VES in Melbourne
The Victorian Eyecare Service is available in Melbourne exclusively through ACO Eye Health clinics.
Quick Links
About VES in Melbourne
Eligible patients can access low-cost eye care and visual aids (glasses, contact lenses) through the Victorian Eyecare Service (VES). VES is a State Government program; together with the Department of Health, ACO Eye Health works to ensure VES is available to those who need it.
The service provides:
- Subsidised eye care services (consultations)
- Low-cost glasses or contact lenses starting from $49 (single vision) and $118 (multifocal).
- Victorian Aboriginal Spectacles Subsidy Scheme (VASSS), offering glasses from $10.
VES is available for people who live in Victoria and meet one of the following criteria:
- A current Pensioner Concession Card in their own name
- A current Health Care Card in their own name or are listed on the Health Care Card as a dependent
- A current Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Gold Card in their own name
- An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background (for the Victorian Aboriginal Spectacles Subsidy Scheme, which is a further subsidy under the VES)
- Child protection involvement in their care
- Refugees and/or seekers of asylum
VES may be available to people experiencing other types of disadvantage and barriers not included in the list above. These cases are assessed by ACO Eye Health on a case-by-case basis.
To discuss your eligibility, please contact [email protected].
To access VES in Melbourne, book an appointment at your local ACO Eye Health clinic.
- VES benefits are only available to eligible patients.
- VES benefits are available only if glasses or a change of glasses is assessed by your optometrist as clinically necessary.
- There is a limit on the number of glasses you can receive under the VES. In a two-year period you can receive one pair of reading glasses plus one pair of distance glasses, OR one pair of progressive or bifocal glasses.
- Tints and photochromatic glass lenses are only available under the VES where there is a clear clinical need, determined by your optometrist.
- Photochromatic plastic lenses are not available under the VES.
- In most cases, anti-reflective, ultra-violet and anti-reflective are not subsidised under the VES, unless your optometrist considers this as clinically necessary.
- If you wish to use your current glasses frame it must be assessed by your optometrist as being of suitable condition and quality to be used with new lenses.
- Lenses cannot be fitted to rimless or nylon rim frames under the VES.
- If you lose or break your VES glasses within two years, these can be replaced or repaired. A surcharge will be charged to you. Please note that this is limited to one replacement every two years.
About VASSS in Melbourne
The Victorian Aboriginal Spectacle Subsidy Scheme (VASSS) offers Aboriginal community members a further subsidy on glasses under the VES, with spectacles starting from $10.
Choose from a range of metal and plastic frames approved by community Elders. Depending on your prescription, single vision lenses for long distance and/or reading, bifocals or multi-focal lenses are available.
Please note: transition lenses and spare pairs are available at extra cost, speak to your optometrist for details.
VASSS is available at all ACO Eye Health locations.
