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

• Factsheet: Do you know all the things that an optometrist can do?
• Video: What happens in an eye examination
• Eye health resources – translated into multiple languages