About our eye health services
The ophthalmology department and eye care facility at Westmead Hospital is accredited by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.
Our eye health services are free for Medicare card holders. We diagnose and provide medical treatment and surgery for a wide range of eye diseases and conditions for adults aged 16 years and over.
Eye diseases can be successfully treated if they are caught early and can be effectively managed with existing treatments and medicines.
Common eye conditions explained
| Eye condition | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Cataracts | When the lens of your eye becomes cloudy, affecting your ability to see. |
| Corneal disease | Conditions that affect your cornea (the clear window at the front of your eye). It can cause clouding, distortion, scarring and eventually blindness. There are many types of corneal disease, the 3 main types are keratoconus, Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy and bullous keratopathy. Learn more about eye diseases on the Healthdirect website. |
| Injuries (trauma and emergencies) | Injuries like scratches, cuts, stabs, and blows can cause eye problems. Serious trauma can happen if the eye is bumped or hit, the bones of the eye socket are broken, or when harmful chemicals accidentally contact the eye. Learn about the state-wide referral criteria for ophthalmic emergencies on the NSW Health website. |
| Eye infections | Eye infections can be caused by viruses or bacteria; some can become very serious. |
| General ophthalmological conditions | Chronic eye conditions are very common in Australia. Learn about what the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is doing to help improve eye health and vision in Australia. |
| Glaucoma | A common eye problem that can cause vision loss due to damage to your optic nerve. |
| Macular degeneration | Age-related chronic eye disease that causes central vision loss. |
| Diabetic retinopathy | Complication diabetes can cause serious vision problems. |
| Retinal vein occlusion | Blockage in the veins that carry blood away from the retina, leading to symptoms like blurry vision and potential vision loss. |
| Genetic or inherited eye diseases | Genetic eye conditions that cause vision loss, and sometimes, legal blindness. They can occur from birth through to late adulthood. |
| Minor eye surgery | Surgical procedures performed to address specific conditions without the need for lengthy hospitalisation. |
| Neuro-ophthalmology | Vision problems related to the nervous system. |
| Oculoplastics (eyelid disorders, watery eye, orbital disease) | Surgical procedures (plastic and reconstructive surgeries) involving the orbit (eye socket), eyelids, tear ducts, eyebrows, forehead, cheeks and face. |
| Strabismus (squint) | Affecting the nerves of the eye muscles, where one of the eyes points in towards the nose or outwards toward the ear. |
| Uveitis | Inflammation inside the eye, often causes by an autoimmune response or infection. |
| Vitreoretinal surgery | Treats conditions affecting the retina (tissues at the back of the eye) and vitreous gel (substance filling the eye), including retinal detachment, macular holes and epiretinal membranes. |
Find an eye health service
Use our Service Directory to find a health service near you.
How to access our services
Our eye health services are based at Westmead Hospital. You will need a referral from your GP (doctor) or medical practitioner.
Cost
This service is free if you have a Medicare card. Charges apply for patients who do not have one.
Routine (non-urgent) appointments
- Your doctor will need to submit an eReferral via the HealthLink portal.
- We will send you a letter with an appointment date and time. Some clinics may send you a letter to let you know you've been placed on their appointment waitlist.
- You will receive an SMS (text) reminder a week before your appointment.
Urgent appointments
- Your doctor will need to submit an eReferral via the HealthLink portal.
- If we decide you need an urgent appointment, we will call you to make an appointment over the phone.
Service location
Outpatient eye clinic
The outpatient eye clinic is located in Ward B4a, Level 2 of Westmead Hospital. Wheelchair access is available through the hospital's main entrance and via the lifts to all levels of the hospital.
For more information call (02) 8890 6668
Eye surgical unit
The eye surgical unit is located in F Block, Level 3 in the Day Ward of Westmead Hospital. Wheelchair access is available through the hospital's main entrance and via the lifts to all levels of the hospital.
For more information call the Eye clinic admissions nurse at 0434 470 029
What to bring to your appointment
First appointment
Please bring:
- your Medicare card
- eyes glasses that you currently wear
- copies of your any previous medical test results or reports
- list of medications you take, including medicines you've bought without a prescription like herbal supplements and vitamins.
Every appointment
Please bring:
- your Medicare card
- eyes glasses that you currently wear.
Outpatient eye clinics schedule
| Clinic specialty | Session days |
|---|---|
| Cataract | Monday (alternate), Tuesday (alternate), Thursday, Friday |
| Cornea | Tuesday (alternate), Thursday |
| Diabetic | Monday |
| General ophthalmology | Monday to Friday |
| Glaucoma | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (alternate) |
| Medical retina | Tuesday |
| Minor operations | Friday |
| Neuro-ophthalmology | Monday |
| Oculoplastics | Monday (alternate), Wednesday (alternate) |
| Strabismus (squint) | Thursday (alternate) |
| Uveitis (eye inflammation) | Thursday |
| Vitreoretinal | Wednesday (monthly) |
Information for health professionals
This section provides service information, referral criteria and guidelines for health professionals referring their patients to our eye health services.
- Children and young adults aged under 16 years.
- For a list of conditions that are not routinely seen at our eye clinic, refer to page 2 of our ophthalmology referral guidelines (PDF 335.93KB).
Note: Conditions we do not routinely see can be managed by a local ophthalmologist, GP (doctor) or optometrist until they reach the clinical thresholds as per the referral guidelines.
State-wide referral criteria
To provide a complete referral with all the required information, please refer to the state-wide referral criteria (SRC) on the NSW Health website.
The SRC supports patients and health professionals looking after them to make a referral and helps NSW public specialist outpatient services with screening and triaging (prioritisation).
The SRC also provides an indication of the timeframes in which patients can be expected to be seen.
Routine outpatient clinic referrals
- Submit an eReferral using a HealthLink smart form. This can be done from your practice management software or using the My HealthLink Portal.
- Register to HealthLink, if you aren't already, or call 1800 125 036 for more information.
- Select NSW Health Outpatient referrals - Western Sydney LHD and follow the prompts.
- HealthLink is also used to send eye tests to Service NSW for driving tests.
- Go the NSW Health eReferral resources page on the HealthLink website to learn more.
Urgent referrals
- Submit an eReferral using a HealthLink smart form. This can be done from your practice management software or using the My HealthLink Portal.
- After submitting the eReferral, call the clinic at (02) 8890 6668 and ask the nurse team leader to progress the referral.
Emergency referrals
- Call the Westmead Hospital main line at (02) 8890 5555 and ask for the ophthalmology registrar on call.
- Ask the patient to go to the Westmead Hospital Emergency Department.
Refer to the outpatient eye clinics schedule for session days.
Contact us
Westmead eye health service contacts
Outpatient eye clinic
Phone: (02) 8890 6668
Address: Ward B4a, Level 2, Westmead Hospital corner of Hawkesbury and Darcy Roads, Westmead NSW 2145
Eye surgical unit
Phone: 0434 470 029 (Eye clinic admissions nurse)