Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend that you make an appointment with Eye Opener Optometrists as soon as possible as we have the appropriate equipment to thoroughly examine your eye and remove any foreign body lodged in it.

There are many different types of red eye and it is best to have an examination with a slit lamp biomicroscope for an accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment. We recommend that you make an appointment as soon as possible so that we can thoroughly examine your eye, provide an accurate diagnosis and manage your eye condition accordingly.

If your child is sitting too close to the TV or computer, asking to sit up the front in class to see the blackboard, or doesn’t see things clearly from across the room, this is a likely sign that your child could be suffering from one of the fastest growing health epidemics in the world – myopia (short sightedness). We recommend making an appointment to have your child’s eyes examined by Eye Opener Optometrists as soon as possible as there are numerous reasons why this could be occurring.

We recommend regular eye examinations from the time just prior to starting school and then throughout life. How often this needs to occur is based on the clinical findings which we, as your optometrists, will thoroughly discuss with you.

If you wear glasses, most prescriptions expire after two years (less than this in some cases) hence the requirement to re-test before we can prescribe a new set. In NSW, State laws prevent the dispensing of expired prescriptions in order to to ensure that you are using the lenses with the most appropriate correction for your eyes.

We typically allow 30 minutes for your consultation.

During a routine eye examination you can expect our optometrists to undertake any or all of the below:

• Patient history – including your main reasons for coming in, your general health, your past ocular history and your family history.
• Vision testing –  to ascertain the clarity of your distance and near vision
• Pupil testing – to screen for neurological problems
• Eye muscle testing
• Spectacle refraction – to determine your prescription for distance, intermediate (computer) or reading spectacles, bifocal or multifocal (progressive) lenses
• Eye focussing assessment – to determine your requirements for reading
• Binocular vision – to assess how your eyes work together and to measure the degree if present, of double vision
• Ocular health- including eye pressures, cataract assessment, testing for macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (associated with diabetes) and other ocular pathologies
• Colour vision testing
• Our practice is equipped with machines that image the retina- they are particularly useful for macula testing

You may also need a little more from us, or we may need to do further testing. This could include:

• A behavioural optometry assessment including a visual perceptual assessment
• Assessment of a patient’s suitability for contact lenses, including determination of an appropriate contact lens prescription and trialing of contact lenses
• Visual field testing
• Determination of suitability for refractive laser surgery
• Assessment for safety glasses
• Prescribing for sports vision requirements
• Dilated Pupil Retinal Examination

Sometimes, the level of care you need requires us to extend the time we spend assessing your vision, or performing specialty tests.

A visit to an Eye Opener Optometrists, as with all professional optometry clinics, is a simple and pain-free process.

Optometrists are qualified to examine your eyes and to detect, diagnose and manage vision problems. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors. They have completed specialist training in surgery of the eyes. Optometrists do not perform surgery. An optometrist is able to refer you to an ophthalmologist for surgical treatment if required.

Generally speaking, the answer is yes, we can remove a foreign body from your eye. There is no definitive answer to this question, however, as all cases will differ to some degree. Our best advice is to book an appointment to see one of our qualified Optometrists.

Yes. To practice in Australia, all optometrists must complete a university degree and be registered with the Optometry Board of Australia. Maria and Nicholas Travassaros have been registered oiptometry practitioners for over 20 years.

The most common problems affecting our vision prevent us from seeing clearly and/or comfortably. These include short or long-sightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia and they can usually be corrected with prescription glasses. Other eye conditions – such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, can be more serious and will require different levels of treatment and care. To manage the health of your eyes, we recommend seeing an Eye Opener Optometrist regularly throughout life.

Myopia is a type of refractive error commonly known as short-sightedness – i.e. distance objects are blurry while objects close to you remain in focus. Myopia is the fastest growing health epidemic in the world, thanks mainly to the amount of time we are spending indoors, rather than spending 1-2 hours a day outdoors.

We recommend always purchasing glasses from Eye Opener Optometrists as we will ensure that they are fitted properly and that the prescription is correct for each of your eyes. We also take into account other factors, like the position of your eyes, the angle and position of the frame, and the distance between your pupils which make prescription glasses unique for each wearer. Other options like bifocal and multifocal reading glasses are only available from an optometrist.

This is a myth and is not true – eyesight deterioration will not occur as a result of you wearing glasses. Prescription glasses are designed specifically to help correct a range of vision impairment conditions – such as long or short-sightedness. Over time however, your prescription may need changing to a stronger or weaker magnitude, but this has nothing to do with wearing glasses and / or your eyes becoming lazy.

We recommend bringing them back to Eye Opener Optometrists and asking us to adjust them for you. This is often a complimentary service.

That will depend on the warranty and when you purchased your glasses. Most glasses do come with a manufacturer’s warranty that will protect you for a defined period of time and against certain types of damage. We will be able to check your records as to 1) if your glasses are still within the warranty period, and then 2) if the warranty includes or excludes the type of breakage that has occurred.

Yes, you request a copy of your spectacle prescription at the conclusion of an examination. If you are requesting one at a later date, you may be required to pay a small administration fee.

Whilst there are many websites that now offer glasses and contact lenses for sale online, we recommend that you always see us instore to purchase these items. Will undertake correct measurements to ensure that your frames fit you properly and importantly, that your prescription lenses have been correctly fitted within those frames.

Not only do we work closely on precise measurements, we also know how your prescription strength and weight of your lenses contribute to whether your glasses will be comfortable and look good.

There is no such thing as a “scratch-proof” lens. New technologies and special coatings have made lenses tougher and increased their level of “scratch-resistance”, but all lenses need to be cared for properly to avoid scratches. Using a glasses spray bottle (or rinsing your glasses under the cold tap) prior to wiping them with a soft microfibre cloth may assist in keeping them scratch free. (If your lenses have dust or dirt on them and you wipe them with your shirt this may grind scratches into the lenses). Putting them away in the case when not in use will also assist in keeping your glasses in the best condition possible.

Make an appointment with an Eye Opener Optometrist and we will investigate why you’re not seeing properly. The prescription or fit of your lenses may need to be adjusted or an alternative contact lens or material tried.

The prescription or fit of your lenses may need to be adjusted or an alternative contact lens or material tried. We recommend cleaning your contact lenses regularly to remove any dirt and grime from their surface, but if they continue to remain gritty, you should discuss this with us asap. Air conditioning, heating or windy days may exacerbate lens dehydration and often using an unpreserved (unit dose) lubricant may be of assistance. We will help determine which type is most suitable for your lens type.

This is a question that you need to discuss with us as different lenses suit different people. At Eye Opener Optometrists, we will advise you which option will give you the best outcome based on the specific prescription required and activities during which the contact lenses will be used.

Always thoroughly wash your hands before handling your contact lenses and use fresh contact lens cleaning solution every time you clean your lenses. Never use tap or sterile water, saliva, basic saline solution or re-wetting drops as none of these will disinfect or properly clean your contact lenses.

We all know the risks of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation on our skin, but many of us are not as aware of the damaging effects that sun exposure can have on our eyes. Repeated exposure of the eyes to UV radiation causes both short-term eye complaints and permanent eye damage. The most common short-term impact of UV exposure to the eye is acute photo keratopathy, akin to sunburn of the cornea, which can cause inflammation and possibly cancer.

While sunglasses are typically more popular in summer, UV damage can occur year round. We therefore recommend that you wear sunglasses all year. Many people also believe it is only the midday sun that poses the greatest UV threat to the eyes but that is not the case as our brow can block a lot of direct light entering the eyes during this time of the day. On some days UV exposure to the eye before 10am and after 2pm may be higher than during the middle of the day due to the angle of the sun in relation to the eye.

Don’t be fooled by clouds – over 90% of UV can penetrate cloud. The fact that you’re in the shade is also not a reason to take those sunglasses off. A significant amount of damage to the eye can come from indirect light, whether it is from the side or reflected off other surfaces such as the ground, sand or water.

When purchasing sunglasses, remember to check the sun protection factor on the swing tag, look for high category (Australian standard) lenses and remember that a high retail price doesn’t always mean better protection. If in doubt, we can assist with fitting and advise you on the best lenses for your protection.

Glasses should be cleaned regularly as part of an ongoing maintenance routine, just like your car. Using a special lens cleaning spray or washing your glasses with a small amount of hand soap or gentle detergent in lukewarm water and then drying with a soft tissue is recommended in order to remove any grease, grime or surface deposits on the lens surface.

You can then use your special microfibre cloth on the lenses to wipe off any remaining residue on your lenses to make them sparkling clean.

Do not use hot water or anything abrasive to clean your glasses. Methylated spirits may be used to clean particularly stubborn marks on lenses but never use household cleaners or acetone as they can damage your frames or lens coatings.

While this may be convenient for cleaning your lenses, your t-shirt, an old rag, a paper towel, dish cloth or any type of towel, can contain abrasive particles and lead to scratches over time.

Use fresh contact lens cleaning solution every time you clean your lenses as directed by your optometrist. Do not use tap or sterile water, saliva, saline solution or rewetting drops as none of these will disinfect and properly clean your lenses.

Bent glasses are usually caused when we sit on them or when we do not take care when putting them on and removing them. Our glasses and sunglasses are designed to sit on our nose and not on our head—they can easily stretch out of shape if you wear them this way. You should always use both hands to put on and take off your glasses, put them away when you are not wearing them and clean them as recommended by your optometrist. This will promote years of clear vision and excellent performance from your glasses.

When you put your glasses down, always make sure that the lenses are facing upwards. This will help keep them scratch-free and from being damaged for longer. Even better, follow the rule that glasses should only ever be ‘on your face or in the case’. Never place your glasses in your pocket, bag or backpack unprotected. Talk to your optometrist about the best way to clean your glasses and invest in a special microfibre cleaning cloth.

Myopia – or short sightedness – is one of the fastest growing health epidemics in the world and we have long campaigned for parents to consider the balance between screen time versus green time as part of safeguarding our children’s vision. Evidence reveals that it is not near work on small screens causing myopia, but a lack of adequate outdoor light. We recommend children spend two hours a day outside to help offset myopia from developing and progressing.

We recommend the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen at something that it at least 20 metres away for 20 seconds.

It is typically recommended to dispose of multi-dose bottles of eye drops after one month as bacteria and other micro-organisms within the bottle have probably reached sufficient quantities that they could cause infection or other ocular complications.

If you have prescription eye drops, your optometrist will let you know how long you should be using them and when to dispose of them.