Comprehensive eye tests in Forest Lake
An eye test is not just about whether you need glasses. A thorough examination checks the health of your eyes and can pick up conditions long before you notice anything is wrong — which is often the point at which they are easiest to manage.
At Paul Fell Eyecare we have invested in OCT and widefield retinal imaging, and we take the time to explain what we find.
What happens during your eye test
Your appointment with one of our optometrists covers:
- How well you see — distance and near vision, and whether a prescription would improve it
- Your prescription — precisely measured, and compared against your previous one
- Eye coordination and focusing — how well your eyes work together, which matters for reading, screen work and driving
- Eye pressure — a key screening measure for glaucoma
- The health of your eyes — front to back, including a detailed look at the retina
A comprehensive eye test takes about 30 minutes.
Advanced imaging, included
Two pieces of equipment do a lot of the heavy lifting:
OCT (optical coherence tomography) scans through the layers of your retina, producing a cross-section rather than a surface photograph. It can reveal changes beneath the surface — the kind involved in macular degeneration and glaucoma — earlier than a standard examination would.
Widefield retinal imaging captures a far broader view of the retina than a conventional camera, including the periphery where early changes often appear first.
Both are a standard part of our comprehensive examination rather than an optional add-on, and both are kept on file, so at your next visit we compare directly against last time rather than relying on memory.
How often should you have your eyes tested?
For most adults with no symptoms and no risk factors, every two years is reasonable. You should come sooner if you have noticed a change in your vision, you get headaches or eye strain, you have diabetes, or there is glaucoma or macular degeneration in your family. Children and people over 65 generally benefit from annual checks.
Cost and billing
A comprehensive eye test is $50 — and free if you are under 25.
Two things are billed differently. The consultation itself is bulk billed to Medicare, so with a valid Medicare card that part costs you nothing. The retinal imaging is $50, because Medicare does not rebate it.
Imaging is part of our comprehensive examination rather than an optional extra, so for most adults the out-of-pocket cost is $50. Where an optometrist judges imaging is not necessary in your case, it is not performed and not charged.
Under 25s pay nothing at all — consultation bulk billed, imaging included at no charge.
Without a Medicare card, the consultation is charged as a private fee: $95, plus $50 for imaging — $145 in total for the same examination.
We also have HICAPS on site and accept all major health funds, so if you are claiming on extras for glasses or contact lenses you can do it at the counter and pay only the difference.
Full detail on our eye test costs page.
Our optometrists
Eye tests at Paul Fell Eyecare are carried out by two optometrists with complementary strengths.
Paul Fell, Dip.App.Sc. (Optom), has been practising since 1983 — more than forty years. He graduated from the Queensland Institute of Technology and is a member of Optometry Australia. His particular interests are contact lenses, glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and advanced lens design.
Jai Bakshi is a therapeutically endorsed optometrist, which means he is qualified to prescribe ocular medications and manage a range of eye conditions directly. He graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Optometry. His focus is the detection, treatment and ongoing monitoring of glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, macular degeneration, retinal conditions, dry eye disease and inflammatory eye conditions. Where further investigation or specialist treatment is needed, he works directly with ophthalmologists and GPs.
Full profiles are on our About page.
Explore our eye-care services
Find more information about common eye-care needs, treatments and eyewear:
Booking an eye test
You can book online at any time, or call us on (07) 3278 8300 during opening hours.
We are at Shop 15, 235 Forest Lake Boulevard, inside Forest Lake Shopping Centre.
| Monday – Wednesday | 8:30am – 5:30pm |
| Thursday | 8:30am – 7:00pm |
| Friday | 8:30am – 5:30pm |
| Saturday | 8:30am – 4:30pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Thursday evenings and Saturdays suit people who cannot get away during the working week.