Brisbane Eye Clinic has a front-end Step A Clinic which is a rapid open access and triage service for acute and subacute ophthalmic presentations. Led by experienced, therapeutically endorsed senior clinical optometrists working within an established ophthalmology practice, Step A provides same-day or next-day assessment, diagnosis and treatment — with immediate escalation to our vitreoretinal and anterior segment ophthalmologists when surgical or specialist input is required.
We see, assess and diagnose: sudden blurred vision, red eye, painful eye, dry eye, ocular foreign body, diplopia, and emergent vision loss — central acuity or visual field, intermittent or constant — including retinal detachment, vitreous opacity, retinal vascular obstruction or optic neuropathy.
Assessment includes slit lamp examination, pupil light response, dilated fundoscopy, tonometry, foreign body removal when required, Optical Coherence Tomography or Angiography, Fundus Auto-flourescence Imaging, Hess testing and Automated Threshold Visual Fields. Treatment commences on site when indicated, and a report is sent out to your primary care team promptly.
No referral is required for patients to access Medicare rebates, though a referral would be welcome whenever it streamlines communication or escalation to specialist care. Step A eliminates long waits at public hospital clinics at a modest co-pay price point which is determined by the clinical complexity.
Patients are assessed at first contact by a highly trained, trusted clinician working exclusively in the field, with a specialist ophthalmologist providing proximal support.
