• Ensure areas you walk in are well lit.
• Turn on your bedside lamp before getting up at night and ensure your glasses are within reach.
• Allow your eyes time to adjust when moving from light to dark or vice versa. Avoid outside glare by wearing a wide brim hat and sunglasses.
• Keep your glasses clean and always ensure you are wearing the correct lens type i.e. distance glasses.
• Take extra care on stairs or steps if wearing bifocals.

General FAQs

No, an Ophthalmologist uses a different Medicare Claim number than an optometrist.

How do we complete an eye test on a resident with dementia or reduced cognitive state?

Testing a resident with dementia can be done similar to testing a six month old baby.

We use an instrument called a Retinoscope, which catches a reflection from the retina, like you would see in a photograph where the red eye function has not been applied. The movement of the reflection indicates to the optometrist whether the patient is long-sighted or short-sighted. These movements are then neutralized with trial lenses in a trial frame until the movement of the reflection has ceased. This is then the power of the patients distance correction and can be up to 99% accurate.

How often should we get our eyes checked once we turn 65 years of age

Medicare have recently authorised annual sight tests for all persons over 65 years old.

We at Opti-Call have always recommended annual sight tests for this age group, and others with on-going occular conditions and medical conditions that can effect the eyes - example diabetes, blood pressure.

Do Opti-Call do Bed Visits?

In cases where residents are genuinely bed bound Opti-Call can arrange bedroom visits. However, with two staff and a considerable amount of equipment it is understandably difficult moving from room to room.

How can Opti-Call minimise the loss of glasses in a crowded Facility?

Whilst we cannot always prevent such incidences occurring, Opti-Call does label glasses with the residents name, and we supply a photograph on the delivery sheet which is kept at the facility for identification purposes. If glasses were supplied by Opti-Call then a prompt replacement pair will be supplied at half price, within the first 12 month period.