When you come for an appointment

Your Optometrist will usually will begin by asking you for basic information about your eyes. In particular, your Optometrist would like to know whether you have:

  • blurred vision

  • sore eyes

  • headaches

  • double vision

  • dry eyes

  • watery eyes

  • floaters/flashes

  • any other eye or vision problems

Next we ask basic information about your overall health and any history of eye conditions in your family.

The optometrist will check level of vision that you currently have (with your current spectacles, if you have any).  

Your distance and reading prescriptions will be checked. The optometrist will show a series of lenses and ask the patient if each lens is improving or blurring their vision.

Eye-strain tests may be performed, to see how comfortably you are able to see.

The optometrist then checks the front (eyelashes, lens, etc.) and back (retina) of your eyes in order to detect any eye conditions, such as Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Cataracts or Dry Eye Syndrome. They will also test your eye pressures - sometimes this may require some eye-drops that feel a little strange for a couple of minutes.

Some patients will require eye-drops that dilate the pupils - this might be requested by their GP or be required to test for particular eye conditions. These drops make your vision blurry and your eyes light-sensitive for a few hours. If you need a dilated examination, you will need to bring someone with you to drive.

Occasionally, the optometrist will ask you to return for further testing. This is important for people who have diabetes. It is also important for individuals who are showing signs that they may be at risk of glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye conditions.

The optometrist will routinely request you to return at least every 12 months, if you are over 65 years of age, or 2 years for younger individuals. The optometrist may request a patient to return sooner, if they deem that this may be necessary.

Eyes are important. Therefore it is important to have your eyes tested on a regular basis. This helps check for any undiagnosed eye conditions which may affect your vision and quality of life, of which some are irreversible.

General eye examinations are bulk-billed to Medicare. You can Make An Appointment here.

Who we love to help

  • Those who need specific lenses for work, safety, sport or recreation

  • Those who like to multi-task, like watching TV and reading at the same time

  • Those who need the best glare/sun protection for their eyes

  • Those who want to try contact lenses

  • Those who feel that their vision isn’t as good as it used to be (and whose arms aren’t quite long enough)

  • Those who get bits of metal in their eyes

  • Those who have dry, irritated or watery eyes

  • Kids who need an eye test before starting school and a report sent to their teacher

  • Those who have a family history of eye problems

Otway Optical’s Optometry Equipment:

  • Phoroptor, trial frames & lenses

  • Slit-lamp & fundus lenses

  • BIO (binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy)

  • Eye-strain testing equipment

  • Goldmann applanation tonometry

  • iCare rebound tonometry

  • Anterior chamber gonioscopy

  • Anterior OCT (optical coherence tomography)

  • Ocular biometry

  • Corneal foreign body removal equipment

  • Colour fundus photography

  • Visual field analyser

  • Retinal OCT (optical coherence tomography)

  • Corneal topography/keratometry

  • IPL (intense pulsed light)

  • Blephasteam goggles

  • Meibomian gland expression equipment

  • Lacrimal (tear duct) levage equipment

  • Blepharitis ‘deep clean’ equipment