also use a slit lamp to shine some light on the front of your eyes to examine the structures there including the cornea, conjunctiva, iris and lens.
It is also important to check the health of the inside of the back of your eyes; including you macula, retina and optic nerve. To do this your optometrist needs a good view in through your pupils so they may need to be dilated. If your pupils are dilated you will notice things are fuzzy and glary for an hour or so after your test so we recommend you don’t drive whilst your eyes are affected. Photographs will also be taken of your retina so that it can be documented and any future changes noted.
Lastly, your optometrist will explain the outcome of your eye examination and let you know if eye exercises, glasses, contact lenses or further examination such as visual field tests or OCT examinations are needed and why.
While nearly all of our services are covered by Medicare they are no longer Bulk-Billed.
As a result, for a full comprehensive consultation up to 30 minutes your minimum out of pocket cost will be $20. Once you’ve made payment in full on the day we can process your Medicare rebate immediately through Medicare Online and it will be deposited to your nominated bank account, usually within 1/2 an hour, leaving you with that $20 out of pocket cost.
Specialist tests, such as: Lacrimal Lavage, Corneal Topography and OCT (Ocular Coherence Tomography) are to be patient funded, included in the fee schedule below.
Full Cost | Min out of Pocket | ||
Comprehensive Initial | up to 30mins | $77.70 | $20* |
Brief Initial/Subsequent | up to 20 mins | $38.90 | $10* |
Comprehensive Initial LONG | up to 45mins | $87.80 | $30* |
Visual Fields HFA | $68.80 (rebate $57.70) | ||
Corneal Topography (per eye) | $38.00 | ||
Lacrimal Lavage (per eye) | $38.00 | ||
OCT scan (one eye) | $49.00 | ||
OCT Scan (both eyes) | $84.00 |
*Reduced fees apply for most concession holders and school age children. Veterans Affairs will continue to be Bulk-Billed.
With approximately 1 in 5 Australian children either suffering from an undetected vision problem or requiring ongoing assessment, it is important to be aware of the possible signs of a vision problem to give every child the best chance of reaching their full potential^. Because their eyesight changes rapidly as they grow, detecting any vision problems early can prevent future complications occurring. It can also assist your child’s development and learning. So it’s important to have their eyes checked regularly from an early age.
Vision is one of the most precious senses for a new baby. More is learnt about the world through sight than through all other senses combined. At birth, a baby’s eyes are generally examined for signs of major defects.
The first eye examination can be at 6 months. The goal of this examination is to detect any eye health or visual problem that would affect the normal development of the visual system. High refractive error (eg long-sightedness) could result in an eye turn (squint) and subsequent lazy eye (amblyopia). The best time for the 6-month eye test is when the baby is relaxed and calm. After the morning feed is probably ideal.
It is recommended that a child has a full eye examination before they start school. How easily a child can see their long distance and close vision school work can influence how well they learn through their visual system. At this examination, emphasis is on testing visual efficiency skills and visual analysis skills so that poor vision is not a stumbling block to first of all “learning to read” and later “reading to learn”.
Appointments first thing in the morning are preferred for primary school age children so that their performance in the eye test is not reduced because they are tired after a full day at school.
^ Source of statistics Optometry Australia
What happens during a child’s eye examination?
Many children who come in for their first eye examination tend to be quite nervous as they are not sure what to expect. This is particularly the case for children with autism, as they can suffer with anxiety in an unfamiliar environment.
Vision training is a course of prescribed activities, tailored for the individual and designed to improve poorly developed vision and visual processing skills. Your Optometrist will prescribe a vision training plan to help improve things like eye movement control, eye focusing, eye coordination and visual analysis skills. Many of our Optometrists use vision training as part of their treatment plans.
Many spectacle wearers spend years unaware that they are suitable for contact lenses. Our qualified Optometrists will fit you with the most appropriate contact lenses for your prescription and lifestyle.
Contact lenses are available to correct both distance, near and multifocal prescriptions, as well as for patients with astigmatism. We will help you find the right contact lens to suit your specific needs.
Diabetes affects many parts of the eye. Early in the disease, there are often no signs or symptoms. Symptoms of diabetes may be blurred, fluctuating vision, double vision or flashes and floaters. Diabetes may also contribute to the development of cataracts and glaucoma. The most serious complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is greater if diabetes has been present for a long time or blood sugar levels are not well controlled. Other risk factors include smoking, poor diet and elevated blood pressure. To reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, it is important to control your blood sugar levels as much as possible.
As part of your eye examination your optometrist may need to put dilating eye-drops in when checking for diabetic retinopathy. They will probably photograph your retina for comparison at your next eye examination. In early stages, diabetic retinopathy is monitored with regular eye examinations. If more severe diabetic retinopathy is suspected, your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist for treatment. If needed, the ophthalmologist may use laser to treat the leaking blood vessels. In some cases, eye surgery may be required.
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy aims to prevent further damage to the eye and keep the best vision for as long as possible. Usually surgery cannot restore vision that has been lost. It is important to remember that early detection and if necessary, treatment are the best way to reduce the risk of vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.
Speak to one of our Optometrists to learn more about managing your eye health if you are living with diabetes.
Glaucoma is an eye condition which is characterised by damage to the optic nerve and retina, causing progressive vision loss. Glaucoma develops gradually, without pain or any noticeable symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose until it has begun to permanently damage your vision. Right now, 50% of people with glaucoma remain undiagnosed.*
The good news is that glaucoma can be detected early as part of a standard eye test. We utilise Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a non-invasive imaging test to detect glaucoma. OCT uses light waves to take cross-sectional images of your retina. OCT allows the optometrist to see each of the retina’s distinctive layers, which can be used to map and measure their thickness. The retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements help with the diagnosis of glaucoma. Studies have shown that OCT technology can detect glaucomatous damage up to 8 years before vision loss .^
For optimum eye health, it’s recommended that everyone over the age of 40 have their eyes tested every two years.
* Tunnel Vision. The economic impact of Open Angle Glaucome, Centre for Eye Research Australia, 2008
^ Kuang TM et al. Ophthalmology 2015. Oct;122(10):2002-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.06.015. Epub 2015 Jul 18.
For some of us, refractive surgery can be a great option. It’s important that laser surgery is undertaken by an expert who understands your eye health history. Our Optometrists have a great relationship with your local ophthalmologists and will make sure you get the right referral with a surgeon who suits your needs. We can also provide aftercare, following your surgery.
Macular degeneration is a condition that causes progressive damage to the macular, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Australia and will affect 1 in 7 people over the age of 50 and the incidence increases with age*. Those with early macular degeneration may have no noticeable symptoms but the disease can cause central vision loss if not treated early.
Early detection of macular degeneration is aided by having regular eye tests. We utilise Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a non-invasive imaging test to detect macular degeneration. OCT uses light waves to take cross-sectional images of your retina. OCT allows the Optometrist to see each of the retina’s distinctive layers and pick up early signs of macular degeneration, which can include fatty deposits known as drusen, pigment cell disruption or leaking blood or fluid.
For optimum eye health, it’s recommended that everyone over the age of 40 have their eyes tested every two years.
* Source: Macular Disease Foundation
Optometrists are able to diagnose and manage a number of ocular conditions including age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Our practices are equipped with state of the art equipment such as optical coherence tomography which allows us to diagnose these conditions earlier and monitor them more effectively. Many of our Optometrists are also therapeutically endorsed which allows them to treat a number of infective and inflammatory eye conditions with topical medications such as antibiotics and steroids.