Preparing for your visit: Initial appointment information
During your initial appointment you will spend time with your Ophthalmologist’s clinical team who will be involved in preliminary assessments which includes checking your vision. Following this your Ophthalmologist will discuss your condition, examine you and may perform a small procedure in the procedural room of the consulting suites. Should surgery be required this will be discussed in detail including procedure specific information, hospital location and relevant costs.
Our Ophthalmologists consults in a private billing clinic and payment in full is required at the conclusion of the appointment. Cancellations without 48 hours may incur a fee.
What to bring to your initial appointment:
Your Medicare card
Your Department of Veteran’s Affairs card/details
Your private health insurance card/details
Any spectacles or contact lenses you currently use
A list of your current medications
Any pension or health care cards (if applicable)
A referral from your GP, optometrist or other specialist (if it has not been transmitted by your referrer)
Copies of or details where imaging was performed – CT Brain/Orbits, MRI orbits/brain
Getting to your appointment
Parking
Car parking is available onsite and is free for 2 hours. Turn into Harrys Road to access the carpark.
Public Transport
Queensland Ophthalmic Specialists is conveniently located immediately adjacent to Taringa train station.
The closest bus stop is 001753.
Pupil Dilation
In general our Ophthalmologists will usually need to dilate your pupils as part of their comprehensive assessment. An exception to this are some of Dr Stewart’s patients who may not require this. Should Dr Stewart need to dilate your pupils he will discuss this with you on the day.
If your pupils are dilated, your close up vision will be blurry for between 1-3 hours after these drops. You may also be glare sensitive. Sunglasses and/or a hat are useful to bring to reduce glare symptoms on your journey home.
Self-funding (Uninsured) Patients
Our Ophthalmologists regularly treat uninsured patients. Should surgery be required, patients will be provided with costings prior to the procedure. In certain situations, some of Dr Stewart’s patients may be able to have their surgery performed in Dr Stewart’s minor procedure theatre which can be an effective way to reduce costs.
Regional Patients
Our Ophthalmologists regularly treat a number of regional patients. Convenient accommodation is located in Essence Suites which is situated in the same building as Queensland Ophthalmic Specialists and Westside Private Hospital.
We normally recommends staying locally for the week following your surgery, however we are happy to discuss variations to this.
Duration of Visit
Our Ophthalmologists strive to run to time and communicate with all patients in a relaxed and non-rushed manner.
Please allow up to 2 hours for an initial assessment
Correspondence
Our Ophthalmologists will correspond in writing with your referrer and members of your health team. Patients are also emailed a copy for their records.
Cost of your visit
Queensland Ophthalmic Specialists is a private billing clinic. If you have a valid referral then your visit will attract a Medicare rebate which will cover part of the cost of the consult but there will be some additional out of pocket costs.
Private health insurance does not cover outpatient medical appointments, it only provides rebates for in-hospital treatment.
When booking your initial appointment our staff will discuss the estimated cost of the appointment and associated rebate. If additional investigations or procedures are required at the time of your consultation there will be an additional fee for these which you will be informed about.
A written financial consent will be provided to you prior to booking any surgical treatment. The cost of surgical procedures is determined by the length and complexity of the procedure as well as your level of health insurance cover. As a result staff are unable to provide an estimate of surgical costs prior to your consultation.
Brisbane Ophthalmic Care
QOS offers urgent care and our team are always ready to have a consultation to discuss your eye care needs.