What you should bring
You should bring your Medicare Card to the consultation, and if you have a Health Care Card, Concession Card, or Private Health Insurance you should bring that as well.
Secondary items that are helpful to the consultation are current spectacles and contact lenses, the name of the contact lens solution you use, and a list of medications you take. Medications taken for some health conditions can occasionally have effects on your eyes that you may not be aware of.
If you have noticed something about your eyes, Simon may ask you to document further information. For example, if your eyes are uncomfortable, it would be helpful to know which eye, what time in the day it feels that way, and how long it has been that way for. Making notes about this can help Simon detail the best treatment plans.
Journaling the severity, duration, and time of your symptoms can assist in clinical examination.
Bring your concerns and anxieties openly, because Simon is here to help you through them without judgement or prejudice.
What Simon brings
Having worked in the industry for more than a decade, I remember my first day in Optometry as if it was yesterday. I really do love what I do. My clinical experience includes the prescribing of eye medications, a diverse range of knowledge in spectacle frame and lens fitting, and an awareness of the ever expanding technology within eye care (diagnostic equipment, treatment products, and referral pathways to eye surgeries in Brisbane).
My communication style is steady and relaxed. I can be direct when you need me to be, and I will support you through your concerns. I try to get to know you, so I may ask questions about your lifestyle and interests, and I give you a lot of opportunities to talk throughout the consultation. I use electronic record keeping, I may look distracted while I type away on the computer as you speak to me, but in reality I am doing my best to listen intently. I know that I am empathetic, and I draw on personal experiences to relate in the best way possible.
I am quite happy to organize subsequent or review appointments to cover in depth what you may feel I have glossed over, and I am also available to do this via e-mail or phone calls. I am open to your feedback.
I have ongoing relationships with many eye specialists (Ophthalmologists) around Brisbane, and can provide referrals for the surgeries you may require. I will give you recommendations, and organize the appointments for you if you would like me to.
I look forward to meeting you. “
Simon Lan