You are here: Home > GPs & health care professionals > Allied health

Allied health professionals and optometrists

Did you know Australian optometrists possess a range of clinical skills and can perform the following procedures including, but not limited, to:

  • Refraction – measuring the optics of the eye
  • Binocular vision tests – testing the coordination of the two eyes as a team
  • Ophthalmoscopy – internal examination of the eye
  • Slitlamp biomicroscopy – external examination of the eye
  • Tonometry – measuring the pressure of the eyeball
  • Anaesthetics to perform tonometry
  • Mydriatics – dilated ocular fundus exams
  • Cycloplegics
  • Optical dispensing – supply and management of spectacles and contact lenses

Additionally, therapeutically endorsed optometrists can prescribe ophthalmic medicines – in the form of topical eye drops – such as anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid drops to treat eye diseases such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, uveitis and glaucoma.

As an allied health practitioner, you can refer your patients to an optometrist for many aspects of primary eye care, including, but not limited to:

  • Eye disease diagnosis, treatment and management, including red eye
  • Diabetic eye exams
  • Glaucoma medication repeats
  • Colour vision
  • Low vision
  • Children’s vision
  • Vision therapy
  • Workplace occupational health and safety
  • Myopia control
  • Home-based care or home visits

Effective collaboration between allied health practitioners and optometrists can enhance patient care, reduce hospital waiting lists and allow patients to receive care without the need for travel.

Allied health practitioners are welcome to:

  • Participate in our CPD events to learn more about eye health issues
  • Connect with your local optometrist today and help your patients avoid long wait lists
  • Recommend our Good vision for life website to your patients
  • Contact us if you’d like to learn more about optometry and collaborating with optometrists

Resources for allied health practitioners

You might be interested in

Taking action on workforce pressures

Optometry Australia’s Workforce Projections Study shows Australia currently has an oversupply of optometrists, and simply increasing graduate numbers will not fix workforce maldistribution. We are strongly opposing proposals for new optometry programs and calling for smarter, locally targeted solutions to support both practitioners and patients.
Taking action on workforce pressures View

Expressions of Interest: Join Queensland’s State Advisory Committee (Q-SAC)

Optometry Australia is calling for expressions of interest from members to join the inaugural term of the Queensland State Advisory Committee (Q-SAC). Q-SAC will play a vital role in shaping the work of Optometry Australia by providing Queensland-specific advice and input to the CEO and Secretariat staff. The Committee will consider and provide feedback on a wide range of issues relevant to optometry, optometrists, and community eye health.
Expressions of Interest: Join Queensland’s State Advisory Committee (Q-SAC) View

Meeting Australia’s Unmet Need for Optometry

Earlier this year, Optometry Australia released the Optometry Workforce Projections Study, revealing two critical truths about our profession:  On paper, Australia has an oversupply of optometrists when measured against current demand.  In reality, a significant proportion of Australians are missing out on essential eye care – meaning true population need is not being met.  This …
Meeting Australia’s Unmet Need for Optometry View

Acknowledgement of Country

In the spirit of reconciliation Optometry Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.