Optical, orthoptic and optometry services

We’re here to help you get your life back on track after your transport accident. To help you with your injuries we will pay for orthoptic, ophthalmology and optometry consultations provided in Australia.

In the first 90 days after your accident, the TAC can help pay for this treatment without the need for you to contact us for approval first.

When you need to contact us for approval

You or your provider need to contact the TAC for approval of this treatment if:

It is approaching or more than 90 days since your accident and we have not approved further treatment or services, or
It has been more than 6 months since you’ve had any treatment or service paid for by the TAC.

When we can pay for optical, orthoptic and optometry services

In the first 90 days after your accident, if your doctor recommends that you need optical, orthoptic or optometry services because of your injuries, there's no need to contact us for approval first.

After the first 90 days, you will need TAC approval for more optical, orthoptic and optometry services.

We will pay you to visit your doctor so you can discuss your needs with them. As part of that visit, they can refer you to an orthoptist, ophthalmologist or optometrist.

When needed, we will work with your treating team to help them organise the eye treatments and support you need.

We may contact your eye specialist to discuss your progress or ask for an assessment to make sure that:

You have access to the most appropriate treatment and support.
You are getting proven, evidence-based treatment and not receiving treatment that isn't helping you recover.
You are moving towards getting your life back on track or being able to live independently.

Treatment and services we can’t pay for

We can’t pay for services that:

Do not treat your transport accident injuries.
Are not reasonable, necessary or appropriate.
Are not clinically justified, safe and effective.

What do these services do?

Optometrists are primary health care specialists trained to examine the eyes to detect defects in the vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases or abnormality and problems with general optical health.

Orthoptics is a primary health care discipline that specialises in the diagnosis and non-surgical management of eye disorders, particularly eye movement disorders.

Ophthalmology is a medical service that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems.

For more information please refer to the following resources:

How treatments and services are paid for

We pay for your treatments:

Directly to your health provider when you have given them your TAC claim number, or
If you have to pay, use myTAC to send a copy of your receipt to us and we will repay you.

We pay for your services in line with our responsibilities under the Transport Accident Act 1986.

How much we will pay

We will pay for your treatment and services according to our fee schedule. If your service provider charges more than the TAC rate, you may need to pay the difference.

For a list of TAC rates, see:

Optometry and Orthoptic Services
- Optometry fees
- Orthoptic services fees

TAC Medical Services Reimbursement Rate

For accidents that happened before 14 February 2018, we can only pay for optometry and ophthalmology services once any required medical excess has been reached. Find out if the medical excess applies to you.

For providers

If you are a provider of eye services, please refer to our:


Optical, orthoptic and optometry services We’re here to help you get your life back on track after your transport accident. To help you with your injuries we will pay for orthoptic, ophthalmology and optometry consultations provided in Australia. In the first 90 days after your accident, the TAC can help pay for this treatment without the need for you to contact us for approval first. When you need to contact us for approval You or your provider need to contact the TAC for approval of this treatment if: It is approaching or more than 90 days since your accident and we have not approved further treatment or services, or It has been more than 6 months since you’ve had any treatment or service paid for by the TAC. When we can pay for optical, orthoptic and optometry services In the first 90 days after your accident, if your doctor recommends that you need optical, orthoptic or optometry services because of your injuries, there's no need to contact us for approval first. After the first 90 days, you will need TAC approval for more optical, orthoptic and optometry services. We will pay you to visit your doctor so you can discuss your needs with them. As part of that visit, they can refer you to an orthoptist, ophthalmologist or optometrist. When needed, we will work with your treating team to help them organise the eye treatments and support you need. We may contact your eye specialist to discuss your progress or ask for an assessment to make sure that: You have access to the most appropriate treatment and support. You are getting proven, evidence-based treatment and not receiving treatment that isn't helping you recover. You are moving towards getting your life back on track or being able to live independently. Treatment and services we can’t pay for We can’t pay for services that: Do not treat your transport accident injuries. Are not reasonable, necessary or appropriate. Are not clinically justified, safe and effective. What do these services do? Optometrists are primary health care specialists trained to examine the eyes to detect defects in the vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases or abnormality and problems with general optical health. Orthoptics is a primary health care discipline that specialises in the diagnosis and non-surgical management of eye disorders, particularly eye movement disorders. Ophthalmology is a medical service that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems. For more information please refer to the following resources: Optometry Australia Australian College of Optometry Orthoptics Australia Australian Society of Opthalmologists How treatments and services are paid for We pay for your treatments: Directly to your health provider when you have given them your TAC claim number, or If you have to pay, use myTAC to send a copy of your receipt to us and we will repay you. We pay for your services in line with our responsibilities under the Transport Accident Act 1986. How much we will pay We will pay for your treatment and services according to our fee schedule. If your service provider charges more than the TAC rate, you may need to pay the difference. For a list of TAC rates, see: Optometry and Orthoptic Services Optometry fees Orthoptic services fees TAC Medical Services Reimbursement Rate For accidents that happened before 14 February 2018, we can only pay for optometry and ophthalmology services once any required medical excess has been reached. Find out if the medical excess applies to you. For providers If you are a provider of eye services, please refer to our: TAC Optometry provider guideline TAC Orthoptic provider guideline