Bringing the whole family in for eye tests does not have to be complicated. Many families treat it as a regular family health appointment,come in together, get everyone seen in one afternoon, and leave knowing every family member's eyes have been properly assessed.
Here is a practical guide to making it work smoothly at Prime Optometrists Auburn.
Step 1: Call to Book Back-to-Back Appointments
Our online booking system books individual appointments. If you are coming in with multiple family members, call us directly on (02) 9761 0005 and let us know how many family members you are bringing and their approximate ages. We will schedule them consecutively so you are not coming back at different times.
We can generally accommodate families of up to four in one session on the same day with advance notice. For larger families, we may schedule across two sessions on the same day with a break.
How Long to Allow
Each comprehensive eye examination takes approximately 25–30 minutes. As a rough guide:
- 2 family members: Allow 60–70 minutes
- 3 family members: Allow 90–100 minutes
- 4 family members: Allow 2 hours, or two back-to-back sessions with a short break
Children's exams may take slightly longer with young toddlers, as we use age-appropriate techniques that require a little more patience. If you have young children, booking them first in the session works well,they tend to be at their best earlier in the day.
What to Bring for Each Family Member
- Medicare card,essential for bulk billing. Each family member must have their card for their own bulk billing claim.
- Current glasses,if anyone already wears glasses or contact lenses, bring them so we can compare prescriptions and check optical quality.
- Health fund card,if you have private health insurance with optical extras, bring the card for on-the-spot HICAPS claiming on glasses.
- Previous prescriptions,useful if transferring from another clinic; gives us a baseline even if this is your first visit with us.
- List of medications,some medications affect eye pressure and tear production. This is particularly relevant for adults and seniors.
Mention Family History Upfront
At the start of each family member's appointment, mention any relevant family eye health history. If a parent has glaucoma, we test the children with extra attention to intraocular pressure and optic nerve health. If there is a family history of macular degeneration, we adjust our OCT assessment accordingly.
You do not need to remember every detail,even knowing “there is glaucoma in the family” or “my mother lost vision to macular degeneration” is enough for us to adjust our approach.
After the Appointments
At the end of each examination, Dr Tahiri will explain her findings, discuss any prescriptions, and outline a monitoring plan,including how frequently each family member should return. If glasses are being ordered, we can fit and order frames on the same visit. HICAPS claims for optical extras are processed on the spot.
If any family member needs a referral,to an ophthalmologist for cataract assessment, or for further investigation of a finding,we will write that referral at the appointment and explain what the next steps involve.
Getting to Us
Prime Optometrists is at 43 Auburn Road, Auburn NSW 2144. We are an 8-minute walk from Auburn Station on the T2 Western Line. There is street parking on Auburn Road and Mary Street, and the Auburn Central Shopping Centre car park is a 3-minute walk away.
We serve families from Auburn, Lidcombe, Berala, Granville, Parramatta, Silverwater, Merrylands, Guildford, Strathfield, and well beyond. Call (02) 9761 0005 to book your family in. We look forward to becoming your family's long-term eye care home.