Getting Glasses in Australia: Eye Tests, Frames, Contacts and Costs (2026)
You book a comprehensive eye test directly with an optometrist — no GP referral needed — and Medicare covers the test under bulk billing (you pay nothing at clinics that bulk bill), once every three years if you are under 65 and once a year from age 65. That test gives you a prescription you can take anywhere, from Specsavers' recurring 2-pairs-for-$199 deals to online stores. Medicare does not pay for frames or lenses, but private health extras usually add an annual optical allowance.
Getting your prescription: the bulk-billed eye test
An optometrist (the eye-care professional who tests vision and prescribes glasses) is your first stop, not a GP. If you hold a valid Medicare card, a comprehensive eye examination is covered: once every 3 years if you are under 65, and once every 12 months from age 65. The exam includes an eye-health check and a prescription for glasses or contact lenses, and no referral is required — you book straight with the practice.
The key question when you book: "Do you bulk bill?" Bulk billing (the clinic bills Medicare directly, so you pay nothing out of pocket) is optional for the practice. Big chains — Specsavers, OPSM, Bailey Nelson, Oscar Wylee — commonly bulk bill, but policies differ: some practices only bulk bill concession card holders, and advanced extras like OCT retinal scans may cost extra. Ask before you sit in the chair.
Your prescription is generally treated as valid for 1–2 years — take a copy even if you shop elsewhere. It usually omits your PD (pupillary distance), which matters for online orders; ask the staff to measure and note it.
Frames and lenses: what the options mean
Single-vision lenses correct one distance (near or far). Progressive lenses blend distance, intermediate and reading zones into one lens — no visible line. Blue-light filter lenses add a coating aimed at screen glare; photochromic lenses (e.g. Transitions) darken in sunlight, doubling as sunglasses.
If your prescription is strong, ask about high-index lenses (1.67 or 1.74) — thinner, lighter plastic that avoids thick "coke bottle" edges. Frame materials: metal and titanium (light, strong, often hypoallergenic), acetate (the colourful plastic of most fashion frames), and TR90 (a flexible, featherweight thermoplastic popular for sports styles).
Specsavers runs a recurring 2 pairs for $199 storewide offer that includes single-vision lenses (an online-only 2-for-$149 tier is also advertised). The headline price covers basic single-vision lenses in the included frame ranges; the add-ons — high-index, anti-reflective, blue-light, Transitions, polarised tints, progressives — each add cost, and a "$199" pair can end up well above that. Always ask for an itemised quote and compare the total against a second retailer.
Contact lenses: dailies, monthlies and toric
Daily disposables are worn once and thrown away — the lowest-maintenance option. Monthly (or fortnightly) lenses are cheaper per day but need cleaning and a case. If you have astigmatism, you need toric lenses, shaped to correct the uneven curvature; not every brand makes toric in every prescription, so the choice may be narrower.
Australia requires a valid prescription to buy contact lenses — retailers will ask you to enter it or confirm it with your optometrist, and a separate contact-lens fitting check is usually needed before your first order. Common places Australians buy: Clearly AU, SmartBuyGlasses, and Specsavers (in store and on its website).
Ordering glasses online: PD, delivery and returns
Online ordering needs two things from you: your prescription and your PD (pupillary distance) — the millimetre distance between your pupils, which centres the lenses correctly. PD is rarely printed on the prescription; ask the optometrist's staff to measure it (a 30-second job), or measure yourself with a millimetre ruler in a mirror or a phone app.
Delivery is generally 1–2 weeks from order to doorstep. Return policies vary by retailer, so read them before you pay: Specsavers, for example, advertises 90-day returns on online glasses orders. Keep the receipt and the order confirmation until the pair fits.
Small accessories: stop the slip
Glasses that slide down your nose are a solved problem: anti-slip nose pads, glasses chains, sports straps for running and cycling, and anti-fog cloths for mask days and winter mornings. They are cheap, and Amazon.com.au sells all of them.
Insurance: what Medicare and extras actually pay
Medicare covers the eye test — not frames, lenses or contact lenses. For those, the lever is private health insurance extras: most funds include an optical item paying a set annual amount toward glasses or contacts. Many mid-tier extras plans sit around $200–260 a year; limits vary by fund (roughly $150–$350 market-wide), and extras usually has a 2-month waiting period for new members — check your own policy first.
Why you need a spare pair
Your only pair of glasses is a single point of failure: snapped at the gym, sat on, lost on a trip — and you cannot function normally until a replacement arrives in a week or two. A cheap spare removes the drama. Options: use the second pair in a Specsavers 2-for deal as the backup, grab a basic pair from Dresden (single-vision from $59), or order a spare online with your saved prescription and PD.
Forum watch: what Chinese-Australian forums keep asking
On yeeyi and oursteps, two questions come up constantly. "Which optometrist bulk bills so the eye test costs nothing?" — ask "do you bulk bill?" when booking; the big chains commonly do, but some stores restrict it to concession card holders, so confirm. "Is Specsavers' 2-for-$199 good value, and are the lens add-ons a trap?" — the deal is genuinely cheap for basic single-vision glasses; the "trap" only exists if you do not ask. Lens upgrades are priced separately, so get the itemised total and compare with Dresden or an online quote.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a GP referral to get an eye test?
No. You book directly with an optometrist, and Medicare covers the comprehensive test for card holders — every 3 years under 65, every 12 months from 65.
Is the Specsavers 2-pairs-for-$199 deal good value?
For basic single-vision glasses, yes — it is one of the cheapest complete pairs in Australia. The catch is that lens upgrades (thinner, progressive, Transitions) cost extra, so judge the final itemised total, not the headline.
How long is my prescription valid?
Most practices treat a glasses prescription as valid for about 1–2 years. Contact-lens prescriptions are often reviewed more strictly — ask your optometrist.
Can I buy contact lenses in Australia without a prescription?
No. Retailers must have a valid prescription on file, and first-time wearers usually need a fitting check. Zero-power cosmetic lenses are the exception in some shops, but corrective lenses are not.
Does Medicare pay for my glasses?
No — Medicare pays for the eye examination only. Frames, lenses and contact lenses come out of your pocket or your private health extras' optical allowance.
Sources
- Services Australia (Medicare): https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/
- Australian Government Department of Health: https://www.health.gov.au/
- Optometry Australia: https://www.optometry.org.au/
- Specsavers Australia: https://www.specsavers.com.au/
- Dresden Vision: https://dresden.vision
- Clearly AU: https://www.clearly.com.au/
- SmartBuyGlasses Australia: https://www.smartbuyglasses.com.au/
- Australian Government private health insurance comparison: https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/