Medicare Eye Test And Bulk Billing Explained

At Stacey & Stacey optometrists, we take a proactive approach to eye health and offer bulk billing to ensure that eligible Australians can have a standard eye test once every three years (for those under 65) and once a year (for those 65 or older).

Given that up to 90% of all vision loss is preventable, it’s important for us to do everything we can to support the eye health of our clients. With many eye diseases having few or no early symptoms, your bulk-billed eye tests can offer incredibly valuable insights into any early issues.

The Importance Of Attending Your Bulk-Billed Eye Test

Regular eye exams are essential to detect changes to your vision, even before symptoms arise, and to identify early signs of disease or degeneration. At Stacey & Stacey optometrists, we offer a wide range of assessments and digital tools to help track subtle changes in your eyes over time, and our experienced professionals can detect and diagnose a range of eye health and vision concerns, including those related to diabetes, UV exposure, viruses, and ageing.

By identifying and addressing these issues early, we can best support your eyes in maintaining a healthy vision for life. Additionally, many eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration can be detected during an eye exam before any noticeable symptoms appear. So, attending regular eye tests is a proactive way to take care of your vision and overall eye health.

Are There Any Out Of Pocket Costs?

No, there are no out-of-pocket costs for a standard eye test. Bulk billing allows eligible Australian permanent residents with a valid Medicare card to have their Medicare eye test directly billed to the Australian Government at no cost to them. Standard eye tests do not have a gap fee, and those under 65 years are eligible for a bulk-billed eye test every 3 years, while those over 65 are eligible every year.

Although Medicare does not cover the cost of glasses or contact lenses, you may be able to claim these through your private health insurance, depending on your provider and coverage. Stacey & Stacey Optometrists also works with the DVA, NDIS, and health funds. Any additional costs resulting from individual eye conditions requiring further testing will be discussed during your appointment.

What To Expect At Your Medicare Eye Test

In a Medicare eye test, your eye care professional uses a gentle approach combined with innovative medical technology including Digital Retinal Photography and Optical Coherence Tomography scans, to go beyond simply assessing eyesight and help to identify diseases and conditions as early as possible. Depending on your eye health needs, your test may include:

• Going through your personal and family health history, detailing when your symptoms began, medications you’re taking, work and environmental factors, and more
• Visual acuity measurements using reading charts to assess exactly how clearly each eye can see
• Tests of your eye health which may include depth perception, colour vision, peripheral (side) vision and how your pupils respond to light
• Assessments to measure which power of lens you require to correct near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism
• Eye focusing, eye teaming and eye movement activities to examine how well your eyes focus, move and work together
• Eye health examination using a range of technologies to detect underlying conditions

After your exam is completed, your optometrist will be able to discuss your diagnosis and treatment plan options with you to protect your eye health, which may involve prescribing and fitting you with glasses and lenses to best correct your eyesight, supporting you with other management strategies, or discussing treatment options for more complex concerns.

We understand how unnerving it can feel to experience a disturbance or problem with your eyes and vision, so we ensure to take the time and care to explain our findings carefully, answer all of your questions, and leave you feeling confident about the best approach to treatment and the outcomes you can expect.

We are here to keep track of your eye health across all stages of your life. If you have concerns about your eye health or are noticing changes, or if you’d like to book your bulk-billed yearly or three-yearly comprehensive eye test, contact one of our friendly clinics here.