Patient information

Who can refer me to your clinic?

Your medical practitioner or optometrist can refer you to our clinic. Without a referral, you are not eligible for a Medicare rebate. Referrals from a specialist are valid for three months, while referrals from a GP are valid for 12 months.

If you will be seeing the doctor continuously over a long period of time, your referring practitioner may supply you with an indefinite referral. This referral must have the word 'indefinite' on it and is only valid for the problem relating to the original referral.

How can I contact you?

You can find all our contact details on the Contact us page.

What happens after I book my appointment?

MQ Health Ophthalmology Clinic will send out a confirmation text message as a reminder of your appointment.

How long should I allow for my first appointment?

Please allow two to three hours for your initial appointment. This leaves time for any necessary diagnostic tests, some of which can take up to 45 minutes, and eye dilation which takes around 30 minutes.

Can I drive after my appointment?

If your eyes are being dilated or if you are having a laser procedure we recommend that you do not drive as your vision can be blurry for up to four hours after you have had the drops or procedure.

Directions and parking information

We suggest you bring the following items to all appointments:

• Referral – a valid referral from your medical practitioner or optometrist.
• Cards – Medicare, health fund, pension and Veterans' Affairs cards.
• Medication list – of all medications, vitamins and supplements, as well as a list of any eye drops you are currently using.
• Glasses – your current glasses.
• Patient form – download and complete this patient registration form and bring it with you on the day.

Arriving at the clinic

You will need to complete a patient information form if you haven't already. Our staff will then register you as a patient.

Note that you can also complete this form in advance and fax or email through to us prior to the day of your appointment.

Your initial consultation

First you will be seen by an orthoptist, who will take your medical history, test your vision and perform any additional diagnostic tests required by the doctor. Then the doctor will perform any further assessments required and discuss your condition and treatment options.

Next steps

On your way out, our reception staff will create an account for your consultation and any testing performed. Upon payment, we can electronically lodge your account claim with Medicare. You can also make any follow-up appointments at reception before you leave.

Don't hesitate to get in touch with any questions or medical problems prior to your appointment. If you need to change or cancel an appointment, please contact us as soon as possible.

How much will my appointment cost?

The costs of consultations vary. First appointments can be more expensive, as they tend to be longer and require more testing. You may also need to pay additional fees for certain types of diagnostic tests.

If you would like to know the estimated cost of your appointment, phone our rooms on +61 (2) 9812 3933.

Will I get money back from Medicare?

With a valid Medicare card, you can claim a rebate for the appointment cost and a majority of the diagnostic tests we perform. However, there will usually be a gap between the rebate and the fee.

We can lodge your rebate with Medicare on your behalf. Medicare will then credit your nominated bank account.

If you have had many medical procedures and consultations within the year, you may be eligible for the Medicare Safety Net under which you will only incur 20% of the out-of-pocket costs. For more information please visit the Medicare website.

Will I get money back from my private health insurance?

Most private policies only cover you when you are admitted to hospital and do not cover specialist consultations – for more information we recommend contacting your health fund directly.

When do I pay for my appointment?

MQ Health Ophthalmology Clinic is not a bulk billing practice, so you will need to pay at the time of your consultation. Please don’t forget to bring your pensioner, health care or DVA cards to ensure we bill you at the correct rate.

What if I am a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) patient?

If you are a DVA patient with a gold card, we can lodge your account directly to DVA with no out-of-pocket expense for you. Remember to bring your gold card to each appointment.

Dilating drops make your pupil bigger so that the doctor can see what is happening at the back of your eye. This way the doctor can fully examine your eye, retina and macula to assess it for any change.

The dilating drops take around 30 minutes to take effect, depending on the colour of your eyes. They last for three to four hours and your vision will be blurry for that time.

As your pupils will be quite large afterwards, we recommended you bring a pair of sunglasses. More light will be able to enter your eye, and sunlight may be dazzling.

An orthoptist is a university-trained allied health practitioner who forms part of the ophthalmic team alongside the ophthalmologist. Orthoptists are trained to use the specialty diagnostic imaging devices and are able to treat ocular muscle imbalances and double vision.

They also assist the doctors in procedures and are involved in research and clinical trials on new devices and drugs used with the eyes. They can also perform vision assessments.

Your orthoptist will:

• check your vision at each visit
• measure your glasses
• explain, organise and perform testing
• set up equipment and prepare your eye for the doctor
• answer questions you may have about surgery, eye disorders, treatments or equipment.

We welcome positive and constructive feedback in order to continuously improve our service. You can leave a message in the feedback box in the reception area; complete our survey; or email us at feedback@mqhealth.org.au.

If you feel your experience with us has been unsatisfactory, please discuss any complaints with us in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with our actions, you can contact either the Health Care Complaints Commissioner on 1800 043 159 or the NSW Ombudsman on 1800 451 524 to discuss your complaint.