Geelong Eye Health
General Eyecare
Full vision and eye health examinations for every age, where we take time to deeply understand your eyes and their story.
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Geelong Eye Health
Your Premium Independent Optometrist for Geelong, Bellarine and the Surf Coast
Caring, unhurried eye care, explained clearly.
Book your AppointmentWe look after all kinds of eyes
Whether your eyes are struggling with something specific, or you're just overdue for a check-up, this is the place.
Emergency Eye Care
Eye injury, something in the eye, suspected infection or sudden vision change. We are here for you.
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Dry Eye Clinic
Geelong's dedicated dry eye practice, led by dry eye expert Leigh Plowman who has dry eyes himself and has spent 20 years taking eye symptoms seriously.
Learn more →Often mistaken for allergies
Dry, itchy eyes aren't always "just allergies".
It's one of the most common stories we hear: years of itchy, dry or puffy eyes, allergy testing that never quite explains it, and no real answer until someone actually assesses the surface of the eye.
"I was always told the problem was likely allergies, so have endured just about every allergy test under the sun…"
That's TV presenter Melissa Doyle, describing her dry eye publicly.
Sounds familiar? See the dry eye assessment →Signs it may be more than allergies
- Symptoms stick around all year, not just in spring.
- Drops help a little, or not at all.
- Your eyes water more, not less: the classic dry eye contradiction.
- Screens, air-conditioning and long days make it noticeably worse.
Melissa Doyle's comments are a public media example, not a Geelong Eye Health patient and were reported in mivision and EyeTalk
About Dr Leigh Plowman
A dry eye expert who understands it personally
"I'm not just your optometrist. I'm a fellow sufferer who wants to help you get answers and a clearer path forward."
Dr Leigh Plowman (B.Optom, Therapeutic Endorsement) is an optometrist and dry eye expert with 20 years in optometry, and every day living with dry eyes himself. His expertise led him to contribute to Optometry Australia's first-ever Dry Eye Guide and writes for Mivision and Insight.
So when you sit in his chair, you're not getting a script and a shrug. You're getting someone who genuinely gets it.
Read Leigh's StoryNo conveyor belts. Just three honest steps.
Step 1
We actually listen
A proper 60 minute consultation. Your history, your habits, your lifestyle, your symptoms: the full picture.
Step 2
We look closely
Tear-film and gland imaging helps us assess what's happening on the surface of your eyes, instead of guessing.
Step 3
You understand the plan
We explain what we found, the likely contributors and your individual management options in plain English.
Patient experiences
5.059 Google reviewsTrusted by patients across Geelong.
Patients often mention feeling heard, receiving a thorough assessment and having things explained clearly.
Read all reviews on Google
Rating and review count checked 1 September 2026.
Cost of inaction
The expensive part of dry eye is often ignoring it.
A dry eye assessment has a visible price. The hidden cost is the daily friction: screens you avoid, work that feels harder, evenings cut short, and the mental load of trying another drop without understanding the likely contributors to your symptoms.
That is the useful comparison: not "is this more than a quick eye test?", but "what is this already costing me in comfort, focus and quality of life?"
The hidden cost of leaving it$14,078in indirect costs per affected patient, every year.Australian research in glaucoma patients with significant ocular surface disease. It does not mean every dry eye patient carries that cost.
WorkScreen time, concentration and productivity can suffer.
LifeReading, driving, TV and evenings may feel harder than they should.
MoneyResearch links ocular surface disease with indirect costs such as lost productivity.
Latest eye-health guide
Read the guide →Eye drops only helping briefly?
Learn why persistent dry-eye symptoms may need a more detailed assessment than trying another bottle.
Research-grade technology
We can look more closely at what's happening on your eye surface.
Corneal and tear-film imaging helps map your eye surface in detail, so your assessment is based on more than a quick look and a guess.
A dedicated dry-eye assessment looks deeper than a standard quick check.
Every follow-up re-measures your eyes, so you can see your progress too.
Things people ask us all the time
What are the common symptoms of dry eyes?
The most common symptoms of dry eyes include tired eyes, itchy eyes, watery eyes, or difficulty focusing at times for reading or computer work.
What causes dry eyes?
Dry eye is often caused by many individual factors. Ageing, environmental conditions, certain medications and underlying health conditions can all contribute. Screen time is an increasing cause of dry eyes.
How can I manage my dry eyes at home?
Artificial tears, screen breaks, a humidifier and staying hydrated may help some people. If symptoms persist, an assessment can investigate the likely contributors and whether a different management approach may be appropriate.
How often should I have a follow-up appointment for my dry eyes?
The frequency of follow-up appointments varies based on your individual needs and treatment plan. We'll recommend the appropriate schedule for you.
Life's too short for scratchy eyes.
Book online through the clinic's secure appointment system.
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