Not all eye tests are created equal!
Sometimes you just need a quick vision check to confirm that your prescription is still correct. At other times you need the added peace of mind of a full eye health examination.
Black Gates Optometrists have the people, experience and equipment to provide exactly the level of eye test service that you require.
When should you have an eye exam?
- When you can’t see clearly.
- When you can’t see well in the distance.
- When you have difficulty reading.
- Your eyesight at night is poor
- You bump into objects on one side or trip over gutters or steps
- You can no longer read properly even with reading glasses on
- When you have vision-related problems or headaches.
- When it’s been more than two years since your last eye test
Classic Care
(40 minutes)
Easily our most popular eye test here at Black Gates Optometrists. With Classic Care we do a thorough check of your eye health and your vision. This test is recommended if you have never been to us before as it gives us a detailed understanding of your individual needs and a baseline from which to measure any changes.
To take the best care of your eyes, you should also have a Classic Care Eye Test done every 2 years. That way we can address any eye health problems before they become more serious and make sure you are seeing as well as you possibly can!
The Classic Care test includes:
- A full assessment of your vision at all distances
- A thorough Eye Health Examination
- A personal eye health strategy based on your risk factors and needs
- Measurement of your visual prescription and a correction solution to suit your lifestyle
PLUS you also get
- A consultation with a qualified optician on the best eyewear solutions, the latest lens technology and glasses frames fashions. It’s important to us that you are 100% happy with your eyewear.
- Lens design simulations – Take away the guesswork and let us demonstrate the benefits of the suggested lens design for your prescription.
- A preliminary assessment and an initial trial of free lenses. (Note: fees will apply for additional appointments as needed.)
The Classic Care eye exam takes 40 minutes, but it’s best to allow a bit longer for expert advice on your eyewear
Ultimate Care
(60 minutes)
The Ultimate Care Eye test is our most comprehensive eye test package and gives a complete clinical picture of your eye health, as well as a thorough vision and binocular vision investigation. If you have specific health concerns or simply want to take your eye health examination to the next level, then this is the one for you.
Our intention is to get a comprehensive set of baseline clinical information about your vision and eye health. Good baseline information gives us the ability to detect subtle changes which may otherwise go undetected. This is the ideal eye test for all first-time patients to Black Gates Optometrists.
Ultimate Care is also recommended if you:
- Have a family history of glaucoma or are at risk of developing glaucoma
- Have macular degeneration (AMD)
- Have certain medical conditions such as thyroid eye disease or diabetes
- Take certain medications eg: tamoxifen, plaquenil, high dose steroids
With Ultimate care you get everything in the Classic Care Examination as well as:
- Neurological Visual Fields
- High-definition 3D laser Scanning
- Digital Images
- Pupil Dilation – We may need to dilate your pupils if your pupils are not large enough. A large pupil size is essential to get the best quality images. As driving may be difficult afterwards it is recommended that you take a bus or taxi or ask someone to bring you into the appointment
If you are concerned specifically about the health of your eyes, our team of therapeutically qualified optometrists will examine them and can prescribe for the appropriate management of eye disease.
Children’s Care
Good vision is essential for your child’s reading and learning performance, and for them to reach their full potential in sport and life in general. If you have any concerns at all about your child’s eyesight or development, you should have their eyes tested by a kids optometrist as soon as possible. Delays in addressing their visual problems can sometimes have lifelong consequences. Prescribing glasses when they are not needed, or not prescribing glasses when they are needed, can cause lasting vision problems.
Our children’s examination involves a thorough check of your child’s vision, eyes muscles and binocular coordination to identify any abnormalities.
Testing a child’s vision can be challenging and a paediatric optometrist requires special skills to interpret their responses and assess their behaviour. Very young children may have limited letter recognition and special eye charts are required. Using the appropriate vision charts at the correct test distances for a child’s age and stage of development is critical to arriving at the correct conclusions.
If you or your child have a current Community Services card and your child is 15 years and under, they will be eligible for the Enable Spectacle Subsidy. You can claim up to $287.50 for each child every year, which is used to go towards exam costs and spectacles if your child needs them
Diabetic Photoscreening
If you have diabetes, you will no doubt be aware that it can affect your eyesight. It can even have the potential to cause permanent blindness. Fortunately, you may qualify for the Free Diabetic Photoscreening service. This allows you to easily keep a check on things and treat problems before they become more serious. As a diabetic you should have your eye health checked at least every two years or more frequently if there are changes that need closer follow-up.
Diabetes and retinal disease
Abnormal blood glucose levels change your blood chemistry when you have diabetes. Over time, the retinal blood vessels may be affected and start to leak fluid resulting in vision loss. Some diabetic changes, like cataracts, are treatable. But other changes may be more serious and have the potential to cause permanent blindness if not detected and treated early.
Photoscreening is an excellent way to record your retinal health and monitor it for any changes. If you do have diabetic retinopathy (retina disease) it is essential that you are managed carefully and can access treatment as soon as possible to protect your eyesight.
Free Diabetic Photoscreening
Black Gates Optometrists are proud to be the pioneers of the Wellington Regional Diabetic Photoscreening Programme. This programme – a partnership between Optometry, the DHB (Hospital) and your Doctor. Won all three New Zealand Health Innovation Awards at the Inaugural Health Innovation Award Ceremony in 2003.
This service is offered at both the Black Gates optometrists in Johnsonville and Lower Hutt.
How to make an appointment for your Diabetic Photoscreening
Contact your Doctor or Diabetic Nurse and arrange a referral for your Free Diabetic Retinal Photoscreening. The referral form from your doctor contains health information that is vital for the interpretation of your retinal images.
Follow up screenings will be booked according to your individual risk profile and referral to the hospital will be arranged automatically where necessary.
What you can expect during the Photoscreening Examination
- Visual Acuity Measurement – Your normal distance vision is evaluated, with your glasses on (if you normally wear them). Also checked through a pinhole to give us an idea of how much blur is optical.
- Pupil Evaluation – We may need to dilate your pupils if your pupils are not large enough. A large pupil size is essential to get the best quality images. As driving may be difficult afterwards it is recommended that you take a bus or taxi or ask someone to bring you into the appointment.
- Retinal Imaging – The images taken are graded and examined while you are with us. The optometrist will point out issues of concern and carefully explain them to you. We will refer you to the hospital if a specialist opinion or treatment is required.
- Medical Report – We send your doctor a report on the results of the screening immediately. A copy of this report may go the Eye Department so they can arrange to check your retina and organise any treatment that may be needed.
Diabetic Photoscreening is Free. Ask your Doctor if you are eligible or contact us.
Acute Care
Any sudden loss of vision and eye pain should be treated as an emergency, and you should ring us as soon as possible.
Whether referred by your doctor or not, we will also take care of you if you experience any of the following:
- Light sensitivity
- Red eyes
- Foreign body injuries
- Discharge
- Floaters and flashes
- Double vision
- “Cobwebs” in your vision
- Conjunctivitis
Acute Care often means you need to be dilated. This results in your vision being blurry afterwards and you may not be able to drive for a few hours.
If you need emergency eye care, give us a call, or come into one of our two locations and we’ll do our best to fit you in.
