Public Service

Capital & Coast DHB Ophthalmology Service

Capital & Coast District Health Board (CCDHB)

Description

What is Ophthalmology?

Ophthalmology is the branch of specialist medicine that is focused on the health of eyes and their surrounding tissues, including muscles, bones, eyelids, and tear production/drainage systems. Your eye is the organ of vision and consists of the cornea (the outer clear layer), the sclera (the white of the eye), the iris (the coloured part), the lens (lies behind the iris) and the retina (the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye). Your eyes ‘see’ by focusing light that enters the eye onto the retina which sends the image to the brain by the optic nerve.

The Department

Ophthalmologists are doctors who are trained in the study of eyes. Most will be trained in eye surgery, and often have particular areas of interest or expertise.

Nurses in the Eye Department triage patients, give telephone advice and are involved with education. They test vision and do preliminary eye assessments and also surgical preassessments.

Optometrists at CCDHB work in conjunction with ophthalmologists in glaucoma and low vision aid clinics.

Orthoptists assess children's vision and help manage strabismus (squint).They also assess and help manage diplopia and nerve palsies in adults.

Ophthalmic technicians do specialised tests including ocular CT scans, perimetry, visual fields and retinal photography.

Outpatient Clinics are held at:

Wellington Hospital (Level 9, Grace Neill Block)
Kenepuru Hospital (Rahia St, Porirua)
Hutt Hospital (High St, Lower Hutt).

Capital & Coast DHB Ophthalmology services also provide services to the Neonatal Unit.

Please note:

Waiting times - some appointments may take up to three hours if you require tests and treatment. Please bring a snack, especially if you are diabetic.

Parking - parking is available in the underground car park, accessed from Riddiford Street. There is limited parking available outside the Grace Neill Building accessed from Hospital Road. You will need coins for the pay and display machines.

Referral Expectations

To be seen at the Eye Outpatient Clinic, a letter of referral needs to be sent to the hospital by your GP or optometrist.

Please bring your current glasses and current eye drops with you to the clinic appointment.

The Eye Outpatient Clinic is a busy clinic involved with treating patients and training medical and nursing staff.

Emergency patients sometimes need to be fitted in. You will often need to be seen by several members of the Eye Department team as part of your assessment and treatment. For these reasons you may be in the Eye Department for several hours. If you are Diabetic, please remember to bring snacks and any necessary medication with you. Please also bring any new prescribed medication with you.

As part of the examination of your eyes, you may have drops put in to your eyes to dilate the pupil so the back of the eye (retina) can be examined. The drops may cause blurred vision and light sensitivity.

You will need to arrange transport home as you will be unable to drive for at least 2 hours. Wearing dark sunglasses will help reduce light sensitivity.

Common Conditions

Cataracts

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Cataract Surgery – Post operative Care and Advice for Patients

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Paediatric Cataract Surgery - Post operative Care and Advice for Parents and Caregivers

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Corneal Graft Surgery – Post operative Care and Advice for Patients

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Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) Surgery - Post operative Care and Advice for Patients

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Diabetic Retinopathy

This is a complication of diabetes and is caused by small blood vessel damage within the retina of the eye. It commonly affects both eyes and may cause permanent loss of vision. Macular oedema is sometimes also present with diabetic retinopathy. Macular oedema is when fluid leaks into the retina… More
Enucleation Surgery - Post operative Care and Advice for Patients

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Eyelid Surgery - Post operative Care and Advice for Patients

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Fluorescein Photography Clinic - Patient Information

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Post Fluorescein Photography - Patient Discharge Information

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General Eye Care - Patient Discharge Information

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Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and may result in vision loss and blindness. Multiple factors are often important in causing glaucoma, but it is most commonly related to in an increase in pressure in the eye.… More
Glaucoma Surgery - Post operative Care and Advice for Patients

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Refractive Error: short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism

These conditions cause distance blur. In myopia, the eye has a resting focus at a near distance so that people will be able to see objects clearly at some point close to them, whilst the distance is blurry.… More
Retinal Detachment

This is when the retina detaches, meaning it is lifted or separated from its normal position within the eye. An acute retinal detachment requires urgent assessment and appropriate treatment.… More
Save Sight Society

For useful information on : Cataracts, diabetes, eye injuries, glaucoma, macular degeneration and other topics.… More
Silicone Oil Removal - Post operative Care and Advice for Patients

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Squints (strabismus)

A weakness in one or more of the muscles of the eye will cause the eye to turn or move away from the normal focusing position. This is commonly known as a squint.… More
Paediatric Squint Surgery - Post operative Care and Advice for Parents and Caregivers

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Temporal Artery Biopsy - Post operative Care and Advice for Patients

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Vitrectomy and Retinal Detachment - Post operative Care and Advice for Patients

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