Frequently Asked Questions

A full eye examination for adults and children takes around 30 minutes. Follow-up visits and contact lens aftercare appointments are usually around 15 minutes. If you have more complex vision or eye health needs, we’ll take the time we need, we’re not in the business of rushing.

We recommend a full eye examination every two years for adults. Shannon may suggest more frequent visits depending on your eye health or vision needs. For children, we recommend their first check at 6 months, again at 3 to 4 years of age, then every two years after that. And of course, if something doesn’t feel right at any point, don’t wait, just call us.

No referral needed. You can book directly with us.

Bring your current glasses (all of them, including readers and sunglasses if you have them), any contact lenses you wear, a list of medications you take, and your Medicare card. If you have private health insurance, bring that card too.

Many tests can be performed without drops. Sometimes we use dilating drops to get a more thorough look at the back of your eye, particularly for children or for monitoring certain eye conditions. We’ll always let you know before we do this. If your eyes are dilated, your vision may be blurry and light-sensitive for a few hours afterwards, so it’s worth having someone drive you home if possible. We also use a local anaesthetic drop to help measure the pressure inside your eye.

Yes and this is really important. Many serious eye conditions (including glaucoma) have no obvious symptoms in the early stages. Regular examinations allow us to detect problems while they’re still very treatable, and to make sure your vision is working at its best for everyday life.

Earlier than most people think. We recommend a check at 6 months, again at 3 to 4 years of age, and then every two years through school. Children often don’t realise their vision isn’t quite right, because they’ve never known anything different. A school vision screening isn’t a substitute for a proper examination.

Look out for:

Any of these are worth getting checked out.

If you ever have concerns about your baby’s eyes, always get them checked, early detection makes a real difference. Things to look out for include:

If there’s a family history of a turned or lazy eye, or your baby was born premature, they may be at higher risk. Don’t wait for the two-year check — come and see us.

Absolutely. Up to 80% of classroom learning is visual. Problems with focussing, eye teaming, or visual processing can look a lot like reading difficulties or attention issues, when the real issue is actually how the eyes are working. A thorough eye examination can make a significant difference.

Myopia (short-sightedness) means your child can see clearly up close but struggles at a distance. It’s becoming increasingly common and it’s not just about needing glasses. High myopia increases the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, so managing it early matters. We offer myopia control options including MiYOSMART lenses and orthokeratology (overnight contact lenses). Shannon can talk you through what’s right for your child.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) involves wearing specially designed contact lenses overnight that gently reshape the front surface of the eye. Your child wakes up with clear vision for the day, no glasses or daytime contacts needed. It’s also one of the most effective tools we have for slowing myopia progression in children.

School screenings are a helpful first alert, but they’re not a full eye examination and can miss quite a lot. If your child has received a referral or a note of concern, book an appointment with us so we can do a proper assessment and give you a clear picture of what’s going on.

Long-sightedness means the eye has to work harder than it should to focus, especially up close. In children, this can cause headaches, eye strain, blurred vision, and difficulty concentrating on reading or close work. It can also contribute to a turned or lazy eye. Because children’s eyes are very adaptable, long-sightedness is often missed unless specifically tested for, which is one of the reasons a thorough examination with the right drops is so important, especially in young children.

Astigmatism means the front surface of the eye (the cornea) is shaped more like a rugby ball than a round ball. This causes blurry or slightly distorted vision at all distances. It’s very common, often occurs alongside short or long-sightedness, and is easily managed with glasses or contact lenses.

A lazy eye (amblyopia) is when one eye doesn’t develop normal vision during childhood, even with glasses. It usually happens because the two eyes aren’t working together properly and often due to a turned eye, a significant prescription difference between the eyes, or a condition like a droopy eyelid blocking vision. The brain starts to favour the stronger eye and “switches off” the weaker one. The good news is that when it’s caught early, it can be treated very effectively. The earlier we pick it up, the better the outcome, which is exactly why we recommend eye examinations from 6 months of age.

Myopia control glasses are specially designed spectacle lenses that correct your child’s short-sightedness while also actively working to slow down how quickly it progresses. We offer MiYOSMART lenses, which use a technology called DIMS (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments). Clinical studies have shown they can slow myopia progression by around 60% on average. They look and work just like regular glasses, so your child won’t notice anything different, except hopefully not needing stronger and stronger prescriptions every year.

Yes, and we think this is one of the most valuable things we can do for children with myopia. We use a technique called axial length measurement to measure the physical length of the eyeball. In short-sighted eyes, the eyeball is longer than normal, and the longer it gets, the higher the risk of serious eye conditions in adulthood (including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration). By tracking axial length over time, we can see whether a child’s myopia is progressing and how well any myopia control treatment is working. It’s a much more precise way to monitor myopia than just looking at the prescription change.

Absolutely and we’d love to see them. Shannon has a real passion for working with kids who have ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and other additional needs. She takes a calm, patient, and genuinely child-centred approach, and will always work at your child’s pace. Vision problems can sometimes look like attention or learning difficulties, so a thorough eye examination is a really important piece of the puzzle. Just give us a call before the appointment and let us know a little about your child and we’ll make sure we’re set up to give them the best possible experience.

Glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve, usually caused by increased pressure inside the eye. The tricky thing is that it often has no symptoms in the early stages, vision loss is gradual and can go completely unnoticed until significant damage has occurred. Around 50% of Australians with glaucoma don’t know they have it. Regular eye examinations are the best way to detect it early, when it’s still very manageable.

Dry eye is more than just eyes that feel a bit dry. It’s a condition where the tear film isn’t functioning properly either because there aren’t enough tears, or the quality of the tears isn’t right. Symptoms include irritation, burning, grittiness, watery eyes (yes, really, watery eyes can actually be a sign of dry eye), and fluctuating vision. We have a comprehensive dry eye assessment process and a range of treatment options. If your eyes are constantly bothering you, don’t just put up with it.

Floaters are those little dots, squiggles, or cobweb shapes that drift across your vision. Most of the time they’re harmless, just tiny bits of collagen floating in the gel inside the eye. However, a sudden increase in floaters, new flashes of light, or a shadow or curtain across your vision can signal something that needs urgent attention, such as a retinal tear or detachment. If that happens, call us straight away or head to your nearest emergency department.

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. Most cataracts develop gradually with age and are very common in people over 60, though they can occasionally occur earlier. Symptoms include progressively blurry or misty vision, increased sensitivity to glare, and colours appearing duller than they used to. Cataracts are treated very effectively with surgery, where the cloudy lens is replaced with a clear artificial one. We monitor cataracts closely at routine eye examinations and will refer you to an ophthalmologist when the time is right.

Keratoconus is a progressive condition where the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye) gradually thins and begins to bulge outward into a cone shape. This causes increasingly distorted and blurry vision that can be difficult to correct with standard glasses. It typically develops in the teenage years or early twenties and can run in families. In the early stages, glasses or specially fitted contact lenses can manage vision well. More advanced cases may require specialist treatment. We screen for keratoconus as part of our contact lens assessments and can refer for specialist management if needed.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the central part of your vision and is one of the leading causes of vision loss in Australians over 50. There are lifestyle factors that can help reduce risk including stopping smoking, diet, and UV protection and early detection through regular eye examinations is key. If you have a family history of AMD, please mention it to us.

Short-sightedness (myopia) means distant objects are blurry but close vision is clear. Long-sightedness (hyperopia) means the eye has to work harder to focus, particularly up close. It doesn’t always cause blurry vision, but it can cause headaches and eye strain especially in children. Both are very common and very manageable.

Call us and come in as soon as possible. We have the right equipment to examine your eye thoroughly and safely remove any foreign body. We can also prescribe appropriate treatment afterwards if needed. Please don’t try to rub or dig it out yourself.

Great question and one we get a lot. An optometrist (that’s us) is a university-trained primary eye care provider. We examine eyes, diagnose vision problems and eye conditions, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and manage a wide range of eye health conditions. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has specialised in eye surgery and complex medical eye conditions. We work closely with ophthalmologists and refer patients when surgery or specialist medical management is needed. Think of us as your first port of call for all things eyes and we’ll let you know if you need to see someone else.

Many glaucoma patients are co-managed between their optometrist and ophthalmologist. We monitor glaucoma closely here at Outlook Eye Centre using advanced OCT imaging, and we work collaboratively with specialist ophthalmologists in Toowoomba when needed.

For anything eye-related - vision changes, eye irritation, red or sore eyes, flashes, floaters, or concerns about your eye health, we’re your best first call. We’re specifically set up to assess and manage eye conditions, and we’ll refer you to a GP or specialist where appropriate.

For most people who wear glasses, there is a great contact lens option available. People choose contacts for sport, certain occupations, or simply because they prefer the look. People with high prescriptions or a significant difference between the two eyes often get better vision with contact lenses than glasses. Come in and we can find the right fit for you.

Yes. Modern contact lens technology has come a very long way. There are excellent toric lenses for astigmatism, and multifocal contact lenses for people who need help at different distances. A proper contact lens assessment will help us find the best option for your eyes.

Yes we can, as long as your frames are still in good condition. The great news is we fit all our lenses on-site, so you won’t need to be without your glasses while it’s done. Just bring your frames in with you when you visit.

We recommend an eye examination every two years, as prescriptions can change over time. Whether your frames need replacing sooner is really about wear and tear, if your lenses are scratched or your frames are misshapen, it’s probably time.

In most cases, your glasses will be ready within a few working days. Some specialty lenses do take a little longer. We’ll give you a clear timeframe when you order.

Yes, we offer a two-year manufacturer’s warranty on all full-priced glasses. While this doesn’t cover scratched lenses or accidental damage, we’ll always do our best to find a solution if something’s not right.

We recommend that using a special optical cleaning spray and cloth is the safest way to clean your glasses. We do often use soft tissues to dry our lenses. It is better not to use any chemicals on your glasses. Please feel free to bring your glasses to us at any time to have them cleaned.

At Outlook Eye Centre we bulk bill children (if eligible). Otherwise, the consultation fee is payable at the time of the visit. We are able to submit your claim to Medicare on the spot and you will receive a rebate benefit to your nominated bank account. There will be a gap between the fee you pay us and the rebate you receive from Medicare depending on how long it has been since you last had your eyes tested.

If you have extras cover, your private health fund can contribute towards glasses and contact lenses. We use HICAPS, so we can process your claim on the spot, you’ll only need to pay the gap amount. Benefits are generally paid once per calendar year, though some funds renew each financial year. Bring your health fund card to your appointment.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and cash. We also offer Afterpay for those who prefer to spread the cost. We don’t accept Diners Club or American Express.

We’re open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm. We’re not open on weekends. If you need to get in touch outside of hours, feel free to send us an email at andrew@outlookeyecentre.com.au and we’ll get back to you the next business day.

No, it won’t cause any lasting damage. But it can cause eye strain, tired eyes, and headaches. Good lighting makes reading a lot more comfortable. A bright bulb positioned above and slightly behind your head is ideal.

No. Your eyes won’t weaken from wearing glasses. Your prescription may change over time, but that’s just the natural progression of your vision and is not caused by wearing glasses. When you put glasses on and see clearly, taking them off afterwards can make your uncorrected vision feel worse by comparison. That’s your brain adjusting to the difference, not your eyes getting weaker.

Call us as soon as you can. We have the right equipment to examine your eye thoroughly and safely remove any foreign body. We can also prescribe appropriate treatment afterwards if needed. Please don’t try to rub or dig it out yourself.

As a general rule, no. Sleeping in contact lenses significantly increases the risk of serious eye infections, even with lenses that are approved for overnight wear. Water (whether from the shower, pool, or ocean) should never come into contact with your lenses either, as it can harbour bacteria that cause severe corneal infections. Always remove your lenses before water activities, and if you’ve accidentally slept in them, take them out as soon as possible and give your eyes a break. If your eyes feel red, sore, or uncomfortable afterwards, come and see us.

No, this is a very common worry, but it’s not possible. There is a thin membrane (the conjunctiva) that lines the inside of your eyelids and connects to the white of your eye, forming a continuous barrier. A lens simply cannot travel behind the eye. That said, lenses can occasionally fold and become lodged up under the upper eyelid, which can feel very uncomfortable. If this happens, try looking downward and gently massaging your eyelid to move it back into place. If you can’t locate or remove it, come and see us.

We’d absolutely love that. If you’ve had a great experience with us and think someone you know would benefit from our care, please send them our way. Word of mouth means the world to an independent practice like ours.