A five per cent Medicare rebate cut for optometry came into effect on January 1.

The cost will either be absorbed by the providers or could be passed on to patients.

Optometry Australia chief executive Genevieve Quilty said the organisation was seeking urgent talks with new Health Minister Sussan Ley.

She said cuts had the potential to hurt ageing regional populations including the Wimmera.

Ms Quilty said exemptions for the most vulnerable people had been made for the $5 GP co-payment, which is set to come into effect on July 1.

She called on the government to match the exemptions for optometry.

‘‘Our sense of urgency is greater because the changes have already been made,’’ Ms Quilty said.

‘‘The government has promised some carve-outs for the GP changes that have been announced and we’ve been continually seeking the same exemptions.

We have renewed that request with the new minister.’’

There will be a further two-year freeze on Medicare fees in optometry until July 2018.

Ms Quilty said optometrists were focused on the effects of the change on patients rather than practices.

‘‘Our profession has a long history of bulk billing in rural and regional communities,’’ she said.

‘‘There will be some potential ill effects to optometry practices but we’ve got a long history of making things work.’’

Ms Quilty said 75 to 80 per cent of eye conditions were either preventable or treatable.

‘‘We are most anxious to remind the government of this so patients can continue to access care from early intervention for children all the way to conditions affected by ageing such as macular degeneration,’’ she said.

‘‘The earlier we can work with patients the better it will be for the community as it keeps people either in the paid workforce or allows them to continue to volunteer.’’

Ms Quilty said eye health was important in the Wimmera, with many people forced to drive longer distances as well as engage in farm work, which involved operating heavy vehicles.