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EYE EXAMINATIONS: At STRACHAN EYECARE an initial examination generally takes about 30 minutes. This includes a detailed history covering your specific visual requirements, your general health, previous ocular problems and your family's ocular history.
The Optometrist will carefully inspect your eyes to assess their health, specifically looking for signs of eye disease such as glaucoma, cataract and macular degeneration, as well as systemic diseases such as diabetes, that unchecked can have devastating effects on eyes and vision.
The vision in each eye will be measured at both distance and near, and tests will be performed to determine your refractive status i.e. whether there is any significant long-sightedness (hyperopia), short-sightedness (myopia) or astigmatism, affecting focusing.
The Optometrist will also assess how easily your eyes can change and sustain focus and how well your eyes team and track together.
Measurement of intra-ocular pressure is routinely performed on all patients over the age of 40 years as a screening test for glaucoma and will be done on indication on "at risk" younger patients. This involves use of anaesthetic eye drops; these drops do NOT affect your vision, but they will cause a transient stinging, only lasting a few seconds, followed by numbness, which lasts only 10 to 15 minutes.
Following this examination recommendations appropriate to your specific needs will be discussed. On indication, we will conduct specialist testing of visual function, such as computerized visual field testing, important in detecting glaucoma, digital retinal photography for ongoing monitoring of ocular conditions, and computerized corneal topography which is used in specialist contact lens fitting as well as in assessing suitability for laser refractive surgery.
A Dilated Fundus Examination may be scheduled to be able to more fully examine the retina at the back of the eyes. This involves the use of mydriatic (pupil dilating) eye drops which usually causes some difficulty with glare and blur and therefore we recommend that patients do not drive or operate dangerous machinery for the next 3-4 hours. We will always pre-warn you of this so that a Dilated Fundus Examination can be scheduled at a time convenient for you.
Treatment options may include the prescribing of glasses or contact lenses, or a Vision Therapy program of eye exercises; we now have a range of computer-based Vision Therapy programs which are interesting and motivating for both children and adults.
Your suitability for laser eye surgery may be discussed with you.
Referral to your GP or to an eye specialist (Ophthalmologist) will be done on indication.
At STRACHAN EYECARE it is our policy to BULK BILL initial and subsequent consultations through Medicare whenever possible
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