Optometrists & Eye Specialists

Optometrist vs. ophthalmologist

An optometrist conducts eye examinations, prescribes corrective lenses, and screens for conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. An ophthalmologist is a medical specialist who performs eye surgery — cataracts, retinal procedures, glaucoma surgery — and manages more complex disease. No GP referral is needed to see an optometrist. A referral (from an optometrist or a GP) is needed to claim a Medicare rebate for an ophthalmologist.

Medicare-rebated eye tests

A comprehensive eye test with a bulk-billing optometrist is available under Medicare once every 3 years for most adults, or annually for anyone 65 and over. More frequent tests are Medicare-rebated where clinically indicated — for example, monitoring an existing condition. Not every optometrist bulk bills every test, so confirm before booking. Medicare does not cover the cost of glasses or contact lenses themselves, only the test.

Referral and ophthalmology

A referral to an ophthalmologist lasts 12 months from a GP by default, or 3 months if it comes from another specialist (including an optometrist referring for surgical assessment), unless you are an admitted patient. Ophthalmology consultations and procedures are billed with a gap between the Medicare rebate and the fee, and eye surgery specifically also involves hospital and anaesthetist costs if performed under general or heavier sedation.

What to bring

Bring your current glasses or contact lenses, your Medicare card, and a note of any family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration, since these affect screening recommendations. If you’ve had eye surgery before or have a diagnosed eye condition, bring previous reports rather than relying on memory of the details.

Questions worth asking

• Am I due for a Medicare-rebated eye test, and do you bulk bill it?
• Is there anything about my eyes that needs an ophthalmologist’s opinion?
• What is the out-of-pocket cost if I do need to see an ophthalmologist?
• How often should I have screening given my history?
• Will you send results to my regular GP?