Frequently asked questions.

Who is the service most suitable for?

We can support children and adults with all types of disability. Some examples would include people with low vision / vision impairment, autistic children and autistic adults, children and adults with intellectual disabilities including Down syndrome, people who are non-speaking or minimally verbal (non-verbal), children with ADHD, and those with behavioural challenges. We also frequently support people with chromosomal disorders and rare genetic condition.

My child is non-speaking / minimally verbal, is it possible to accurately assess their vision?

Yes. A skilled practitioner can use ‘objective’ testing methods; with these techniques, it is up to the examiner to determine what the person they are assessing can/cannot see, based on their behaviour, rather than through verbal reporting (better with one or two… etc). For some examples of objective vision tests check out my video on the Cardiff Cards, and Lea Paddles acuity test.

My child is hyperactive and cannot sit still and attend for more than a few seconds, can you still test their vision?

At Special Eyes we have met a lot of children (and adults) who struggle to sit still and attend for more than a few seconds and we are very used to accommodating to suit their needs. We know that often medical experiences can be extremely traumatic for your whole family and we want to do everything we can to ensure that your visit to our practice is as stress-free as possible.

At the time of booking, Dr Ursula will often take the opportunity to take a history (establish the reason for the visit, gather information about general health, medications, history of eye problems, treatments etc), so that we don’t risk wasting those precious first few minutes, which are sometimes our best chance of a person being able to interact with our assessments. We have a social story which we can provide, to help your child or family member understand what will happen during their appointment, and we often split the assessment over a few appointments to allow for short attention spans. Getting up and walking / jumping / spinning around the room as needed is very much encouraged, because we know that for some of us, that is what needs to happen for us to stay regulated. We recognise parents as experts in their own child, so if there is a particular thing that would help or that we should avoid, please tell us.

Is Special Eyes just for children?

Special Eyes is for anybody requiring a different approach. If you, or someone you care for, is not able to easily access regular optometry services, we are keen to help. People whose needs cannot be addressed within traditional community optometry are welcome to visit us.

Is a referral required?

No referral is required to have an eye examination with us. You just need to book an appointment.

Do you bulk-bill?

Due to the time required to perform a comprehensive vision and health assessment, we are not able to bulk-bill. Medicare funding can be used to partly cover the costs of our assessments and our private fees will be explained to you at the time of booking.

Can I use my NDIS funding?

NDIS funding can be used to cover the cost of low vision aids, equipment, and servicing, while comprehensive eye examinations are funded by Medicare. There is currently no Medicare funding for functional vision assessments, and no clear answer as to whether these can be funded through NDIS. This is something we are actively exploring and we are very happy to discuss further with you. Please call us or email us for more information.

Can you test someone with an intellectual disability?

Yes we absolutely can. We see a lot of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, including people with Down syndrome. This group of people are at high risk of having reduced vision / vision impairment, and often less able to tell us when they are experiencing difficulties. We can provide comprehensive vision assessments for anyone with an intellectual disability, no matter how severe their disability.

Can you support people with vision impairment?

We have expertise in providing eye healthcare and vision assessments for people with low vision / vision impairment. If you have macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or glaucoma we can offer low vision support. If you have a trusted eye healthcare professional who you see regularly we are very happy to collaborate with them, to best support you with all aspects of your eye health and vision.

I am losing my vision / my child is losing their vision, can you help?

Losing your vision is a hugely challenging experience. Most people experience significant levels of loss, fear, and grief. While for many people with conditions causing progressive vision loss there are no treatments, there are a wide range of support services and devices which can be accessed, allowing people to continue doing many of the things they love. Dr Ursula has supported many people who are losing their vision, helping them to make sense of the medical information they have received regarding their condition, directing them to appropriate support services, supplying and providing training in the use of low vision devices, and coordinating care. We would be honoured to help support you and your family on this very challenging journey and will always continue to support you as your needs change.

Can you test Autistic people?

We have carefully chosen our location and set up our service to support the needs of Autistic children and adults. Check out our blog post on eye testing and autism to learn more about how we can support you. We are always very happy to adjust things to suit an individual’s needs: please talk to us about what works best for you or the person you are caring for.

I have a rare eye disease, can you help?

It can be difficult to find professionals who are familiar with rare eye diseases who can support people diagnosed with these. Having worked in low vision for many years, Dr Ursula has supported many people with a huge array of different vision conditions including congenital and acquired conditions, and those with progressive vision loss. Conditions we see regularly include albinism, nystagmus, retinal dystrophies such as retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, cone-rod dystrophy, or Leber congenital amaurosis. We have also supported children with CHARGE and Usher syndrome, and have encountered many individuals with rare chromosomal conditions.

I have a physical impairment, is your practice fully accessible?

Our long search for a premises with full disability access really opened our eyes to just how big of an issue access can be for people with any sort of disability. Our building is fully compliant with all current building standards for accessibility, equipped with a lift, ramps, disability parking within the complex, and Braille mats and tactile signage. Our waiting room and test room are ample to manoeuvre a wheelchair, including large motorised models, and we can adjust testing to accommodate the needs of people with physical disabilities.

Do you sell magnify glasses and telescopes?

Yes, we have a small range of optical low vision aids, including magnifiers, binoculars, and telescopes. We also have good quality task lighting which we can demonstrate - this can make a huge difference for people with reduced vision. We also have a bioptic telescope, which is a spectacle-mounted telescope; great for spotting things on the go, like bus numbers, friends from a distance, identifying products in the supermarket, and playing golf, some people even use them for driving.