We offer care of selected diseases of the eye, within a tertiary scope of service.

About this service

The Eye Clinic at Canberra Hospital provides subspecialty clinics including:

• cornea
• retina
• uveitis
• surgical glaucoma
• paediatric ophthalmology (strict referral guidelines - see below).

Some of these services are also provided at North Canberra Hospital. You will be directed to the location that is most appropriate for your needs.

Please note that we DO NOT provide:

• general ophthalmology
• cataract surgery
• glaucoma management other than surgery
• “maintenance” intraocular injections
• screening eg for diabetic eye disease
• glasses and contact lenses
• second opinions
• walk-in appointments
• paediatric services except when referred by a specialist.

Who we care for

• Adults referred by an optometrist, private ophthalmologist or other specialist.
• Children referred by a specialist, such as a paediatrician or private ophthalmologist.

How to access this service

Your referrer will organise for you to access this service.

• Adults must have a referral from an optometrist, private ophthalmologist or other medical specialist, for example, immunologist or neurologist. New adult patient referrals from GPs are not accepted unless they are accompanied by a recent optometry and/or ophthalmology report.
• Children must have a referral by a specialist, such as a paediatrician or private ophthalmologist. We cannot accept GP or optometrist referrals for new child patients.

Some disorders will require ongoing management at the Eye Clinic. When this happens, you will need to obtain and provide an updated referral from a specialist every 3 months, or from a GP or optometrist every 12 months. GP and optometrist referrals are accepted for ongoing care for existing adult and child patients.

What to expect

There is heavy demand for this service and we assess all referrals against clinical criteria. This means that your referral may not be accepted. If you are not eligible to attend, your referrer will be advised.

If you are eligible to attend, we will send you a letter to confirm if you have been given an appointment or if you are on the waiting list. We will then contact you when an appointment is available.

After your assessment or initial treatment by the Eye Clinic, you may be referred back to your GP, optometrist or a private ophthalmologist for ongoing management.

If you need dilating drops you will need to be driven home after your appointment, as your vision will be blurry for several hours.

What to bring

• Medicare Card or ACT Services Card
• List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
• Previous x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
• Your referral
• Any letters or correspondence from your optometrist or doctor

Where we're located

Eye Clinic, Building 3, Level 1, Canberra Hospital.

The clinic is a short walk from the multi storey car park. There is a drop-off area close to the Eye Clinic entry behind the Canberra Region Cancer Centre.

We have directions to Canberra Hospital.