Other Services
Colour vision testing
Our colour vision service at our Carlton location provides assessment of colour vision, with a wide range of tests to identify and diagnose colour vision defects.
The testing includes a complete colour vision diagnosis, discussion of common occupational standards and a written report. On request, further tests for job-specific requirements may be available. All assessments are conducted by optometrists with advanced knowledge of colour vision disorders.
Colour blindness – or more accurately, colour vision deficiency – is a common defect to normal vision. This may be inherited (and present since birth) or acquired later in life as a result of an eye disease.
About one in 12 men (8%) and one in 200 women (0.5%) have defective colour vision. Although it is very common to call this colour blindness, very few people are totally colour blind. For most, the ability to recognise or discriminate colours is reduced. Those who are ‘colour blind’ see colours differently from those who have normal colour vision. Often this can mean certain distinctly different colours appear the same.
Reduced colour vision can affect school and learning at younger ages, and career choices at older ages. Levels of colour blindness can vary, the extent of which can be determined with a range of colour blind tests.
A wide range of colour vision and colour blindness tests are available. A variety of tests are used in order to determine the extent or severity of the colour vision defect.
The colour vision tests available are:
- Ishihara and Hardy Rand and Rittler Pseudoisochromatic plates
- Holmes Wright A and B lantern tests
- modified Farnsworth Lantern Test (Practical Lantern test)
- Farnsworth Lantern Test (Optec 9000)
- RailCorp Railway LED Lantern Test
- Nagel Anomaloscope
- Medmont C100
- OSCAR test
- D15 panel test
- H16 panel test
- L’Anthony’s desaturated test
Some occupations such as pilots, police, electricians and heavy vehicle drivers have colour vision requirements. We can provide advanced colour vision and occupational testing at our Carlton location.
ACO Eye Health can provide determination of colour aptitude (how well a person assesses, discriminates and sorts colours) of people with normal colour vision. This is useful for people in occupations such as printing, paint and the textile industries.
Off-site colour aptitude assessments to industry (minimum 6 colour aptitude assessments at one site) can also be provided. These tests are not suitable for any levels of colour blindness. Educational, occupational and everyday advice about colour vision defects is also provided.
You can email [email protected] or contact us to learn more.
Red eye and foreign bodies
Red eye can be caused by irritation, allergies, infection, or more serious conditions like inflammation. Symptoms may include discomfort, light sensitivity, or blurry vision. If redness persists or is accompanied by pain or vision changes, an eye exam is recommended.
Foreign bodies, such as dust or debris, can cause irritation, redness, and tearing. Avoid rubbing your eye, and try rinsing with clean water or saline. If the object remains or discomfort continues, seek professional care.
ACO Eye Health provides assessments and treatment for red eye and foreign body removal to help protect your vision and eye health.
Diagnostic imaging
At ACO Eye Health, we use the most advanced diagnostic instruments to examine your eyes, and provide the highest quality care and advice. Our highly-trained optometrists will deliver a comprehensive assessment, evaluation and diagnosis of your vision and eye health.
We provide in-depth analysis of suspected or diagnosed external or internal ocular conditions, including:
- Glaucoma and other diseases of the optic nerve
- Age-related macular degeneration and other macular disorders
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Pathological myopia
- Retinal dystrophies (eg Stargardt disease, etc.)
- Peripheral retinal disease (eg. retinal detachment, choroidal lesions, etc)
- Keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration and other corneal disorders
- Narrow anterior chamber drainage angles
- And others
We offer the following diagnostic imaging services across our sites:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
- Anterior segment OCT
- Retinal photography
- Visual field testing
- Ultrasound biometry – pachymetry
- Ultra-widefield retinal imaging *
- Corneal topography & mapping *
- Wavefront aberrometry *
- Ultrasound biometry – axial *
- Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) **
* Available at Carlton location only.
Please contact us if you require specific diagnostic procedures not listed above. We may be able to source them or direct you appropriately.
Binocular vision assessment
Binocular vision issues occur when the two eyes struggle to work together properly, leading to problems with eye alignment, focusing, or depth perception. Binocular vision relies on the coordination of the eyes and the brain to merge the slightly different images from each eye into one unified view. Binocular vision is critical for daily activities and overall visual function.
Examples include strabismus (eye misalignment), convergence insufficiency (difficulty focusing on near objects), and amblyopia (lazy eye). The impact and types of binocular vision issues can vary by age group.
ACO Eye Health optometrists assess for binocular vision issues and can provide advice on the best course of treatment. This may include glasses or contact lenses, vision training, the use of patches, lifestyle adjustments or referral to ophthalmology (eye specialists) for advanced care.
Hospital collaborations
ACO Eye Health is proud to collaborate with a number of public health services in Victoria for the provision of eye care.
Our optometrists regularly attend the Eye and Ear Hospital to provide contact lens care to patients with corneal conditions such as keratoconus. These patients may then receive further specialised contact lens care at ACO Eye Health clinics..
Optometrists from ACO Eye Health also provide on-site diabetes eye assessments at select Endocrinology clinics with Austin Health and Monash Health; an important service for people who may not otherwise access care.
In response to the growing demand for public cataract services, Alfred Health has partnered with ACO Eye Health for the provision of postoperative care of patients who have undergone cataract surgery. This pathway has assisted Alfred Health in reducing its overall cataract surgery wait time.