SMART VISION OPTOMETRY
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about appointments, visual assessments, glasses, vision therapy and fees at Smart Vision Optometry in Bondi and Mosman. The answers explain what to ask about your care, how treatment evidence differs between conditions and where to find further information.
Published: 25 July 2015 | Updated: 28 September 2026 | Author: Smart Vision Optometry
Behavioural optometry describes an approach that considers eye health, clear sight and how vision is used in daily activities. At SVO, the questions you bring about work, study, sport or close tasks help guide the assessment. See our practice approach and Vision Skills Assessment for more detail.
Blur, double vision, eye strain or headaches during visual tasks are reasons to seek assessment. Describe when symptoms occur, how long they last and which activities are affected. Reading difficulty, reduced attention or losing your place can have several causes and do not by themselves diagnose a vision problem. Learning concerns may also need educational or other professional assessment.
Evidence must be considered for the specific condition and proposed treatment, rather than as one claim about all behavioural optometry. The National Eye Institute describes convergence exercises for convergence insufficiency. This does not establish that vision therapy treats dyslexia or improves general learning. Ask which research applies to your diagnosis, what benefit is expected and how progress will be measured. Our research bibliography provides background references.
Optometrists assess vision and eye health, prescribe optical correction and manage or refer eye concerns within their scope. Ophthalmologists are medical specialists in eye disease and its medical and surgical treatment. These professions can work together. See Healthdirect’s explanation of eye-care roles.
A behavioural approach places emphasis on visual function during daily tasks. It does not mean that every eye condition has a non-surgical solution or that a different professional opinion should be dismissed. Ask about the diagnosis, available options and whether specialist assessment or a second opinion would help.
Visual difficulties vary by condition, age and population, so a single percentage cannot describe everyone. Symptoms also do not reliably show how common a condition is. If you have concerns about a child or adult, an examination can investigate eye health and visual function. Our SVO article on sight and vision explains related concepts.
Yes. Smart Vision Optometry sees adults as well as children at its Bondi and Mosman practices. Adults can discuss changes in sight, visual comfort and the demands of work or other activities. The recommended examination and follow-up schedule depends on individual findings and risk factors. Read our eye test overview or contact the practice about the appointment you need.
You can book directly with an optometrist without a referral. If another professional has referred you or supplied a report, bring that information. Please contact our team about appointment availability and any forms or records needed beforehand.
Vision therapy is a term used for supervised programmes of visual activities, sometimes involving sessions in the practice and activities at home. Suitability depends on the diagnosed condition, the specific treatment and supporting evidence. It should not be presented as a general treatment for reading or learning difficulties.
For example, convergence exercises can be used for convergence insufficiency. By contrast, behavioural vision therapy has not been shown to improve educational performance in children with learning disabilities. Read the AAPOS explanation of vision therapy and ask about the goal, alternatives, costs and review points for any proposed programme.
The clinician should give you an individual plan specifying the activities, session length, frequency and review schedule. Do not start or increase exercises from a generic internet timetable. Ask what to do if an activity causes symptoms, is difficult to follow or does not fit your routine, and discuss any changes with the clinician.
Changes vary with the condition and treatment. Agree in advance which symptoms or examination findings will be monitored. A parent’s observations can be useful, but improved attention, reading or school performance should not be promised as a result of vision therapy. Keep appropriate educational support in place and report new or worsening symptoms.
There is no single reliable timescale for every patient or programme. Ask when your condition will be reassessed, what would count as meaningful progress and when the plan should be changed or stopped if it is not helping. A fixed promise of improvement within the first month is not appropriate for every situation.
This depends on the condition, treatment and individual circumstances. Lasting improvement cannot be guaranteed. Discuss whether any maintenance or follow-up is recommended, what recurrence might look like and when to return. Do not assume that completing a programme removes the need for future eye-health checks.
Ask your optometrist when you should return based on your age, eye health, symptoms and other risk factors. A follow-up interval for monitoring a condition may differ from a routine examination schedule. New or worsening symptoms should be assessed when they occur rather than waiting for a routine reminder. Healthdirect provides general eye-care guidance.
No. Whether glasses are recommended depends on the examination findings and the purpose of the prescription. Ask what the lenses are intended to address, when to wear them, what benefit to expect and how they will be reviewed. A need for glasses or a particular lens cannot be assumed from reading difficulty alone.
Appropriately prescribed glasses do not make a child’s eyes weaker or more dependent on glasses. A prescription may change as vision develops or an eye condition changes; that is not proof that wearing glasses caused the change. The AAPOS guide to children’s glasses explains this. Follow the wearing advice for your prescription and ask for a review if vision or comfort is not satisfactory.
Our team can help you discuss frame fit, lens options and how your spectacles will be used. Ask about the quoted price, included services, adjustment arrangements and applicable product warranty before buying. Our Patient Care Promise explains the practice’s service commitments.
Medicare may help with eligible optometry consultations. The rebate, any out-of-pocket fee and eligibility depend on the service and your circumstances. Please ask the practice to confirm proposed tests, charges and rebate eligibility before the appointment; do not assume that every assessment or additional test is covered. Services Australia explains Medicare support for eye tests.
Medicare does not cover glasses or contact lenses. Private health insurance may contribute depending on your policy, waiting periods and remaining limits. Check directly with your fund and ask for an itemised quote before purchasing.