1300 164 990
Free Eye Test at Oscar Wylee
Published on August 30th, 2024
At Oscar Wylee Australia, eye tests are not free, they are bulk-billed, meaning there will be no out-of-pocket payment for eligible Medicare cardholders. Medicare bulk billing refers to a process in which healthcare providers bill Medicare, Australia’s universal healthcare system, for an eye test and not the customer. At Oscar Wylee you can book a Medicare bulk billed eye test by calling your local store, booking online, or visiting our team in-store and asking about availabilities. Oscar Wylee does not charge for additional testing such as general visual field testing for eligible medicare card holders. An eye test is a hugely important procedure as it allows an optometrist to assess your eye health and diagnose any eye conditions. It is recommended a person under 65 gets an eye test once every 2 years, or as otherwise advised by an optometrist. For those over 65, it is recommended that they get an eye test once a year. However, some symptoms indicate a person should get an eye test outside of this recommendation including blurry vision, double vision, trouble with peripheral vision, eye floaters, halos around lights, cloudy vision, flashes of lights, difficulty seeing distant objects and trouble reading up close. Keep reading to learn more about free eye testing at Oscar Wylee.
What Does a Free Eye Test at Oscar Wylee Mean?
Eye tests at Oscar Wylee Australia are not technically free, as they are bulk-billed under Medicare. Bulk billing means that the customer does not pay any out-of-pocket expenses on the day, if they have an eligible Medicare card. Eye tests are not technically free, as Medicare is still paying for the eye test. Medicare bulk billed eye tests cover general eye tests with our optometrist, and will not cover eye tests to assess sight for driving.
What is Medicare Bulk Billing?
Medicare bulk billing refers to a process in which healthcare providers bill Medicare, Australia’s universal healthcare system, instead of the customer, meaning they do not have to pay for their health service.
Who is Eligible for a Medicare Bulk Billed Eye Test?
Those with a valid Medicare card are eligible for a bulk billed eye test at Oscar Wylee. Those who do not have a valid Medicare card will need to pay for their eye test at Oscar Wylee which will be $70.
How Often Can You Get a Free Eye Test?
Oscar Wylee does not provide free eye tests, however some optometry businesses may. Under the current Medicare scheme, those with an eligible Medicare card can get one bulk billed eye test every three years if they are under 65. Those over 65 can get one bulk billed eye test every year.
How to Book a Free Eye Test?
At Oscar Wylee you can book a Medicare bulk billed eye test by calling your local store, booking online, or visiting our team in-store and asking about availabilities. To book an eye test online, go to the Oscar Wylee website and click the book an eye test button, located at the top right of the screen, in the bottom menu or various places on the home screen. After clicking book an eye test, you will be taken to the book an eye test page where you will be asked to select a location from the list or search your postcode or suburb for your nearest store. You will then be directed to pick a date and time at your chosen Oscar Wylee store. You will then be prompted to fill in your name, contact number and email to confirm your eye test appointment. To book an eye test over the phone, you can call 1300 164 990. Medicare bulk billed eye tests are not free eye tests.
What is the Importance of an Eye Test?
An eye test is a hugely important procedure to have done as it allows an optometrist to assess the health of your eyes. An eye test will help in the detection of common eye problems, monitoring general eye health and vision correction. Eye tests can also allow an optometrist to identify any signs of serious eye conditions or eye problems early on, which can help minimise damage and potential complications.
What Symptoms Indicate that You Should Get an Eye Test?
There are several symptoms that indicate a person should book in to get an eye test, including blurry vision, double vision, trouble with peripheral vision, eye floaters, halos around lights, cloudy vision, flashes of lights, difficulty seeing distant objects and trouble reading up close. In general, a person should get an eye test once every two years if they are under 65 unless otherwise advised by an optometrist. If you are over 65, it is recommended that you have an eye test once a year. Some eye conditions do not show symptoms until the condition has progressed, so it is important to get an eye test regardless of if you have the symptoms below. The symptoms that may indicate that a person needs an eye test are listed below.
- Blurry or Cloudy Vision: Blurry or cloudy vision refers to vision that is not sharp or clear and can be caused by a variety of eye conditions and diseases including refractive errors and glaucoma.
- Double vision: Double vision refers to seeing two different or overlapping images of the same objects. Double vision can be caused by eye conditions, nerve-related problems and brain-related conditions.
- Trouble with peripheral vision: Trouble with peripheral vision often refers to tunnel vision, in which a person cannot see objects properly unless they are directly in front of them.
- Eye Floaters: Eye floaters refer to spots or lines in a person’s vision caused by changes to the vitreous inside the eye.
- Halos Around Lights: Halos around light refers to a person seeing circles of rings around light sources and can be caused by eye conditions that affect the cornea.
- Flashes of Light: Flashes of light refer to a person seeing flashes of light or streaks of light across their vision, usually caused by the vitreous gel pulling against the retina.
- Difficulty Seeing Distant Objects: Difficulty seeing distant objects is generally a symptom of the refractive error myopia or nearsightedness.
- Trouble Reading Up Close: Trouble reading up close is generally a symptom of hyperopia or farsightedness. Trouble reading up close is also a symptom of the age-related condition presbyopia.
1. Blurry or Cloudy Vision
Blurry or cloudy vision refers to vision that is not sharp or clear. Blurry vision or cloudy vision can be caused by a variety of eye conditions including refractive errors such as astigmatism, cataracts, dry eyes, glaucoma or an eye injury. If you have noticed your vision getting blurrier, it is important to see an optometrist for an eye test. If blurry vision occurs suddenly, with other symptoms such as eye pain, dizziness, loss of balance or slurred speech, seek medical help as soon as possible.
2. Double vision
Double vision, also known as diplopia, refers to an eye condition in which a person sees two different or overlapping images of the same object. Double vision can be caused by several things including eye conditions, nerve-related problems and brain-related conditions. If you have noticed double vision developing over time, it is important to see an optometrist to get this assessed. If you have a sudden onset of double vision, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible.
3. Trouble with Peripheral Vision
Trouble with peripheral vision, or side vision, usually refers to a person losing peripheral vision. This condition is also known as tunnel vision. If someone has tunnel vision, it means they struggle to see things in their periphery. People will struggle to see objects clearly unless they are right in front of them. Tunnel vision can be caused by glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa or optic neuritis. If a person has started to notice that they cannot see objects in their periphery well, they should visit an optometrist for an eye test. An optometrist may use a visual field test to assess issues with peripheral vision.
4. Eye Floaters
Eye floaters refer to specks or spots that appear in a person’s vision, due to changes in the vitreous fluid that fills the eye. Eye floaters can be caused by retinal detachment, eye disease, diabetic retinopathy, eye injury, ageing, bleeding in the eye, and migraines. If a person starts to see eye floaters, they should book an eye test with an optometrist. Floaters are not always a sign for concern and may become more common as a person ages.
5. Halos Around Lights
Seeing halos around lights is a condition in which a person may see circles or rings around lights. Seeing halos around lights can be caused by several eye conditions, usually those that affect the cornea and how it bends light, according to Optometrists Network. It is important to get an eye test if a person sees halos around light, especially if it is accompanied by pain or blurred vision as this could be a sign of a serious eye problem, according to Optometrists Network.
6. Flashes of Light
Flashes of light refer to a person seeing flashes of light or streaks of light across their vision at random. Flashes of light are caused by the vitreous gel inside the eye rubbing against, or pulling on the retina, according to the University of Michigan’s Kellog Eye Centre. Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is an eye condition that can cause flashes of light, as well as eye floaters. Flashes of light are not usually a reason to be concerned and they can become more common as a person ages. However, it is important to get an eye test if a person notices flashes of light to ensure there are no issues present.
7. Difficulty Seeing Distant Objects
Difficulty seeing distant objects is generally a symptom of myopia or nearsightedness. Myopia is a refractive error commonly caused by a misshapen eye, which disrupts the eyes’ ability to bend light properly. Myopia can generally be corrected by getting prescription glasses or contact lenses from an optometrist. If a person is having difficulty seeing distant objects, they should get an eye test with an optometrist so they can diagnose and correct the error.
8. Trouble Reading Up Close
Trouble reading up close can be a symptom of both hyperopia or farsightedness, as well as presbyopia. Presbyopia is an age-related eye condition in which the eye struggles to focus on nearby objects, due to changes in the eye's focusing ability as a person ages. Hyperopia or farsightedness is a refractive error, generally caused by a shortness in the length of the eyeball from front to back, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Both hyperopia and presbyopia are generally corrected with prescription glasses or contact lenses. If a person is having trouble reading up close, or seeing objects up close, they should have an eye test with an optometrist to get a diagnosis.
Where Can You Get a Free Eye Test?
Oscar Wylee does not provide free eye tests, but some optometry businesses may. At Oscar Wylee, you can get a medicare bulk billed eye test at any of our Australian stores. Visit our store locator page and find your nearest store for an eye test, with no out-of-pocket expenses for eligible Medicare card holders.
What to Expect in an Eye Checkup Test?
With an Oscar Wylee optometrist, you can expect your eye test to be carried out in a professional, friendly, and time-efficient manner. At Oscar Wylee, you will first undergo pre-testing with a member of our staff, before our optometrists take over to conduct the eye test. The type of tests you can expect to get at Oscar Wylee will depend on the optometrist and the location, but may include a retinal exam, visual field test, tonometry test, refraction test, dilated pupil exam, slit-lamp exam and OCT (optical coherence tomography).