Services         

Comprehensive and brief or secondary eye examinations are bulk billed to Medicare. At Mallee Optometry we recommend eye tests every two years for everyone under 65 and every year for everyone over 65, unless otherwise advised during your appointment.

Additional imaging is not covered by Medicare and attracts an out of pocket cost.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) does not attract a Medicare rebate and costs $70 out of pocket. The package cost with fundus photography is $80.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a quick, painless, non-invasive scan that provides detailed cross-sectional images of the retina and optic nerve at the back of your eye. It allows us to see beneath the surface of your retina. OCT helps with detecting changes long before they are visible during a standard comprehensive eye examination and before you notice any symptoms. This allows for earlier treatment and better preservation of vision.

An OCT scan can help with the early detection, diagnosis and monitoring of a range of eye conditions, including: 

Glaucoma – Detects early damage to the optic nerve and retinal nerve fibre layer, often before vision loss occurs. Anyone with a family history of glaucoma would benefit from a baseline OCT and further OCT as advised.

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – Identifies early signs of macular disease and monitors progression over time. OCT aids in determining when referral to an ophthalmologist is needed for further treatment.

Diabetic eye disease – Detects swelling and damage to the retina caused by diabetes.

Medication toxicity - Detects changes within the retina that can be caused by drugs such as plaquenil and tamoxifen. 

Retinal conditions – Helps diagnose problems such as macular holes, epiretinal membranes, central serous chorioretinopathy, retinal swelling, and fluid beneath or within the retina.

Why have an OCT scan if my vision is fine?

Many eye diseases develop without noticeable symptoms in their early stages. By the time vision changes occur, some damage may already be permanent. OCT allows us to identify subtle structural changes early, when treatment or monitoring may be most effective.

Who should consider an OCT scan?

An OCT scan is particularly valuable for:

• Anyone with a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration.

• People with diabetes or high blood pressure.

• Patients who are highly short-sighted (myopic).

• Anyone experiencing changes in their vision.

• Anyone who wants the most comprehensive assessment of their eye health.

An OCT scan provides valuable baseline images that can be compared over time, helping us detect even the smallest changes in your eye health and ensuring any concerns are identified and managed as early as possible.

Fundus photos do not attract a Medicare rebate and cost $40 out of pocket. The package cost with OCT is $80.

Diabetic eye examinations involve extra testing to look for signs of diabetic retinopathy at the back of the eye. Dilating eye drops are instilled, and it is recommended to have someone drive you to and from the appointment, as the drops can cause blurred vision and sensitivity to glare for hours after the appointment.

Diabetic eye examinations are recommended minimum once a year, or more frequently in cases where diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema has occurred.

Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina at the back of the eye that can cause vision loss. Macular oedema is swelling at the macular region in the eye. The macula is responsible for all your central and detailed vision.  Through annual diabetic eye examinations, changes due to diabetes can be picked up early and earlier intervention can result in better visual outcomes.

OCT and fundus imaging is recommended for all diabetic eye examinations. OCT and fundus photography is $80 as a package.

Children should undergo their first eye examination prior to starting school and get tested annually. This helps to set children up for the best possible school experience. Early detection and treatment can help prevent long-term vision issues that impact on learning, concentration, reading, coordination and development. Children do not always notice vision issues and therefore cannot always report issues to their parents or teachers. This means many eye health problems in children go undetected without regular eye examinations.

Behaviours and issues that parents and teachers should monitor for in children that warrant an eye test:

-            Inability to see TV or board at school unless sitting close

-            Holding books or devices close to face

-            Difficulty concentrating on reading tasks

-            Complaints of eye strain or headaches

-            Bumping into furniture or walls

-            Eye turns that are constantly present or intermittent

-            Excessive eye rubbing or blinking