Optometrist Near Me – Store Locations in Australia

Optometry is defined as the profession and practice of examining, diagnosing and treating eye conditions and ensuring the general eye and vision health of patients. It involves using special equipment to evaluate whether you require prescription glasses and to maintain good eye health. Optometrists are healthcare professionals who are qualified to test and examine patients’ eyes and their quality of vision, prescribe glasses and medication for minor eye problems and are able to identify signs of more serious conditions. Optical dispensers are eye care professionals that have been trained to fit and dispense frames and lenses based on the prescription provided by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The term optician is used internationally but referred to as an optical dispenser in Australia.

At Oscar Wylee, you can get your eyes tested, update your prescription and shop for your glasses on the same day, however, you will not be able to receive your prescription glasses on the same day. For non-prescription sunglasses, you can browse from our wide range and get them on the day

We have fully-trained and licensed optometrists in every store, with high-quality services and equipment. Oscar Wylee was first established as an online e-commerce business back in 2012 and continued advancing in the eyewear industry with reputable services both online and in-store across Australia, New Zealand and Canada and currently has over 120 stores across Australia

In Australia, there are currently 6,796 registered optometrists, this number includes 284 non-practising optometrists and 17 with limited registration according to the Optometry Board of Australia as of January 2023. The total also includes the group of optometrists with no principal place of practice; which includes 60 with general registration, 4 with limited registration and 78 non-practising. The total number of optometrists in Australia consists of a varying number in each state and territory. In ACT, there are 118 optometrists with general registration and 3 non-practising optometrists. In NSW, there are currently 2,085 general optometrists, 2 limited registration and 60 of those are non-practising. NT has 35 general registered optometrists. QLD has 1,322 general registered optometrists, 2 limited and 39 non-practising. SA consists of 440 general registered optometrists and 9 non-practising. TAS currently has 121 general registered, 1 limited and 2 non-practising. VIC has 1,784 general registered, 4 limited and 57 non-practising. WA has 517 general registered, with 5 limited and 10 non-practising.

You can easily find your nearest Oscar Wylee store on this locations page of our website. Find Optometrist Near Me is a way for you to find an Oscar Wylee optometrist within the area you live in. There are a few things to consider before taking an appointment with an optometrist. It is important to be familiar with what type of services optometrists have to offer so you can get a better understanding of what you can expect during your appointment. Consult with your optometrist on what you may need to bring to your appointment and if there is anything you need to prepare beforehand. Finally, ensure you have assistance with transport as the optometrist may be required to use eye drops for pupil dilation, this can cause blurred vision temporarily and sensitivity to light which may prevent you from driving or working for up to 1-24 hours. An optometrist is not an eye doctor so if they identify signs of a serious problem with your eyes or vision, they will refer you to an ophthalmologist.

You can find an optometrist in Australia by taking a few essential steps that may help make it easier. The steps on how to find an optometrist in Australia are listed below.

1. First, search online where you can look for your nearest Oscar Wylee store. This can be done by either searching for Oscar Wylee stores near me or by directly using this locations page.
2. Second, when you find an Oscar Wylee store that is most convenient for you, clicking on the link will take you directly to the page where you can click the ‘book appointment’ button.
3. Third, you can also book directly on this page by clicking on the specific location based on your region.
4. Finally, select from the available times, you will then be taken to the final step where you will need to enter your details, email and phone number.

An optometrist appointment will involve a series of tests and exams to evaluate your eye and vision health and determine whether you need glasses. These tests and exams will help the optometrist determine what grade of prescription you may need. When going to your appointment, you will need to bring your eyeglasses if you already own prescription glasses and your Medicare card. Your optometrist may also ask you some questions about your medical history. The procedure of your appointment will involve confirmation of your Medicare card number and any other health insurance you may have. You will then undergo a preliminary eye assessment, a detailed eye assessment and then finally your optometrist will take time to explain their findings and advise of the recommendations that cater to your visual needs.

What to Know Before Seeing an Optometrist?

Preparing yourself before coming in to see an optometrist may be helpful for the overall process, ensuring you are well-informed. The information to know before seeing an optometrist is listed below.

• Make sure you know what your symptoms are if you’re experiencing any changes or problems with your vision.
• A series of eye tests will be conducted to determine whether you need prescription glasses and to ensure your eyes and vision are healthy.
• Be prepared to inform the optometrist of your current medications for your eyes or existing conditions as well as your medical history.
• If you already own prescription glasses, be sure to bring them with you to your appointment so your optometrist will better understand your visual needs.
• Oscar Wylee offers bulk-billing services for Medicare card holders across New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Optometrists are healthcare professionals who can perform treatments that may help correct refractive errors, double vision and treat eye infections by prescribing glasses and/or eye drops. The treatments optometrists can perform according to Cleveland Clinic are listed below.

• Refractive Errors: Refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) and astigmatism are common blurry vision problems that occur due to the shape of your eye preventing light from focusing on your retina. Optometrists can diagnose these conditions and prescribe glasses that may help correct them.
• Double Vision: Double vision can be caused by a range of other problems or conditions, the optometrist will need to perform an eye test and first determine what may be causing it in order to treat it. Optometrists can advise on proper fitting glasses or certain eye exercises to help. If the underlying problem is a more serious condition you may be referred to an ophthalmologist.
• Eye Infections: Eye infections can be minor issues and may only need antihistamine or antibacterial eye drops. If you are concerned about your symptoms you can consult with your optometrist.

According to Optometry Australia, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) is planning to produce guidelines for optometrists to be able to administer intravitreal injections for patients with neovascular macular degeneration.

Yes, an optical dispenser is different from an optometrist due to their job responsibilities, education and training. Optical dispensers are responsible for dispensing frames and lenses according to the prescription supplied by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. Optical dispensers are experts in assisting customers with selecting frames and lenses suitable for their face shape and facial features. An optometrist is responsible for conducting eye examinations for eye and vision health, for prescription glasses and to ensure there are no signs of eye conditions or diseases. Optometrists are qualified to treat minor eye problems and conditions and can refer you to an ophthalmologist if they do detect symptoms of a more serious eye condition or disease. An ophthalmologist is an eye care specialist that is qualified to diagnose and manage eye diseases and perform eye surgeries. Optical dispensers are required to complete a Certificate IV in optical dispensing and optometrists must complete a degree in optometry recognised by the Optometry Board of Australia and New Zealand, residence training and apply for graduate registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

The average duration of eye treatment with an optometrist depends on the varying factors of an individual’s visual needs. At Oscar Wylee, we allocate approximately 20 minutes for each eye test, however, this time frame can vary, especially for those who have more complex eye conditions that require more extensive testing. Eye treatment may be in the form of prescribing glasses or regular eye checkups. Comprehensive eye exams may take longer as this may include initial testing, discussing options for treatment and any further recommendations for eye care and management. If your optometrist sees any signs of concern, they may take additional tests before possibly referring you to an ophthalmologist. The duration of treatment can change for those who need prescription glasses to those who already own prescription glasses and may need adjustments or for those who are coming in for a specific issue.

Eye care quality can change from location to location in Australia based on accessibility, optometry workforce availability, resources and facilities. Australians living in areas outside the major cities were found to have poor access to health services than Australians living in major cities; there are 4.8 and 3.6 attendances per person for remote areas in comparison to 6.4 visits per person for those living in major cities and inner regional areas according to Katerina Kiburg, Mingguang He and Angus Turner in a paper published in the Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Journal. Location matters as accessibility and a sufficient number of practising optometrists become more limited in more remote areas.

Factors for eye care quality include five key areas that consist of the required standards for quality entry-level optometry care according to Optometry Australia. These five key areas include clinical care providers, professional and ethical practitioners, communicators and collaborators, scholars and lifelong learners and quality and risk managers. These five domains for assurance of quality eye care in Australia outline the optometrist’s responsibilities in meeting the patient and community’s health and well-being requirements professionally and ethically and their effective and appropriate communication that will enable inclusivity of all patients and their responsibility to work with others to provide high-quality care. It also includes the requirement of their knowledge and skills to provide safe, holistic and culturally responsive and patient-centred care, their responsibility to continue engaging in evidence-based practice, ongoing improvement through professional learning and to carefully monitor their actions through reflective processes. Finally, their responsibility to prevent harm to patients and others through the management and response to risks that may naturally occur in optometry is fundamental to the required entry-level competency standards according to Optometry Australia.

At Oscar Wylee, the cost of an optometrist eye test in Australia may be covered by Medicare for eligible cardholders so there are no out-of-pocket expenses. This process is called bulk billing and is part of the Australian Government’s health coverage system known as Medicare. If you are not covered under Medicare, eye tests cost $70 each.

The cost of optometry in Sydney aligns similarly with other regions in Australia. Most optometrists usually offer bulk-billing services for eligible Medicare cardholders.

It is easier to get same-day glasses in Sydney, mainly in case of an emergency. However, at Oscar Wylee, we do not offer same-day glasses. For non-urgent cases, it is advisable to wait until the expected time it may take according to your optometrist for your glasses to arrive and be ready for collection.

To find an optometrist in different locations in Australia, you can look through the list above, choose from any of the stores listed in your region and then select a store based on your specific location. There are over 120 stores across Australia in all regions. The process for finding an optometrist in different locations is the same across all of our Oscar Wylee stores. In major cities in Australia, it may be easier to find optometrists in more metro locations than in regional or rural areas due to the shortage of practising optometrists and long distances of travel to access these services.