Home orthoptics providers in Australia

Vision Rehabilitation and Eye Movement Therapy at Home in Australia

Eye movement disorders, double vision, and binocular vision problems can make everyday tasks exhausting and disorienting. Reading, driving, using a computer, or even walking safely can become difficult. Yet specialist orthoptic care is not widely available in regional areas, and getting to a clinic can be a significant barrier.

Carevo connects you with qualified orthoptists in Australia who assess and treat eye movement and binocular vision problems in your home. These university-qualified professionals are members of Orthoptics Australia and bring portable assessment tools directly to you, whether you are recovering from a stroke, managing a congenital eye condition, or dealing with vision changes from neurological disease. 48 orthoptists are listed on Carevo.

The Right Support is About More Than Just Seeing Double

Are you worried about:

• Double vision affecting safety? Diplopia from stroke, head injury, or neurological conditions makes it hard to judge distances and navigate safely.
• A child’s eyes not working together? Strabismus (crossed eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye) respond well to treatment but require consistent, specialist input.
• Vision problems after stroke? Stroke can cause a range of visual disturbances including field loss, eye movement problems, and perceptual difficulties that orthoptists are trained to address.
• Accessing specialist care in a rural or outer-suburban area? Orthoptists are less common than optometrists or physiotherapists. A home visit removes the need to travel long distances for this specialist care.

Orthoptists through Carevo solve these worries, providing targeted assessment and therapy that makes a real difference to daily function and quality of life.

How In-Home Orthoptics Helps You Regain Visual Function

Australia orthoptists through Carevo assess and treat a wide range of conditions affecting how your eyes work together and how they move.

Conditions and Services Covered by In-Home Orthoptics

• Strabismus (eye turn) assessment and management: Measuring the angle of deviation, recommending patching, exercises, or prism lenses, and monitoring progress over time.
• Amblyopia (lazy eye) treatment: Implementing and monitoring evidence-based patching and vision therapy programs for children and adults.
• Binocular vision rehabilitation: Treating convergence insufficiency, divergence excess, and other binocular vision disorders that cause reading difficulties and eye strain.
• Stroke and acquired brain injury vision rehabilitation: Addressing diplopia, visual field deficits, and eye movement disorders following stroke or head trauma.
• Low vision assessment: Working alongside optometrists to evaluate functional vision and recommend aids and compensatory strategies.

Why In-Home Orthoptic Therapy Produces Better Outcomes

Orthoptic exercises and vision therapy programs need to transfer into real-world function. Working in the home environment allows the orthoptist to assess how vision problems affect your actual daily tasks, your reading setup, your computer use, and your navigation of your own space. Therapy goals are grounded in what matters to you rather than what can be tested in a clinical cubicle.

Conditions Orthoptics Treats at Home in Australia

Orthoptists through Carevo specialise in eye movement disorders and visual rehabilitation:

• Strabismus (squint): Assessment and non-surgical management of eye misalignment in children and adults, including patching therapy and vision exercises.
• Amblyopia (lazy eye): Occlusion therapy and visual stimulation programs to improve vision in the amblyopic eye.
• Diplopia (double vision): Assessment of the cause of double vision (neurological, muscular, or optical) and prescription of prism lenses or patching to manage symptoms.
• Eye movement disorders: Assessment and rehabilitation of saccadic dysfunction, smooth pursuit deficits, and convergence problems.
• Post-stroke visual rehabilitation: Visual field assessment, hemianopia management, and eye movement rehabilitation following stroke.
• Acquired brain injury: Visual assessment and rehabilitation of eye movement and visual processing problems following TBI.
• Nystagmus: Assessment of involuntary eye movements and prescription of optical aids or compensatory strategies.
• Diabetic retinopathy monitoring: Retinal photography and visual assessment for people with diabetes where access to a clinic is difficult.
• Low vision rehabilitation: Functional vision assessment and prescription of aids for people with permanent vision loss from any cause, alongside optometry referral.
• Paediatric visual assessment: Eye examination and binocular vision assessment for children who have difficulty attending a clinic setting.

Contact a provider through Carevo if your situation is not listed.

NDIS Support Items for Orthoptics

Orthoptics for NDIS participants is funded under the Therapeutic Supports registration group (0128).

NDIS Code	Description	Unit	Max Rate (National)
15_618_0128_1_3	Assessment, recommendation, therapy or training - Orthoptist	Hour	$193.99
15_799_0128_1_3	Provider travel - non-labour costs	Each	Quote

Under the 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Schedule, provider travel, non-face-to-face work, and NDIA-requested reports are listed as separate line items rather than folded into the hourly rate. Provider travel time (labour) is charged at 50% of the relevant hourly price limit, up to about $97.00/hour against the $193.99/hour orthoptist rate. The 15_799_0128_1_3 item above covers non-labour travel costs (vehicle costs up to $0.97/km, tolls, and parking).

Optical aids and low vision equipment may be funded separately under the NDIS Assistive Technology budget when vision impairment is related to the participant’s disability. Your orthoptist will specify which line items apply in their service agreement.

Making Funding Simple

Providers through Carevo are experienced in navigating the funding for in-home orthoptics.

• Support at Home (formerly Home Care Packages): Vision rehabilitation is a legitimate allied health use of Support at Home funds. Orthoptics can be included in your care plan where vision problems affect daily function, falls risk, or independent living.
• NDIS Plans: Orthoptics is funded under Capacity Building - Improved Daily Living where the support relates to a participant’s functional goals. This is particularly relevant for participants with acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, or other conditions affecting visual function.
• Medicare: Orthoptists are eligible allied health providers who can claim Medicare in their own right under MBS items 82030 (assessment) and 82035 (treatment) for patients with complex neurodevelopmental disorders or eligible disabilities, on referral from an eligible medical practitioner. Medicare rebates also apply to orthoptic services billed by an ophthalmologist. Ask your GP or ophthalmologist whether a Medicare-rebated orthoptic referral is available.
• DVA: Veterans with a Gold Card can access orthoptic services under DVA arrangements.

Why Australia Residents Trust Orthoptic Providers Through Carevo

Qualified Orthoptists, Properly Credentialled

All orthoptists connected through Carevo hold a Bachelor of Orthoptics or equivalent qualification from an accredited Australian university. They are full members of Orthoptics Australia, the peak professional body. While orthoptists are not individually registered through AHPRA, the Australian Orthoptic Board (AOB) maintains a national register and professional standards framework. Registration with the AOB is required for orthoptists performing refraction, prescribing optical lenses, and ultrasonography, and is widely required by employers and private health funds. Ask your provider about their credentials when booking.

Paediatric and Adult Expertise

Orthoptic conditions span all ages, from children with strabismus to older adults with stroke-related vision problems. Orthoptists through Carevo have experience across this full range, with paediatric-focused practitioners available for younger clients and neurological rehabilitation specialists for post-stroke and acquired brain injury cases.

Integrated with Your Eye Care Team

Orthoptists frequently work alongside ophthalmologists and optometrists as part of a coordinated eye care team. Providers through Carevo will communicate findings to your treating specialists and GP, supporting continuity of care across settings.

How to Access Home Orthoptics in Australia

NDIS Pathway

1. Check your plan: Orthoptics is funded under Capacity Building - Improved Daily Living when the eye movement or vision condition is related to the participant’s disability.
2. Self-managed and plan-managed participants: Contact any accredited orthoptist through Carevo directly.
3. Agency-managed participants: Confirm the provider is NDIS-registered.
4. Initial assessment: Your orthoptist will conduct a full assessment of eye alignment, movement, and visual function. Results are explained and a management plan is proposed.
5. Vision therapy program: If a home vision therapy program is prescribed, the orthoptist provides written instructions and materials. Follow-up visits assess progress.
6. Plan review reports: Orthoptists provide written reports documenting visual function and progress toward NDIS goals.

Medicare Pathway

Orthoptist services attract a Medicare rebate when referred by an ophthalmologist or, in some circumstances, a GP. Confirm the referral requirements with your provider and GP before booking.

Support at Home Pathway

Orthoptics can be funded as allied health under Support at Home for older adults with vision conditions affecting daily function and safety. Speak with your Support at Home provider or care partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an orthoptist and an optometrist? Optometrists conduct general eye examinations, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and detect eye disease. Orthoptists specialise in eye movement disorders, binocular vision problems, and vision rehabilitation following neurological events. Many eye care teams include both. For conditions like double vision, strabismus, or post-stroke visual difficulties, an orthoptist is the most appropriate specialist.

How much does a home orthoptics visit cost in Australia? Costs typically range from $120 to $200 per visit. Medicare rebates may apply in certain referral pathways. NDIS and Support at Home funding can cover costs where the support links to plan goals. Confirm the full fee and any travel charges with the provider when booking.

Does my child need a GP referral before seeing an orthoptist? A GP or ophthalmologist referral is not always required, but it can facilitate Medicare rebates and ensures your child’s broader healthcare team is informed. Some parents contact an orthoptist directly after concerns are raised by a school, paediatrician, or optometrist. Carevo can help you work out the best pathway for your child’s situation.

Can orthoptics help adults with double vision after a stroke? Yes. Acquired double vision (diplopia) following stroke is one of the most common reasons for adult orthoptic referral. Orthoptists assess the type and cause of double vision, prescribe temporary or permanent prism lenses to eliminate diplopia in primary gaze, and provide advice on managing residual vision problems. Eye movement rehabilitation exercises may also be used to restore function.

How does patching therapy work for amblyopia in children? Patching therapy involves covering the stronger eye with a patch to force the amblyopic (lazy) eye to work harder. The brain’s visual pathway is encouraged to develop more normal processing. Orthoptists prescribe the number of patching hours per day, monitor progress at review visits, and adjust the program as visual acuity improves. Home visits remove the need to attend a clinic for monitoring, which is practical for young children.

Ready to Address Your Vision Problems at Home?

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