FAQ

Do I need a regular eye examination if I can see everything I need to see?	Yes! Eye examinations look at more than sight. We will make sure that there are no eye diseases lurking undetected. Some conditions such as glaucoma can be completely symptomless until your sight has been permanently damaged. The chances of an eye disease increase significantly above the age of 40 – we recommend eye examinations every 2 years from this age.
When should I take my child for their first eye examination?	Ideally a child should be examined: Before age 2 Before starting school Every 18 months or so during school years We can examine babies – a very quick examination of a baby’s eyes will reassure that the eyes are healthy and not at risk of developing a turn or a “lazy eye”. If we find abnormalities at this age then we are in a great position to get in early to treat. A more thorough eye examination should be done before the child starts school, and then regularly during school years. Vision problems can contribute to learning problems in some cases – it is important to look for these as a child often won’t know to complain.
Do I need a referral to see an optometrist?	No – we can see you without a referral. Medicare will give a rebate on most consultations. The standard consultation rebate is given for a comprehensive eye examination; this is payable once every 3 years under the age of 65 and yearly if 65 or older unless there is a clinical reason for a visit to be done sooner. If you have been to a different optometrist within the past 3 years and you come to see us, you will need a referral from that first optometrist if you want to claim your standard rebate for the consultation. It is fine to see us without the referral but your Medicare rebate will be smaller in that case.
I’m interested in multifocal lenses but I’ve heard that they’re impossible to wear – can I try them and what if I cant get used to them?	Here at VISION on KOORNANG we offer a 3 month non-adapt warranty on all of our glasses – we want you to wear and enjoy your glasses and will even change the lenses if needed. We call all new spectacle purchasers a couple of weeks after collection to check everything is perfect. Multifocal lens technology has advanced significantly since the first multifocal lens was made in the last century. We can now customize the optics of the lens to your face shape and the exact fit of the glasses frame. Multifocal (or progressive) lenses can be customized with state-of-the-art optics. A lens design when produced is always cutting edge, then it is superseded, and new technology becomes old technology as the years go by. These older lenses are still frequently used across the industry. Batches of old lenses can be bought up to be sold cheaply (beware the budget multifocal!). Sometimes a particular lens design, even if old, can still be a good option for some prescription types. As a consumer, you need to trust your optometrist to offer a lens solution that’s right for you. We have our favorite multifocal lens designs for different prescriptions and wearer needs.
What happens if I break my glasses – are they covered?	All of our premium glasses frames have a 2 year guarantee against breakage. If the frame breaks in this two year period we will repair or replace it at no cost. Lenses are not covered for scratches or damage due to wear and tear. You can have a tough coating put onto your glasses from the outset – this, as well as taking reasonable care, should minimize scratches.
How can I stop my glasses from getting scratched?	Keep your glasses in a case when they’re not on your head. Try not to put them loose into a pocket or a bag with keys!! If you need to put your glasses down make sure you keep the lenses facing up – putting the glasses down with the lenses against a surface will scratch them in no time. Common traps are putting your glasses on a chair, your bed or the floor – you’ll sit on them or crush them underfoot in no time. Clean glasses using a lens spray or even soapy water (dishwashing water lukewarm is fine). The wet clean will remove any dust or dirt, then dry with a soft tissue before polishing with a microfibre cloth. Using a microfibre cloth directly on dirty lenses can scratch the lens IF any dirt or grit is caught between the cloth and the lens. It also dirties your cloth – this makes the lenses more prone to smears and scratches next time you clean them
What is a Cataract? Could I have one and how would it be treated?	Inside our eyeball just behind the coloured iris (yours might be blue or brown or? hazel/grey?) we have a lens. This clear lens works beautifully when we are young but can become cloudy when we become older. The clouding of the lens is called a cataract. Most commonly, cataracts are a brown clouding which increases with age. Cataracts can also be due to eye injury, certain medications, illness, toxicity ( ie excessive alcohol consumption) and sun exposure. Cataracts can be treated easily through surgery. This is through a day procedure which only takes 10-15 minutes. At your eye examination we will examine your lens through our slit lamp biomicroscope. If we find a cataract and if it is affecting your vision then surgery might be advisable. We can refer you to an ophthalmologist for surgery when you are ready.
What is Macular Degeneration? Could I have this and how would it be treated?	The macula is the very sensitive part of the retina at the back of the eye. It’s inside the eye at the very back of the lining – the light comes in to our eye through the lens and the clear jelly that fills the eyeball. This light should focus on the macula. The light receptors at this part of the eye will then transmit the image to the brain – the brain is where we make sense of what we see. Whenever we look directly at something, ie when reading, when watching TV, when making eye contact – that image goes to our macula. Macular degeneration means that this macular area of the retina is breaking down. In recent years the invention of the OCT (ocular coherence tomography) machine has made diagnosing macular degeneration much easier. With this technology we are able to take a photo and a scan of the retina and show you your macula area in detail. Any sign of macular degeneration will be easily seen. If macular degeneration is detected then we will refer you to an ophthalmologist who may be able to treat the problem. You are at increased risk of macular degeneration if you have a family member with it, if you smoke and if you have a poor diet or have diabetes. The best diet for your macula includes omega 3 ( ie oily fish) and plenty of brightly colored vegetables.
What is Glaucoma? Could I have this and how would it be treated?	Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve head. The optic nerves are the information cables that run from our eyes to the visual cortex at the back of the head. The part of the optic nerve that can be seen on the retina at the back of the eye is called the optic nerve head. The nerve acts as the communications line from our whole retina (the photoreceptive membrane that covers the back of our eyeball). Apart from the sensitive macula area, the rest of the retinal is used to see peripherally - our side vision. When glaucoma is present it causes damage to the optic nerve head, and to the bundles of nerve fibres that pass through it to spread to the retinal periphery. A patient with glaucoma will lose parts of their peripheral vision – and will often not realize that this is happening in the early stages. Late stage glaucoma comes with symptoms of poor vision but this will often lead to blindness as it becomes harder and harder to treat as it progresses. Glaucoma testing is standard when we assess anybody above the age of 40. We look at your optic nerve to see that it is healthy in colour and shape, we take OCT scans to check the health of your bundles of retinal nerves. The pressure of your eyes is measured to make sure that it’s within a normal range. We take into account risk factors such as a thin cornea, myopia or a family history of glaucoma. We will assess side vision ( visual fields assessment) if we suspect a possibility of glaucoma. Glaucoma is usually treated with eyedrops to lower the eye pressure. Sometimes minor surgical procedures can also be done. We refer you to an ophthalmologist to manage this.