Services

Contact lenses are small prescription lenses, worn in “contact” with the eye, they are designed to float on the tear film in the eye and correct vision. The original concept for contact lenses was first illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci in 1508, with the first glass lens manufactured and fitted to the eye in 1887, the first plastic lens that resembled the modern Gas permeable or hard lens was introduced in 1948. It took until 1971 for soft contact lenses in their current format to be introduced and since then contact lenses have evolved to the modern day lenses we have today, a myriad of high technology products to suit all sorts of eyes and correct numerous prescriptions, allowing many more people to experience and see the benefits that contact lenses can provide.

We now have so many options available that in most cases we can find a contact lens to suit, whether you want contact lenses for full time use, for sports or social occasions or have a medical condition which requires specialized fitting. All prescriptions can be catered for, Hyperopia, Myopia, Astigmatism and Presbyopia, depending upon your requirements we can fit daily disposables, 2 weekly or monthly lenses, toric lenses to correct astigmatism and multifocal lenses for Presbyopia, as well as Gas Permeable lenses for general use or in cases such as Keratoconus where specialized fitting is required.

If you have been thinking about trying contact lenses give the team at Eyewise Optometrists a call and book in for a contact lens fitting. A good fitting is key to getting the best results from your contact lenses, ensuring comfort and safe contact lens cleaning and handling practices. We feel it is important to offer our patients a comprehensive fitting and aftercare service, this is even more important for first-time wearers who understandably can be apprehensive about trying lenses. Contact lens materials and availability change all the time, so even established wearers benefit from regular reviews to ensure their eyes remain healthy and they are wearing the best available.

Dry Eye Management

Dry Eye is a very common chronic condition which causes symptoms of discomfort, irritation, stinging, burning, scratchiness, foreign body sensation, light sensitivity, stringy mucus and unstable vision between blinks. Use of certain medications and some general health problems can also cause problems with dry eye. Dry eye cannot be cured but dependent on the type of dry eye and the cause of symptoms, relief can be provided by the use of Tear supplements, protection from the elements, dietary supplements, warm compresses and lid hygiene, or in some cases Manuka honey eye drops.

In some cases associated conditions such as Blepharitis (a chronic inflammation of the eyelids), Rosacea (an inflammatory skin disease) or seasonal Allergies can contribute to dry eye, and management of these individual conditions may also be required.

Environmental factors such as screen use, wind and dust can also cause or worsen Dry eye symptoms; this can be helped by cutting back on screen time, taking periodic breaks and blinking more to spread the tears more evenly. Wraparound sunglasses not only protect the eyes from UV damage but from environmental factors such as wind, smoke and dust.

If you are suffering from Dry eye, then don’t suffer in silence, come in a see us for an eye examination so we can work out a plan to manage the condition.

Foreign Body Removal

Ocular foreign bodies can be irritating or painful and are best removed as soon as possible. Common activities that can lead to an ocular foreign body include gardening, welding/grinding and spending time in sandy/windy locations. Protective eyewear is very important to reducing your chance of sustaining an ocular foreign body, and we can discuss options for protective eyewear during an appointment depending upon your occupation or risk.

If a foreign body enters your eye, you should always try to flush it out with sterile saline first. This may help to dislodge the foreign body if it is freely moving in the eye. If irritation persists, we recommend an eye examination as soon as possible. If a foreign body stays in the eye for an extended amount of time, it can cause scratching of the ocular surface, or in the case of metal foreign bodies, can begin to rust and cause inflammation, requiring further intervention. A prompt eye examination can help to locate and remove the foreign body as soon as possible.

close up of the metallic foreign body on cornea during eye examination.

Broken frame, missing nose pad, screw missing or loose? Don’t stress in most cases we can fix it. Generally on site and in no time at all. Often we can refit lenses into a new frame. If we can’t fix it in house we know where to go for fast turnaround repairs. Our experienced staff are very good at finding solutions.

Need a frame adjustment? Frame adjustments are sometimes over looked, but in fact it is one of the most important aspects of obtaining the best out of your spectacles. Bring it in we can adjust most frames to fit you correctly and feel comfortable. This service is offered free of charge for frames purchased from us, or may incur a small fee (dependent on what we need to do) if you bought them somewhere else.

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve, usually associated with high intraocular pressure, if untreated Glaucoma progressively leads to vision loss and in severe cases blindness. The longer the disease is left untreated, the greater the likelihood of irreversible damage, but if caught early, treatment can prevent or slow vision loss.

In its early stages Glaucoma has no symptoms and many sufferers are unaware there is a problem until it is too late and permanent damage may have occurred. Early detection and treatment are the best way to control Glaucoma, so regular eye examinations are an essential part of preventative healthcare.

During your eye examination we take retinal photos, look at the optic nerve, and measure eye pressures and if indicated run visual field assessments to screen for the disease. Glaucoma cannot be prevented but if diagnosed in most cases can be treated with eye drops to reduce eye pressure. Everyone should have regular 2 yearly eye examinations but people over the age of 40 and those with a family history of Glaucoma are more at risk of developing the disease than younger people.

Red Eyes 

Ocular redness can be a sign of inflammation or infection. Therefore, it is important to have your eyes examined by an optometrist.
If you are unsure how urgently you should attend for an appointment, please call our friendly staff who can discuss your symptoms and give an idea of urgency.
If you wear contact lenses and develop a red eye, it is imperative that you stop wearing your contact lenses immediately and attend an eye examination as soon as possible.
Symptoms of redness and pain that are worsening, or associated with blurry vision, should be seen urgently as there is a risk of a serious eye infection which can impact the vision. Outcomes for microbial keratitis (an infection of the cornea of the eye) are improved with prompt and correct treatment, however, if treatment is delayed, permanent vision loss can result.
Other causes of red eye include conjunctivitis, dry eyes, ocular abrasion or trauma, inflammatory conditions such as uveitis, just to name a few.

Occupational Vision Screening

 Good vision is essential for many everyday tasks, particularly the ability to perform in the workplace. As a result, occupational vision screening is utilised in some workplaces/professions to ensure you have a level of vision considered safe to complete your work tasks safely and effectively. These occupations include:

• Commercial drivers
• Electricians
• Certification by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) / Coxswain
• Australian Defence Force enrolment
• Other high risk occupations

Our optometrists are skilled at measuring your eyes as required for the screening process. This often includes measurement of aided and unaided visual acuity, and can include measurement of depth perception, colour vision (Ishihara Test), and peripheral vision/visual field assessment.

Vision screening may also help identify problems with your vision or eye health that would be discussed with the optometrist to help determine the best next steps for you.

Comprehensive eye examinations for children include assessment of their ability to see fine detail, focus on small detail up close, the ability of the eyes to work together as a team (binocular vision), eye movement skills and eye health.
80% of our learning is processed through vision, and if any part of the child’s visual system is not working effectively, it can impact on their ability to learn.

As a minimum, it is strongly recommended to have a comprehensive eye examination before children start school, however, you can bring your child for an eye examination at any age, particularly if you have any concern about their vision or eyes.Common concerns for children include:

• Reduced reading ability/comprehension or difficulty concentrating in the classroom
• Avoidance of reading
• Complaints of headaches or sore eyes with reading or schoolwork
• Holding material close to their face to see
• Turned eye

If a concern is identified in your child’s vision, treatment strategies may include glasses, eye exercises or general advice, among others.