20 Insider Secrets

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Optometrist, Cut Through All The Advertising Hype And Ensure Optimum Eye Health...

1) Why should I go to a Boutique Optometrist rather than one of the big chains?

This really comes down to personal choice and convenience. Some of the benefits of Boutique Optometrists include:

• As we generally see fewer clients we get to know your personal requirements
• We usually have more time to fully consult you on your personal eye health requirements
• You should receive frame selection advice that better suites your fashion and comfort requirements rather than what may be dictated by Head Office or based on the container load that has just arrived
• Faster fulfilment of finished glasses (rush orders in 3-4 days Vs a minimum 2 weeks)

2) But aren't the big chains much cheaper?

You really need to see past the advertising hype which tends to falsely portray Boutique Optometrists as overly expensive. This is far from the truth. All optometrists have budget, mid range and high end options that are similar in price to the big chains. The really big difference is that Boutiques don't have a large advertising budget and expensive Head Office structures to cover and so their operating costs are lower.

3) Are the advertised offers from the big chains to be believed?

The following is quoted from a recent study conducted by Choice (the leading consumer advocacy organisation in Australia)

" If you're not a fashionista and your prescription only requires single-vision lenses – which is what most special offers are restricted to...

But with such a confusing array of options and extras, how does the average customer cut through the hype?"

The key take away from the article is to be careful that you're not unduly influenced by the hype and watch out for all the "extras" which for most people should be considered standard features rather than options.

A classical example of this "hype" is the "2 pairs now even 3 pairs spectacles offers". Don't you agree that there would be no need to offer extra pairs of glasses if the first pair was thought to be able to last the distance.

This "insiders guide" will help you to better understand some of the key issues and help you avoid becoming a victim of "hype".

4) What's involved in an Eye Test & how much should they cost?

Regular eye check ups are an important health prevention measure and should be conducted annually. A competent optometrist will conduct at least the following tests:

• Take a thorough history of your signs, symptoms, ocular & family history, general health.
• Test your distance sight with or without current glasses.
• Check for presence of distance and/or near optical errors.
• Check for presence of optical health problems both at the front and back of the eyes.
• Measure your eye pressures and side vision to rule out glaucoma.

The really good news is that a regular eye screening test will only take about 30minutes and should be bulk billed so you will have no out of pocket expenses.

At GlamourEyes, we believe that the above tests are only for screening purposes and a more thorough eye care experience using more advanced testing techniques and instruments in order to detect eye problems earlier is often needed. This does not necessarily involve more time and may incur some out of pocket expenses. Your optometrist will advise you if this is necessary and all costs will be communicated before commencement.

5) What are the common vision problems?

The four most common eye problems are:

1. Myopia or Short Sightedness: You can see close up object clearly but long distance objects are blurry. Ask us at GlamourEyes about the latest lens technologies to help reduce your myopia by up to 30%.
2. Hyperopia or Long Sightedness: the opposite to Myopia in that far away objects are seen clearly while close up objects are blurry
3. Presbyopia: This common condition usually occurs as part of the aging process and means that your eyes have trouble focusing on close up objects. GlamourEyes recommends both glasses and contact lenses to address this condition.
4. Astigmatism: Another common condition. This is a result of your cornea (front of your eye) having an irregular shape. Most people have slight distortions which are not a problem however if the distortions cause vision difficulty then you may require prescription glasses

6) Are their other eye problems that I should know about?

Yes, there are a number of eye problems that if left untreated can have a significant impact on your eye health, vision and general enjoyment of life. The following problems should be picked up during routine eye examinations and are why we advocate having your eyes checked annually.

1. Cataracts: This is when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy.. They are a natural part of the aging process and quite common. Left untreated they cause blurred vision, colours appearing yellow and dark spots.
2. Glaucoma: This is when a build up of pressure within your eyes causes damage to the optic nerve. It will lead to vision loss and blindness if left untreated. Your optometrist has the ability to measure the pressure within your eye and detect the condition in its early stages. Studies indicate that it can be hereditary so you need to tell your optometrist if any family members have been diagnosed with this condition.
3. Macular Degeneration: This is an aged related condition and is the leading cause of blindness. Everybody over the age of 40 should have regular eye examinations to identify the early stages and put measures in place to prevent irreparable damage.
4. Seeing Spots: Most people will see spots or what look like floating particles. This is common and is actually semi transparent specs within the fluid of your eye. As you age you will notice gradual; changes in numbers and sizes but contact your optometrist immediately if you notice any sudden changes.
5. Pterygium: These are small tissue growths on the whites of your eye. They are usually nothing to worry about but your optometrist should monitor these over time. Good quality sunglasses should slow any growth.
6. Dry Eye: This occurs when your eyes don't produce enough tears for suitable lubrication. Your eyes will become irritated and feel scratchy. You should visit your optometrist as soon as you notice any symptoms.
7. Conjunctivitis: This is an inflammation of the clear tissue that covers the white of your eye. It can be the result of bacterial infection or an allergic reaction such as hay fever. Your optometrist is able to identify the type of conjunctivitis and recommended the appropriate treatment

7) Will I have to buy new glasses after my eye examination

At GlamourEyes we only recommended an investment in new eyewear especially if is going to give you an advantage over your current situation. That is whether it maybe a new lens design that might give you a more natural visual experience for example.

8) Should I worry about getting my child's eyes examined

Yes, is the short answer. We recommend every child have their eyes tested (That is not only a sight screening but also a thorough vision skills examination by a Behavioural Optometrist) once before starting school and every year after that. Failure to detect these conditions can lead to developmental, learning and behavioural issues.

9) What is Colour Blindness?

Total colour blindness is very rare. However colour vision issues are common particular among males (8%) while females are more fortunate (0.5%). The most common problem is an inherited condition which involves confusing certain shades of red or green.

10) What is Strabismus?

If you notice your child's eye is turned you should visit your optometrist. Early detection and treatment is more likely to result in total correction of the problem. Treatment can be by wearing glasses and / or simple eye exercises.

11) OK, I need glasses but what sort of lens do I need?

1. Single lens. These are the most common lens type and as the name suggest they are designed to compensate for a single vision problem such as short or long sightedness. Ask us about the new 3D designs of single vision lenses.
2. Bi Focal Lenses: They correct distance and close up vision problems. You can actually see that the lens is made up of two parts. The lower part of the lens is used for close up work such as reading while the top part is for distance. They are much less common these days with the huge advancements and affordability of multifocal lenses.
3. Mutlifocals: These lenses deal with close up, intermediate and distance vision but a manufactured in such a way that you don't see the separate parts. The new digital surface technologies make it much more usable.
4. Contact Lenses: These lenses are placed directly on the surface of your eye so that people wont know that you are correcting your vision

12) What are the different lens treatments?

There are 5 common lens treatments that you should consider. These treatments can deliver significant benefits to the wearer over the life of your glasses.

You need to be careful however as the saying "you get what you pay for" holds very true for lens treatments. There are significant differences in quality of treatments available so beware of so called "low cost" or budget treatments.

1. Transition lenses. This treatment is activated by light which means that your glasses act as sunglasses in bright light and clear glasses in normal light. Beware of inferior treatments as they may be slow to change (transition) which can cause problems going from light to dark environments such as entering underground car parks.
2. UV Protection. This treatment screens out harmful UV rays. Inferior treatments screen less UV rays and the coating quickly becomes ineffective.
3. Polarised treatment. Helps cut glare and limits harmful UV rays.
4. Anti- reflection coating. Helps with reducing glare especially when driving at night and is highly recommended if you use computers.
5. Scratch resistant coating. Protects the surface of the lenses and increases their useable life span. Inferior coatings wear really quickly during the normal cleaning process.

13) What different styles of frames are available

Eyewear is no different to most things in life. You get what you pay for. Most Optometrists carry a range of eyewear to suite most budgets including:

1. Budget – Large variety of strong yet very affordable frames. Mainly sourced from Asia and often lack unique design.
2. Fashion- Unique ranges of interchangeable frames from true frame makers from Europe and Japan.
3. Designer brands- ranges of quality frames from reputable designers like Chloe, Adidas, Porsche design, Azarro, Carla Zampatti and Dior.

14) How do I choose the frames that look good on me?

Many Optometrists take a short cut and base recommendations on a wearer's face shape which has long been the industry standard approach.

At GlamourEyes we believe that there is a lot more factors that need to be considered including budget, fashion trends, personality, skin tone, hair colour, skin sensitivities and prescription.

15) How do I know if my glasses are going to be comfortable?

Comfort is usually attributed to the weight, size, design (plastic/metal) and adjustments. Our tests have shown that for your spectacles to be ultra light and not weigh you down, it should ideally be 15 grams or less or at least weigh between 15-25 grams. Your optometrist should take the time to discuss comfort with you and make sure your selected frames are properly adjusted.

We regularly see the results of poorly adjusted and heavy weight frames. This could easily be avoided if the optometrist just took a little more time to provide the correct advise.

16) How do I maintain my glasses

1. Regular cleaning: We recommend that you clean the lenses of your glasses with the lens cleaning solution and cloth provided with your glasses. If your cleaning kit isn't readily available simply use cool soapy water and a soft tissue.
2. Adjusting: You may find that after a few days your fames may need a comfort adjustment then simply return to the store and we will make the adjustments for you.
3. Breakages: unfortunately accidents do happen and your frames may need repairing. Drop into the store and we will see if your fames can be repaired and we will organise it for you.

17) Why should I choose contact lenses?

Contact lenses continue to grow in popularity for people of all ages from teenagers to the older generations with distance and near prescriptions. Visual appearance is the main reason for wearing contacts but we recommend that your contacts are backed up by a quality pair of comfortable glasses for those times when you need to give your eyes a rest or inserting contacts is not convenient.

18) How much will a visit to an Optometrist it cost me?

1. Eye exam: At GlamourEyes your regular eye exam will be bulk billed to Medicare so you won't be out of pocket. Occasionally your history may indicate a more thorough examination is required which will have a cost associated with it. Naturally this will be discussed with your prior to proceeding.
2. Glasses: This will vary greatly according to the lenses, lens treatment and frames required. At GlamourEyes we have solutions for every budget with complete glasses from as low as $198.
3. Contact lenses: Contact lens range from $3.00 to $ 5.50 per wear depending on whether you are 1 day, fortnightly or monthly lenses. This also takes into consideration the cost of professional fees and solutions. 

19) I have health insurance so how much will it cost me?

1. Refund levels: This can vary greatly between funds and depending on what level you are in within your fund. At GlamourEyes we have access to the latest fund tables and can calculate your approximate refund prior to you making any purchase decisions. After all we understand that you have a budget to work to. We can also refer you to an independent health insurance broker giving you the best deal.
2. How often can you claim? Most funds will allow you to claim once a year. What most people don't know is that most funds will reset the 12 month period in December each year. Many patients replace their clear glasses every two years and their prescription sunglasses every other year.

20) How do I claim off my health fund

Every health fund is different but rest assured that at GlamourEyes we know how they like to operate and will provide you with the supporting paperwork that will help you make a successful claim.

1. Manual claims: You need properly presented receipts and then make your claim manually according to your particular funds processes (unfortunately they are all different)
2. Automatic Claims: At GlamourEyes we have invested in the technology that allows your health fund claim to be processed on the spot saving you time and ensuring your claim is correctly processed.

About GlamourEyes:

As the owner and founder of GlamourEyes, my drive has always been to offer something unique. That is, whether it's delivering ultra- fashionable yet functional ranges of eyewear or providing the latest technology and engineering in optical frames and lenses. A commitment to continuing education ensures the provision of the most thorough and advanced eye care experience for our clients. GlamourEyes is proud to be able to offer more than just a "sight" test as a "vision" development centre.

My role as a Behavioural Optometrist means providing a more holistic approach to vision care including working very closely with local GP's and various professionals. A career spanning 15 years experience as a practicing and independent practitioner has provided me with an opportunity to

• Overcome visually related persistent learning difficulties especially in children
• Offer attainable means of controlling the increase in short-sightgedness
• Resolve any disappointing past experiences in regards to your visual care
• Offer effective solutions to your dry eye, allergies and eye health issues.

I would not blame you for thinking to yourself that this all sounds really great but still was not sufficient to totally convince you that we were able to replicate this journey for yourself or anyone else you might want to come with you. The following individual experiences from some of our clients own words will hopefully ease some of your hesitations.

Please use current testimonials from our current websites until we can gather some new ones from our raving clients

As a further incentive to test out our unique ranges of services and products please accept this amazing list of offers totalling an amazing $250.00 in value.

1. Complimentary pain-free digital retinal photograph of the back of your eyes (includes a printed copy) valued at $60
2. Complimentary analysis of your current sunglasses or optical lenses for the level of UV, glare, reflection and scratch protection. We will also advise you on the quality and material used in your spectacles. This is valued at $40
3. A comprehensive eye health report valued at $50
4. A $100 off GlamourEyes voucher towards our premium selection of frames and lenses.