Ophthalmology Clinic
The Sutherland Hospital Ophthalmology Outpatients Clinic works to improve the experience and delivery of health care for people accessing public sector ophthalmic services in New South Wales.
We do this by providing specialist clinician care as per the NSW Ministry of Health guidelines and policies (Statewide Referral Criteria for Ophthalmology) and developing and adapting proven models of eye care for improved patient access and outcome.
The Eye Clinic at Sutherland Hospital deals with the eye and visual system. We aim to detect eye diseases that can be successfully treated if they are caught early and can be effectively managed using existing treatment and medicines.
We diagnose and provide medical treatment and surgery for a range of eye diseases and conditions. These include:
- Cataracts
- Diabetic Eye Disease
- Glaucoma
- Eye Emergencies (via the Emergency Department)
| Specialist | Clinical Areas |
|---|---|
| Dr Nagi Assaad (Head of Department) | Cataract, General Ophthalmology, Medical Retina |
A booked appointment is required to be seen in the Eye Clinic.
Walk-in appointments are not accepted.
Clinic hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday, Wednesday & Friday.
Our clinic adopts the Statewide Referral Criteria for Ophthalmology. Please refer to these criteria before making a referral.
Referrals are accepted for the following conditions:
- Cataract (optometrist report required if referred by a GP)
- Diabetic Retinopathy (please note that intravitreal injections are not provided at this clinic)
- Glaucoma
- Eye emergencies via the Emergency Department
Exclusion Criteria:
- Out of area referrals
- Conditions not listed above
The process for referring a patient is:
- GP/referrer to send electronic referral. We are no longer accepting faxed referrals for this clinic.
- The referral will be checked to ensure it is valid. If not valid then extra information will be sourced from the referrer.
- If valid, the referral will be triaged by clinic doctor.
- Appointment made as per doctor’s recommendation.
- Patient notified by confirmation letter as well as a text/call 1 week prior to appointment.
For instruction on how to send an electronic referral, please click to see our resources here.
A valid referral requires:
- Written by a medical practitioner in a private practice or an SMO (Senior Medical Officer).
- Written to a named doctor within the clinic.
- Signed and dated by referring practitioner and include their Provider Number and place of practice.
- Include length of referral, unless it is a 12 month referral.
- Patient to have signed financial consent form.
Please refer to the State-wide Referral Criteria for Ophthalmology for specific criteria for the relevant condition.
Is there a waiting list?
Yes
Waiting List Details
All referrals are prioritised and allocated according to criteria.
If you hold a valid Medicare card the visit is Bulk Billed.
If you do not hold a Medicare card a fee will be charged on arrival, please contact the clinic for further information.
Please let us know if you need an interpreter.
You can contact us by telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak, and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and us on 9540 7624.