Eye Health Professionals

 

Who to see if you have an eye problem or if you think you need a check-up…

 

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

Information to come.....

GENERAL PRACTITIONER

 

What do General Practitioners do?

General Practitioners or doctors provide community health care and they can identify and treat minor eye problems. If they are unable to treat an eye condition, they will refer on to the appropriate eye health professional such as an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.

General Practitioners typically treat minor eye infections or minor eye injury.

NB. Always tell your GP if you have a family history of a particular eye disease/condition.

How do I find a GP in my area?

There are approximately 4,500 GPs in Queensland, and many work in regional, rural and remote family practices/health centres.
To locate a GP close to you, please contact www.racgp.org.au or www.qdgp.org.au

How much will it cost?

The majority of GPs in Queensland ‘bulk-bill’ for services through Medicare.

How to become a GP

GPs study medicine for five years to gain a Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. Medical degree courses are offered at the University of Queensland, Bond University, Griffith University and James Cook University. For more information visit: www.amc.org.au

OPTOMETRIST

 

What do Optometrists do?

Optometrists provide full eye examinations which involve not only an assessment of your vision, but also an examination of the health of your eyes. An optometrist will look for signs of eye disease and ways to improve your vision. They can also prescribe and dispense spectacles and contact lenses and may even provide some low vision aids for patients with more serious vision loss. Optometrists can also advise on lighting, sunglasses, sports vision, visually-related learning disabilities, eye safety and vision requirements for the home.

NB. Always tell your optometrist if you have a family history of a particular eye disease/condition.

In Australia today, the five main causes of vision loss are uncorrected/undercorrected refractive error, cataract, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Optometrists can perform a number of eye tests to look for these and other eye conditions. For example:

Testing visual function
• Optometrists measure how well the eye focuses –this is called refraction. A refractive error can usually be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
• Optometrists are able to check your peripheral vision - loss of peripheral vision can be an early indicator of glaucoma.
• Optometrists can also examine how well your eyes move and work together. This will help determine if a patient has a squint or a “lazy eye”.
• Optometrists are able to also check your colour vision and depth perception.

Checking for signs of eye disease
• As part of a regular eye examination, an optometrist will examine the back of your eye (the retina) for any signs of disease. Retinal abnormalities might indicate the early manifestations of conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa or retinal detachment. While examining the back of the eye, an optometrist will also look at the optic nerve for any abnormalities. 
• Optometrists can also measure the pressure within the eyeball. High pressure can be an early sign of glaucoma.
• An optometrist will also examine the structures at the front of the eye including the cornea and the lens. Examination of the lens is important in picking up any signs of cataract.

If an optometrist identifies an eye condition that requires further treatment, they will refer you to an eye doctor (ophthalmologist). If someone has an eye condition that is no longer correctable by spectacles or contact lenses they can also refer you to a low vision organisation.

Other services offered by Optometrists
Some optometrists are trained to be able to prescribe certain eye medications, such as eye drops for conjunctivitis or glaucoma. 
To obtain contact details for a therapeutically trained optometrist near you, please contact www.optometrists.asn.au/queensland  or visit http://www.optomboard.qld.gov.au and follow the links to ‘Therapeutics’.    

Out reach work
Many optometrists in Queensland are involved in providing eye health services to more rural and remote areas of the State.
Some outreach work is funded through the Federal Government Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS).

How do I find an optometrist in my area?

There are approximately 1,500 optometrists in Queensland.
To locate an optometrist close to you, please visit:  www.optometrists.asn.au/queensland

How much will it cost?

The majority of optometrists in Queensland “bulk-bill” their patients – this means Medicare will cover the cost of an eye examination. However Medicare does not cover the cost of any spectacles or contact lenses. If you have private health insurance, these costs may be covered by your insurer.

How can I get a rebate/subsidy

Those unable to afford spectacles can obtain free spectacles through the Queensland Governments Spectacle Supply Scheme. This is administered through the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme. To be eligible for the scheme you must be a resident of Queensland and possess a current Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Health Care Card or Queensland Government Seniors Card in your own name, which you have held for a minimum of six months.
For more information contact www.health.qld.gov.au/mass/spectacles.asp 

Veterans
If you hold a Gold or White Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession Card you may be eligible for free spectacles from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). 
For more details please contact the DVA.

How to become an Optometrist

The Queensland University of Technology School of Optometry has a five year undergraduate degree for optomerty.
For more information visit www.optometrists.asn.au/queensland

ORTHOPTIST

 

What do orthoptists do?

Orthoptists are university trained, allied health care practitioners who specialise in disorders of eye movements and diagnostic procedures related to disorders of the eye and visual system. 

Orthoptists mostly work as part of a multidisciplinary team and alongside ophthalmologists in public hospitals, specialist eye clinics and low vision and rehabilitation organisations. Orthoptists specialise in the diagnosis and management of patients with eye conditions such as strabismus or squint and amblyopia or lazy eye.  They are also involved in monitoring other eye disorders such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataract and macular degeneration and provide vision rehabilitation services.
 
Some orthoptists specialise and work with newborns or children, older people, rehabilitation or community services or in ophthalmic technology.

How do I find an orthoptist in my area?

There are many orthoptists working throughout Queensland. For further information please contact the Orthoptic Association of Australia: For more information please email office@orthoptics.org.au or visit the website at: www.orthoptics.org.au

How much will it cost?

Orthoptist services are recognised by private health benefit organisations and health insurance this will often cover these services, for further details contact your insurer.

How to become an Orthoptist

Degree courses are offered at the University of Sydney and La Trobe University (Melbourne). La Trobe University offers a four year combined degree course, a Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Orthoptics. Fore more information visit: www.latrobe.edu.au/orthoptics
The University of Sydney offers a two year postgraduate course, Master of Orthoptics.  For more information visit: www.fhs.usyd.edu.au/orthoptics   

Allied Health Professionals

Other health professionals also involved in vision care.....

DIABETES EDUCATOR

The role of the Diabetes Educator

A Diabetes Educator will give you information on why managing your diabetes is important. Education regarding medications and how you can manage and monitor your diabetes yourself will also be provided.
Your clients should see a diabetes educator
• When they are first diagnosed with Diabetes.
• If their HbA1c is usually above 8 %.
• If there are times when their blood glucose is too low.
• If they are developing diabetes complications.
• If there are psychological, social or medical issues they would like help with medication changes.
• If they are having difficulty managing their diabetes.
• If they intend to become pregnant or are pregnant.

For further information please visit the Australian Diabetes Educators Association website at: www.adea.com.au