Ophthalmology
We provide diagnosis and care for people with eye conditions.
What we do
The Department of Ophthalmology provides outpatient, inpatient consultation, and elective and emergency ophthalmology surgical services, as well as a range of speciality eye care services.
Conditions seen and services include:
- adult squint and squint surgery
- advanced diabetic eye disease
- cataract
- corneal and external diseases
- glaucoma
- oculoplastic and orbital surgery
- ocular oncology
- ocular and adnexal trauma
- neuro-ophthalmology
- medical and surgical retinal
- management of emergencies via daily emergency clinics.
Where to find us
Outpatient Department, Level 3 (ground floor), Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Check appointment information and screens on arrival at the RAH.
Who we are
Consultants
- Dr Mark Chehade – Head of Unit
This page was last updated 13 June 2025.
You need a referral from a GP or medical practitioner to access this service.
Once your referral has been received it will be triaged according to clinical urgency.
If your referral is accepted, you will either:
- receive a letter, phone call or text message confirming your appointment time, date and location
- receive a letter confirming you have been waitlisted for an appointment.
If the referral is declined, your GP or referring medical practitioner will be notified.
Outpatient services
Find out information about specialist outpatient appointments, how to be referred, plus information when attending an outpatient clinic.
Your outpatient appointment
Contact us to:
- change your appointment time
- cancel your appointment
- find out triage status
- general outpatient enquiries.
If you need to cancel or change your appointment time, let us know as soon as possible.
Preparing for surgery
The healthier you are going into surgery, the stronger you will be coming out. Find tips and resources to help you get ready for surgery.
This page was last updated 13 June 2025.
We accept referrals from general practitioners (GPs), optometrists, nurse practitioners and specialists.
eReferrals are preferred.
Use the Clinical Prioritisation Criteria (CPC) as a referral guide.
To ensure timely triage, include all demographic and clinical details.
The service triages referrals according to clinical urgency.
Urgent and serious referrals
If you are concerned about the appointment being delayed or if the patient's condition is deteriorating, contact the registrar to discuss.
Registrars are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Patients requiring immediate assessment should be sent directly to the Emergency Department.
Discharge guidelines
Patients whose medical condition has stabilised or resolved, and where no further appointment has been made, will be formally discharged.
If medical assessment is required again, a new referral should be made explaining the reason.
This page was last updated 13 June 2025.
The following resources are designed to support community optometrists in providing continuity of care for patients seen at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH).
Resources and forms for specific patient cohorts will be listed as they become available.
Cataract Surgery Review Form
This form is to be completed by community optometrists four-to-six weeks after a patient’s cataract surgery at the RAH.
Complete the form and return to us via email.
This page was last updated 13 June 2025.
The RAH ICU is renowned nationally for its leadership in ICU research, which includes supporting new investigators and spearheading international trials.
Projects cover a wide range, from trainee-led initiatives to multidisciplinary collaborations, with engagement in translational research and support for higher degree programs.
We have strong academic ties with institutions like the University of Adelaide and NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health.
This page was last updated 13 June 2025.