Just had the most hostile experience with Claremont Optical after attending for my first appointment ever to have my Medicare bulkbill eye test with optometrist Annie Richards.

Earlier in the day I was called and offered an earlier appointment because they had “cancellations”. I told them I booked a 5pm appointment because I have to work (I work in a hospital as a healthcare worker and it’s Christmas Eve). I suspect they wanted to move me earlier so they could close up early, based on how short the optometrist was with me on arrival. By the way, it took me 30 minutes to drive to this appointment so I find this disrespectful of my own time.

The eye test consult was brief, lasting less than 5 minutes. She was short and abrupt with me, she didn’t even mention my astigmatism which all good optometrists mention in my initial appointment. She didn’t discuss my risk to glaucoma, my general eye health (eye pressure etc) or really any details of the eye test only to tell me that my eye strength remains the same. A really poor level of comprehensive testing!

She tried to upsell me to order eye contacts through the clinic and I explained my eyes are prone to conjunctivitis and I can only do trials and I’d prefer to have my script written down so I can order my usual ones (through another clinic). This obviously didn’t sit well with her as she walked me to the reception desk and said “that’s an eye contact lens consultation which is not bulk billed by Medicare”. I questioned her on this and said I’ve booked a bulkbill Medicare eye test so what part of that was an eye contact lens consult since I’m not ordering through you? She said “ok we’ll that’s it then” and walked abruptly away from me into her consult room and I stood there unsure if she is coming back to address me again.

I asked the admin staff whether I could have my script so I can order my glasses or lenses and they wrote it down on a post it note…I can’t take that anywhere! Deeply unprofessional.

Go here if you want an unprofessional and rude service. FYI a MEDICARE APPOINTMENT means I am entitled to make decisions for my own health including choosing not to order your products!

My experience with Claremont Optical was fabulous. Claremont Optical has a variety of products and I am really happy to get my Tag glasses here as it is really hard to get one in Perth. Besides that the price is also reasonable.

Kylie who served me is very helpful, knowledgeable, approachable and friendly. She responded to my queries promptly and helped me to contact Tag immediately to checkout the colours and prices for me. She also recommended the style and colours that suit me better which is very helpful as sometime it can be quite hard to pick the correct one myself.

I will definitely recommend my friends and relatives to get their optical products from Claremont Optical and come back to here whenever I need new glasses.