Patient Information

Initial Consultation

Making an Appointment

To make an appointment you should have a referral from your GP or optometrist. This will give the doctor important information regarding your eye problem and general health. Also a referral is necessary to claim your Medicare rebate. Whilst it is not mandatory to have a referral, you will not be able to claim a rebate from Medicare for your treatment if you do not have one.

What should I bring to my appointment?

You will need to bring;

• Referral letter (this may be sent directly by your referrer)
• Medicare card, concession card or private health insurance details
• Glasses (especially if you would like us to check them) and contact lenses/case
• A list of your current medications
• Sunglasses

Fill in your new patient form prior to your appointment, saving you time on the day

How long will my first appointment take?

Please‌ ‌allow‌ ‌1.5‌-2 ‌hours‌ ‌for‌ ‌your‌ ‌appointment. You will see our orthoptist (clinical assistant) first who will assess your vision, intra-ocular pressure and possibly instil dilating drops. You will need to wait at least 20 minutes for the dilating drops to work. It will take at least 3 hours for your vision to return to normal after instillation of the dilating drops so it is preferable to avoid driving during this time. Sunglasses will certainly help to minimize the glare.

If you are unable to wait for this long or have other extenuating circumstances, please notify our reception staff to reschedule your appointment- we will try to help as much as possible.

Will I have to pay for the consultation?

The Heidelberg Eye Clinic is a private clinic, so there will be a fee associated with all consultations. If there is an applicable Medicare item number, you will be able to get a refund for that item. If you are registered with Medicare, Medicare rebates will be paid directly into your bank account. Pensioners and Health Care Card holders receive a discounted price. Veterans Affairs Gold Card holders are fully covered by Veterans Affairs.