What to Bring to an Appointment
Children's Appointment
Appointment for your Baby or Child
The appointment will last up to 2 hours. Please bring their favourite drink. We have limited of toys to reduce infection risks.
What to bring with you:
- medicare card, pension or health care card referral letter/s
- STEPS sheet (bottom section to be filled in by Dr)
- Any glasses, prescription/script information
- Any previous letters or information
- 1-3 photos on your phone of what you see eg eye turn, lid position, redness etc
- Hat and sunglasses for afterwards
The appointment is usually in 2 stages.
1st stage:
Your information sheet
Initial history, measurement of glasses, testing of vision
Dr Dunlop’s specific history and testing
Dilating drops – There are 2 reasons to use drops.
- to open the pupil so that the inside of the eye, (the retina, macula and lens), can be checked. It will be very bright afterwards. A hat and sunglasses are suggested after the appointment.
- to stop the eye focussing so Dr Dunlop can measure how much effort the eye truly uses to see clearly, (the more effort, the more the eye pulls inwards). It is very important for both eyes to be measured and the measurements compared to each other and to the expected measurements for the baby/child’s age. The eyes will be blurry. The children will notice it blurry. It will wear off in 12-24 hours. (I rarely need to use the stronger drops which last 3-5 days). Please avoid schoolwork, reading and small technology for 12-24 hours while the eyes are dilated. TV viewing is fine.
The wait time will depend on the colour of the eyes and whether the eyes are equally dilated. NB extra drops may be required.
2nd stage:
Dr Dunlop’s measurements and refraction (a light is used - babies can be checked while asleep)
Review of the eyes with light – check retina, macula, lens and compare each eye
Discussion of the results/answer your questions
Dr Dunlop’s summarised information sheets to take home
Plan management
Suggest preventative/active treatment if required
Suggested follow-up time.
Adult Appointment
What to bring for ADULT appointment
The appointment may last 1½ hours.
Please note Dr Dunlop does not see workers compensation or 3rd party cases.
What to bring with you:
- Medicare, Veteran’s, pension or health care card
- referral letter/s
- previous letters or information
- relevant imaging reports
- list of medications, health/herbal supplements etc
- your favourite glasses, and glasses that are not suitable (to compare), glasses prescription/script
- 1-3 photos on your phone of what you see eg eye turn, lid position, redness etc
- sunglasses
The appointment is usually in 2 stages.
1st stage:
Your information sheet
Initial history, measurement of glasses, testing of vision, initial intraocular pressure check
Specific testing – ultrasound, OCT, visual fields if indicated/requested
Dr Dunlop’s specific history
Specific testing of vision, eye position
Examination on slit-lamp, specific testing as indicated
Dilating drops if indicated –The drops will make your vision blurry for close work and glary outside. It may be wise to bring a driver if you have drops.
The wait time will depend on,
- colour of your eyes - darker eyes contain more pigment and take longer to dilate
- diabetic pupils don’t dilate as well
- larger pupils are needed for retinal flashes/floater examinations and some laser treatments
NB extra drops may be required.
2nd stage:
NB Vision and glasses testing is not accurate after the eyes have been dilated.
Dr Dunlop will check your eyes on the slit-lamp. Further examination will depend on the specific concerns/problem.
Next will be a discussion of your results/answer of your questions
Dr Dunlop’s summarised information sheets if needed to take home
Plan management
Suggest preventative/active treatment if required
Suggest further evaluation/tests if indicated
Suggested follow-up time