Eye Outpatient and Eye Emergency Department
Ground floor of the Clinical Services Building
Who are we?
The Sydney Eye Hospital Outpatient and Emergency Service provide a comprehensive ophthalmology service incorporating consultation, diagnostic and treatment services together with facilities for adults and children of all ages.
The service is a tertiary referral centre, which means that people from throughout the state of NSW are referred to our specialist ophthalmic services. Patients may be referred from consultant ophthalmologists, other specialists, general practitioners, optometrists, other hospitals or self-referred.
Services are provided by ophthalmologists (eye doctors) or ophthalmologists in training, registrars and residents. They are supported by nursing staff and allied health professionals including orthoptists, pharmacists and social workers.
The Eye Emergency and Outpatient Departments see around 80,000 patients each year, and this number is growing.
Staff
Doctors
Ophthalmologists or ophthalmologists in training, eye registrars and resident medical officers
Nurses
Nurse unit manager, clinical nurse specialists, registered nurses, post registered ophthalmology students and enrolled nurses.
Administration
Administration manager and officers.
Staff within the Eye Emergency and Outpatients Departments liaise closely with all hospital departments, and in particular the Department of Ophthalmology (University of Sydney), the Save Sight Institute, the Orthoptic Department, the Ophthalmic Wards and Sydney Hospital Emergency.
Where are we?
The Sydney Eye Hospital Outpatient/Emergency Department is located on the ground floor of the Clinical Services Building, adjacent to Sydney Hospital Emergency Department.
Services
Outpatients
Outpatient clinics encompass the following specialties: general ophthalmology, refraction, cornea*, oncology (ocular)*, neuro-ophthalmology*, laser*, endocrine*, glaucoma*, oculo-plastics*, uveitis*, squint*, vitreo-retinal*, contact lenses*, contact lenses*, external eye disease, medical retinal*, orthoptic services (click on link to view orthoptics page)
* These are specialty clinics and attendance is via referral from an outside Ophthalmologist or from Sydney Eye Hospital Emergency Department.
Diagnostic services include:
- Humphrey field tests
- nerve fibre analysis
- fluorescein angiography
- ocular monitoring/orthoptic assessment
- bjerrum screening
- tensilon tests
Other investigations and tests include:
- A and B scan (Ultrasonic imaging of the eyeball for diagnostic purposes.)
- keratometry (measurement of the curvature and diameter of the cornea for diagnostic purposes)
- autorefraction (measurement of the refractive (focusing) power of the eye for diagnostic purposes)
- laser (Argon and Yag) (laser eye surgery)
- cryotherapy
- eye dressings/removal of sutures
- minor surgical procedures (biopsies, lesion/cyst removals)
- pre and post operative assessment and patient education
The Eye Outpatient Department participates in and supports clinical research projects with the Sydney University Department of Ophthalmology, training for ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses and undertakes training for post-registration ophthalmic nurses. It also participates in training for post-registration ophthalmic nurses.
Hours of opening
| Outpatient Department: | 8am - 5pm. Monday - Friday |
| Emergency Department: | Monday - Friday |
| Eye Emergency Department: | 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. |
Contact Numbers
General enquiries: |
61 2 9382 7050 or |
Emergency enquiries (Weekdays): |
61 2 9382 7514 or |
Emergency enquiries (Weekends): |
61 2 9382 7514 |
Emergency enquiries (After Hours): |
61 2 9382 7111 and ask for |
Specialties
Eye Hospital staff can provide specialist care for the following types of injuries or complaints:
- acute eye infections
- age related macular degeneration
- cataracts
- chalazia
- chemical burns to eyes
- conjunctivitis
- corneal problems eg. keratitis, keratoconus, astigmatism etc
- diabetic eye disease
- dry eyes
- eye trauma eg. penetrating eye injuries, sports injuries, work related injuries, abrasions to the eye
- flashes and 'floaters' in the eye
- foreign matter in the eye
- glaucoma
- gradual decrease in vision
- hemorrhage in the eye
- iritis, uveitis, endophthalmitis or other eye infections
- neuro-vascular disease
- paediatric eye conditions
- painful eye conditions
- retinal conditions eg. detached retina
- second opinions
- skin lesions around the eyes and conditions of the lids
- squints and lazy eye
- sudden loss of vision
- thyroid eye disease
- tumours or growths in the eyes
- viral or bacterial infections eg. herpes simplex, virus keratitis, herpes zoster Keratitis, trachoma etc
- welding flashes or burns
Patient visits to Sydney Eye Hospital
Emergencies
Sydney Eye Hospital Emergency Department treats all patients presenting with eye emergencies, together with patients referred from Ophthalmologists, GP's, local hospitals or ophthalmic community nurses.
Overseas visitors are welcome, but an upfront fee is charged for all services provided.
Outpatient Department
All outpatient referrals are for specific eye conditions. Referrals to specialist clinics must be via an ophthalmologist, whereas referrals to non-specialist clinics can be made by a GP, ophthalmologist or via Sydney Eye Hospital Emergency Department.
Patients should bring a letter from their referring health provider when they attend the clinic.
Patient information for Sydney Eye Hospital Emergency Department
Patient tips when attending Sydney Eye Hospital
- bring appointment card
- bring Medicare/veterans affairs card
- bring all glasses, readers and distance glasses
- bring a list of all medications currently being taken
- patients who receive drops in their eyes may need to bring dark glasses or a hat
- patients receiving patching eye treatment must not drive home
- patients with English as a second language may need to book an Interpreter service prior to their visit
Appointments
| Telephone Appointments Desk: | 61 2 9382 7046 |
| Emergencies: | 61 2 9382 7513 (9 - 5, 7 days per week) |
| 61 2 9382 7111 (afterhours , 7 days per week) |
Useful Links