For over 25 years Swan Hill & Kerang Optical have been providing the Loddon-Mallee region with complete eye health care solutions, your eye health is our passion.
Our comprehensive eye examinations are conducted over 30-40 minutes, and involve at a minimum assessing a patient’s vision, glasses prescription, binocular vision capability, anterior and posterior eye health, intraocular pressures, taking of high definition retinal images and additional testing as indicated such as an OCT scan. Personal health and family medical history are taken into consideration, and we can detect signs of systemic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol imbalances. Such thorough testing enables early detection, intervention and better overall management. The entire examination is conducted by your experienced optometrist, and exams are bulk billed for Medicare and DVA Gold card holders.
* Additional imaging such as retinal photos and OCT may attract an out of pocket fee
During our comprehensive eye examinations, we routinely screen for any number of ocular diseases including but not limited to glaucoma, macula degeneration, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. We use state of the art imaging to assist in detecting, diagnosing and monitoring such diseases. Early detection of eye conditions is important so that you can be provided with the appropriate treatment to prevent or manage further complications. Often in early disease stages, little or no symptoms are noticed by the patient. Hence why we recommend a review every two years for patients under 65 years of age, and annually for those older than 65.
We have appointments available daily that are dedicated to emergency eye conditions. This can include foreign body removal, sudden losses of vision, infections, accidents/trauma and acute red eye conditions. Our optometrists are therapeutically endorsed, meaning we can prescribe topical medications to treat a variety of eye conditions. We recommend calling our clinics so that we can triage your situation and arrange a suitable appointment time.
With 80% of children’s learning in primary school being through visual interaction, clear and comfortable vision is imperative. Out optometrists are passionate about children’s vision and eye health, and are experienced in paediatric eye examinations of children of all ages. Using a range of objective and subjective techniques, we assess a child’s vision and focusing ability, eye position and movements, binocular vision and depth perception, prescription, colour vision, eye health and more. We manage conditions including amblyopia (lazy eye), refractive error and types of binocular visual dysfunction. We work closely with the paediatric ophthalmologists at Melbourne Children’s Eye Clinic and refer when necessary. We can check a child’s eyes from birth, and suggest a full examination in every child before they start school.
Myopia, or short sightedness, is becoming more prominent in children and teenagers with increased use of digital devices and screen time. Rapid rates of progression and high levels of myopia can lead can increase the risk of complications such as myopic macula degeneration, retinal detachment and glaucoma.
Our optometrists are experienced in treating children and teenagers to slow down the progression of myopia. We are authorised prescribers of HOYA MiyoSmart spectacle lenses, CooperVision MiSight contact lenses and atropine drops, which are various methods used to manage myopia progression effectively.
Wearing contact lenses can be a daunting prospect, but we are here to help make the transition from glasses to contact lenses seamless and straight forward. We are proficient in fitting patients in contact lenses and offer a range of options to suit all types of refractive error including myopia (short sightedness) and myopia control, astigmatism and presbyopia (age related reduction in near vision). Our optometrists take you through the whole process from deciding which lenses are most suitable for your visual need, to teaching you how to insert, remove and look after you lenses. Consultations for contact lens fitting can be bulk billed for higher levels of refractive error, otherwise a nominal fee is charged to cover the process.
Our optometrists are experienced in detecting changes in various structures of the eye due to diabetes. This assessment includes dilating the pupil with drops to allow for a thorough examination of the retina for signs of diabetic retinopathy. Reports can be sent to GPs, endocrinologists and diabetic educators following the examination. We recommend an examination for diabetic patients at least every 12 months.
Our clinic has long established relationships with ophthalmologists located in Bendigo, Melbourne and Mildura. We refer based on the type of eye condition, where the patient has family support, patient health and family history, and whether the patient is public or has private health insurance. Such strong and respected relationships mean we co-manage many conditions so that patients do not need to travel for all their reviews.
Both Swan Hill Optical and Kerang Optical are fitted with state-of-the-art equipment to make the most accurate assessment of your vision and eye health, detect and diagnose eye conditions as early as possible, monitor for disease progression and individually customise lens designs. Such technology includes:
Retinal scanning and high resolution photography with true colour representation, enhancing the ability for early detection of eye conditions. This camera has the capacity to penetrate through dense media such as cataracts, corneal scarring and vitreal opacities. Ultra wide images can be taken through small pupils, meaning pupil dilation is not required for most patients.
Visual field assessments of central and peripheral vision are important in:
The DNEye scanner is used to take high precision measurements of over 7000 biometric points of the eye, and more than 80 eye parameters including the shape of the cornea, the power and thickness of the cornea, the size of the pupil, the shape and position of the crystalline lens and the eye length. The biometric measurement values obtained, together with the patient’s prescription, are transferred to and incorporated into your lens design. This gives you the most individualised and accurate lenses, and delivers up to 40% sharper vision at distance and intermediate distances and an 8.5 degree wider sharp field of view at near viewing distances. The ability to focus more intuitively on different object distances increases. Adaptation time to multifocal lens is also reduced. We are the only optometry clinic in North West Victoria to have this incredibly technology, and one of 75 Australia wide.
How your selected frame sits on your face plays a decisive role in the manufacture of your customised lenses. ImpressionIST is a 3D video centration system used to collect key data such as the parameters of your selected frame (tilt, wrap), your face, the distance between your pupils and their diameter. All results are incorporated into the design and manufacture of your lenses.
For patients wishing to pursue refractive laser surgery, we work closely with LaserSight in Melbourne, whose specialists are some of the most experienced refractive laser eye surgeons in the country. Our optometrists can provide advice on your suitability and options for laser surgery, conduct pre surgery assessments, and provide post operative care. This saves patients travel, and often means a single visit to Melbourne for the surgery only.
Our optometrists can complete visual assessments (including driving visual fields) and eyesight reports for driving licencing authorities such as VicRoads and Transport NSW. Reports can be completed for both private and commercial licences, and are submitted online so that there is no delay in such authorities receiving results.
We encourage our patients to pursue their lifestyle with clear and comfortable vision, whatever the activity. Specialty eyewear options include but are not limited to:
Our practices provide low cost spectacles to eligible Victorian residents under the Victorian Eyecare Scheme (VES and ATSI). Patients holding a current pension or health care card (of greater than 6 months), or who are Indigenous, are eligible for subsidised spectacles every 2 years. This includes frames and lenses and can be in the form of single vision (reading or distance), bifocals or multifocals.
We are authorised through the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) to provide glasses under the DVA spectacle scheme to current DVA Gold Card holders. This includes frames and lenses and can be in the form of single vision (reading or distance), bifocals or multifocals.
NSW pension card holders receive a 10% discount on their spectacle purchases.
Looking at a new career, or does your current employer require an eye check? Our optometrists are experienced at conducting visual assessments for vocational applications such as the police force, and other industries.
Our staff can assist patients with low vision, and refer to services such as Vision Australia.
Schedule a comprehensive eye examination today to experience the highest quality care and find the perfect frames to suit your unique personality.
At Swan Hill Optical and Kerang Optical, it is our vision to provide exceptional eyecare and eyewear to our local communities
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Monday – Friday
8:30am – 5:00pm
Saturday
9:00am – 12:00pm
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Monday – Friday
9:30am – 4:30pm