FAQ – personaleyes

Commonly Asked Questions

Below, you’ll find answers to your questions regarding eye exams, your vision, contact lenses, and your child’s vision.

ABOUT YOUR EYE EXAMINATION

Can I claim the cost of my eye examination on Medicare?

Yes you can. The majority of the cost of a basic eye examination is bulk billed through Medicare. To thoroughly assess the health of your eyes we may need to carry out additional tests over and above the basic eye examination. The costs of any additional tests are not claimable on Medicare.

Can you process my private health fund claims at my appointment using HICAPS?

The HICAPS system allows in-office claiming of optical benefits from participating health funds. With the use of your health fund membership card, Personal Eyes Optometry will electronically claim your entitlement using our electronic HICAPS system. This will eliminate any need to present a receipt to the health fund in person or by mail and therefore saving you valuable time. Using this system patients are only required to pay for any amount owing over the private health fund entitlement.

How often should I have my eyes examined?

Your eyes should be examined by an optometrist at least once every two years. If you are a contact lens wearer, then your eyes should be examined every 12 months to ensure that the lenses are still fitting correctly and that they are providing you with the best vision possible.

If my eyes are fine every time then why should I have my eyes examined again in two years?

The condition of your eyes can change over time. Some eye conditions develop gradually therefore their signs and symptoms easily go un-noticed. It is important to have regular eye exams in order to pick up any change as early as possible to ensure that any problem can be treated before it affects your vision.

What do I have to bring to my appointment?

Any spectacles, sunglasses or contact lenses that you wear.
If you wear contact lenses, please bring the name of your contact lens care system (i.e. cleaning solution).
Please also bring a list of any medications you are taking.

Why do you want to know about my general health and any medications I am taking?

It is important that we ask you about your general health both past and present as underlying health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can affect your eyes. Certain medications can have visual side effects or may cause headaches therefore it is important that you bring a list of any medications you are taking to your appointment.

Will you be checking for any other eye problems apart from those corrected by spectacles?

Supported by the latest technology, our optometrists are able to thoroughly assess the health of your eyes inside and out. We are able to pick up the early signs of eye conditions before your vision is affected.

ABOUT YOUR VISION

Can I get a single pair of spectacles that I can use for everything?

Yes. If you require spectacles for different distances there are different options available. You may wish to try bifocals that can be used for reading and distance, trifocals that can used for reading, intermediate and far distance, or multi-focals that can be used for a multitude of different distances.

Can I get spectacles that I can use for sports?

Yes. We can arrange for specialty lenses to be fitted to sports frames for your convenience or prescription goggles for swimming.

How long will it take for my spectacles to be made?

It will usually take a few days to receive your new single vision spectacles and two weeks for multi-focal lenses. We also offer an emergency service offering same day glasses.

ABOUT YOUR CONTACT LENSES

Can I lose my contact lenses behind my eyes?

No. There is a tissue that covers the white part of the eye called the conjunctiva that joins to the inside of your eyelids that prevents anything from passing into the back of the eye. Sometimes your contact lenses (especially soft contact lenses) may slide under your upper or lower eyelid and become difficult to find. If you cannot locate the lens yourself, please come into the practice as soon as convenient and one of our optometrists will remove the lens for you.

Can I store my lenses without any solution?

No. Soft contact lenses will dry out and become unusable. All types of contact lenses should be stored in the appropriate disinfecting solution to avoid infection.

Can I use eye drops with my contact lenses?

Not all drops are suitable for use when wearing contact lenses. We can advise you which drops are suitable for use with the type of contact lenses you wear.

Can I wash and store my contact lenses in tap water?

No. Tap water contains micro-organisms which can be harmful to the cornea (clear front cover of the eye) and lead to infection. Contact lenses need to be cleaned properly and then disinfected with the appropriate solution to avoid infection.

Can I wear make-up with my contact lenses?

Yes you can.

How can I tell if I’ve put my lens in the wrong eye?

If you think you have put your lens in the wrong eye, check the vision by covering each eye alternately with your hand. If the vision is blurry, swap your lenses and recheck the vision.

I have astigmatism. Can I still wear contact lenses?

Many people are unaware that there are contact lenses available for astigmatism. Personal Eyes Optometry specialises in contact lens fittings for all types of astigmatism including irregular astigmatism often seen in Keratoconus.

How can I tell if my contact lens is inside out?

Soft contact lenses can easily flip inside out. If the lens is inside out and you try to insert it you will most likely have difficulty getting the lens in. When they are the correct way around, a soft contact lens will appear as a smooth dish shape.

How can I tell if my contact lens has fallen out of my eye?

If you suspect that your contact lens has fallen out of your eye, cover your other eye to determine if the vision is blurry or clear in the eye you think the lens has fallen out of. If the vision is blurry, it is more than likely that the lens has either dislodged from the cornea or has fallen out of the eye.

How long each day can I wear my daily disposable and daily contact lenses?

With the recent advances in contact lens technology, more oxygen is able to pass through the lens to the eyes, making them less prone to dehydration. However, the eyes still need a break from contact lenses to allow maximum oxygen to reach the cornea (clear front cover of the eye). Wearing time for most contact lenses is around 10-16 hours.

Why do I have to clean my contact lenses?

It is important to clean your contact lenses after every wear to avoid infection. Cleaning removes surface debris and bacteria that may adhere to your contact lenses. Prior to cleaning, inserting or removing your lenses it is also essential that you wash your hands thoroughly to avoid transferring infection to the eyes.

ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S VISION

My child keeps mixing up colours? Is my child colour blind?

If your child is having trouble differentiating between colours, particularly reds and greens, then they may have a colour vision defect. Colour defects can be inherited genetically therefore if your child has a family history of colour blindness it is important that they are checked by an optometrist.

When is my child old enough to wear contact lenses?

There is no one answer to this question. Physically, a child’s eyes can tolerate contact lenses at a very young age. However, it is important to determine that your child is mature and responsible enough to insert, remove and care for contact lenses correctly.

When should my child’s eyes be examined?

It is possible to examine a child’s eyes at any age. In infancy, if you suspect your child is not seeing properly, it is critical that you have your infants’ eyes assessed immediately by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist).

If you have no concerns regarding your child’s vision it is advisable that their eyes are checked around the age of nine months and then routinely every two years thereafter. Children’s vision develops from birth until around eight years of age. It is critical that any problems with your child’s vision are detected before their vision finishes developing to prevent sight loss.

Will sitting too close to the television hurt my child’s eyes?

Watching television for long periods of time can certainly strain the muscles around your child’s eyes causing symptoms of blur and discomfort. It is important that your child takes regular breaks away from the television, focusing at different distances to relax their eyes. If your child is experiencing headaches or eye discomfort related to watching television please make an appointment with one of our optometrists for expert advice on (02) 9235 2236.