Your appointment with Dr Chen

What happens at an appointment with Dr Chen?

Most first appointments follow the same order: you check in, have tests with an orthoptist, then see Dr Chen, who explains his findings and recommendations. Appointments that need dilating drops and scans take longer, so allow extra time.

1. 1

   Before your appointment: what to bring

   Please bring the following to your appointment. Tick each item as you get it ready.

   • Referral letter: your current referral, if your GP, optometrist or specialist has not already sent it to the clinic.
   • Medicare and other cards: your Medicare card, any pension, concession or DVA card, and your private health fund details.
   • Glasses and prescriptions: all your current glasses, including reading glasses, and any previous glasses or contact lens prescriptions.
   • Previous scans and reports: eye scans, test results and specialist letters, if you have them.
   • Medicines and allergies: a list of your medicines, eye drops and supplements with their doses, and any allergies or reactions.
   • Medical and eye history: your health conditions and any previous eye treatment or surgery, including laser vision correction.
   • Your questions: notes on your symptoms, when they started and what they affect, such as reading or driving.
   • Sunglasses and a lift home: in case your eyes need dilating drops, which blur your vision for several hours.

   

   Print your appointment plan

   A two-page sheet to bring with you: what to bring, space for your symptoms and questions, and directions to the clinic on the back.

   Appointment plan (PDF) →
2. 2

   At your appointment: what happens on the day

   Your visit usually follows these steps. Which tests you need depends on your eyes and your history.

   1. Check in at reception on Level 3

      When you arrive, check in at the reception desk on Level 3. The reception team is happy to answer any questions about your visit.

   2. Tests with an orthoptist

      You will first see an orthoptist, an eye health professional trained to assess the eyes. The orthoptist will take notes about your history and your symptoms and perform some tests, including checking your vision (visual acuity) and the pressure in your eyes. You may need further tests, depending on your condition.

      

   3. Dilating drops, if you need them

      Patients with retinal conditions typically need dilating drops. These drops widen the pupil, the dark circle in the centre of your eye, so the retina at the back of the eye can be examined fully. They work by relaxing the muscle that makes the pupil smaller, and they often relax the eye’s focusing muscle as well, which is why close-up vision is affected most.

      The drops may sting briefly. Your team will tell you if you need them.

      Dilating drops at a glance

      Start working

      in about 15 to 30 minutes

      Usually last

      4 to 6 hours, occasionally until the next day

      You may notice

      blurred vision, especially for reading, and glare in bright light

      Plan ahead

      bring sunglasses and do not drive until your vision is back to normal

   4. Retinal scans, if you need them

      Patients with retinal conditions often need retinal imaging, such as ultra-widefield Optos photographs, which capture most of the retina in one image, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans, which show the layers of the retina in cross-section. Which scans you need depends on your condition and history.

      About the clinic’s equipment

      

   5. Your consultation with Dr Chen

      You will then see Dr Chen. He will:

      • go over your history with you
      • examine your eyes
      • go through any relevant test results with you and explain them in clear, plain English
      • give you his summary of your condition and his recommendations for your care.

      For some eyes, monitoring is more appropriate than treatment.

      You can ask as many questions as you wish.

      

   6. Before you leave: your next steps

      At the end of your appointment, you will be advised whether you need any further appointments with Dr Chen or his optometry team.

      • No further appointments neededyou will usually be discharged back to your local GP and optometrist, and a report will be provided.
      • Treatment or follow-upthis will be arranged before you leave.
      • Surgeryyou may be given possible surgery dates and options to consider.
      • More testsyou may be booked to return for additional tests.
      • Contact lens trialdepending on your situation, you may be booked to return for a contact lens trial with a member of the optometry team experienced in contact lens fitting.
3. 3

   After your appointment: your report

   Dr Chen prepares a report summarising your initial appointment, including his findings and recommendations. It is sent to your referrer and often to your GP, and you will receive a copy by email.

   Dr Chen believes it is important that you are well informed and closely involved in decisions about your care, so you can read his report at home and come back to it with any questions.

   If your eyes were dilated, your vision can stay blurred and sensitive to light for several hours. If you are unsure about any instructions, phone 02 9424 9999.

   How Dr Chen uses clear explanations and everyday comparisons →