EYE EXAM BEGA
Servicing clients Tathra, Tura, Bombala, Narooma, Merimbula and Eden since 1984
Eye health
Monitor
Kids vision
Childrens
Eye tests
Eye safety
Eye drops are sometimes used in standard eye examinations to dilate the pupil as well as used in treatments for vision problems. We are also optical prescription spectacle makers so please bring all your spectacles, sunglasses and any eye drops currently being used to your appointment, medication lists and family history details if relevant.
Suffice to say just as not all lenses are the same, nor are eye examinations in respect of scope and time taken and rebates, nor eg digital retinal imaging and scans. Your eye exam has to best fit your life and health care
The evolution of new technologies enables the most complete examination
Your eye care needs to be tailored and not directed to a 30 minute or any other timeline. Australian population studies have shown high levels of patient acceptance for pupil dilation and have confirmed the safety of pupil dilation with higher pathology detection being possible. Should the driving standard not be assured from the temporary pupil dilation sometimes another time can be scheduled where a driver can accompany.
Your regular eye exam and cost
The marketing of eye examinations and spectacles broadly is too often very simplistic and can be misleading. The schedule fee for a standard examination is $75.75.
We have spectacles in all price points and options, We have no gap options and even government assisted free spectacles. Your eye exam to best fit your life and health care can sometimes be bulk-billed however medicare has restrictions on cardholders when this can be done and which tests are bulk billed.
Should the scheduled fee be charged you will be entitled to the Medicare rebate. If you are bulk billed a lower amount is paid to the optometrist by the Government instead. This claim amount has not changed with CPI in decades due to government restrictions (but is being lobbied for.) Costs have increased with the evolution of new technologies which also vary widely and often misrepresented or understood. Some eye health costs such as certain diagnostic imaging and OCT scans may not be covered by all health funds.
Any extra fees that could be considered would be explained and optional. Some lenses and frames could easily be selected that are say 10x or more than the more basic offerings so it all depends on features and benefits. We will explain fees to your satisfaction which depends on your particular situation whatever your eye problems and eye conditions. Medicare pays your optometrist who sees more patients per hour more than if less are seen assuming patients have a valid medicare card. Some people have an eye disease that requires ongoing management (such as glaucoma or diabetic eye disease). If so, you can be tested and claim a rebate more often, as required for your condition. Some contact lens conditions attract a more generous rebate than others.
Regarding clients using their own frames, this may not always be possible and there may sometimes a fitting fee for using an old frame. Please note in reusing your own private frames to check with your Optometrists about costs. There are some additional costs associated with fitting a pair of lenses into frames from another supplier, as well as warranty issues when a patient supplies a frame that is not suitable for their lens prescription, and we not obliged to accept frames supplied by clients when supplying optical appliances through the Visioncare program.
Progressive lenses are not part of the program and we don’t have any say on pricing for products that are out of the program’s product range or a clients eligibility. And clients will not be able to use any type of credits on the program’s product range.
There still is an eye health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and other Australians. An estimated 94% of vision loss among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is preventable. Improvements in rates of eye examinations and treatments, and waiting times compared with other Australians is required.
The identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status can have a significant positive impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health outcomes. Reporting of access to eye health services through the identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status is an essential step to close the gap for vision.