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Ophthalmology Services

Public Service

Open today: 8:00am - 5:00pm

If you are a GP or Optometrist, please log-in to view the Clinical & Referral section of our page. If you are not registered please follow the link to complete the registration: https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/register/ 

What is Ophthalmology? Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that is concerned with 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 treatment of diseases of the eye. Most will be trained in eye surgery and most nowadays have specialised interest in a particular part of the eye, for example, the cornea, the retina, the eye lids or muscles that control the eye movements.

Optometrists are university trained professionals who diagnose eye disease, assess visual function, and prescribe spectacles and contact lenses as appropriate. Optometrists with TPA (therapeutic) endorsement may also prescribe a range of topical medicines (drops and ointment) for use in the eye.

Nurse Practitioners are university trained, advanced registered nurses who have met the NZ Nursing Council requirements and competencies to be formally registered as Nurse Practitioners in NZ. We currently have three Nurse Practitioners in the ADHB Ophthalmology department who also provide comprehensive assessment, management and prevention of eye disease, perform various assessments and procedures and can prescribe required medications. Our Nurse Practitioners have their own independent clinics and also work alongside our ophthalmologists in various areas of the department. For more information on Nurse Practitioners in NZ visit the NZNC website: http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/Nurses/Scopes-of-practice/Nurse-practitioner

Nurse Specialists are university trained registered nurses in advanced nursing practice roles and are responsible for providing specialist nursing care and/or coordination of care to a specific patient / client population across health care settings. We currently have six Nurse Specialists in the ADHB Ophthalmology department who provide comprehensive assessment and management of eye disease and have met NZ Nursing Council requirements to work in Expanded Practice roles to perform various assessments and procedures within the department. For more information visit tthe NZNC website: http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/Nurses/Scopes-of-practice/Registered-nurse

Orthoptists are experts in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of squints (see below), amblyopia and eye movement problems. Most of their patients are children as squints and amblyopia usually need treatment during early childhood. Adults may also need assessment as squints and eye movement problems may develop at a later age and this may result in double vision or other symptoms which can be monitored and managed by the Orthoptist. Orthoptics: Ortho = straight; Optics = eyes.

Low Vision Clinic is part of the Eye Department at Greenlane Clinical Centre. If you are experiencing difficulties in daily living activities such as meal preparation, using the telephone or identifying money to name a few, and have already been seen by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, the clinic may be able to assist you to make the best use of your remaining vision.

You will be seen by a Low Vision Therapist who can advise you about lighting, colour contrast, adaptive aids and strategies to assist you to safely maintain your independence. You will also be seen by a Low Vision Optometrist who may prescribe a Low Vision aid to assist with reading and other near tasks or with distance vision.

Your GP, optometrist, ophthalmologist, Eye Clinic nurse or Blind Foundation staff can refer you to the clinic by using our referral form or by sending a letter including information about your eye condition, visual acuity, treatment and the reason for the referral. As this is a public hospital clinic there is no charge for NZ residents but you have the option of purchasing items demonstrated at the clinic.

See the attached flyer below for some basic information on Understanding the Needs of People with Sight Loss.

Hours

Open today: 8:00am - 5:00pm

Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm

Please see below for where to find us, and more information about our weekend and evening clinics.

After hours/in case of emergency

If you need urgent care– you can visit an after-hours GP or optometrist, or visit your nearest Accident and Medical (A&M) clinic. You can find a list of Accident and Medical clinics across the Auckland region, including their opening times, here.

You can also contact Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free advice.

For further information/options please go to http://www.adhb.health.nz/your-health/the-right-care-for-you/

If it’s an emergency, don’t hesitate - call 111 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department. 

Please note we DO NOT have a "walk-in" clinic. All patients must be referred by their GP, Optometrist or Emergency/Accident & Medical Clinic unless otherwise advised by Ophthalmology department staff.

EYE CLINIC: GROUND FLOOR, BUILDING 8, GREENLANE CLINICAL CENTRE. Enter the Greenlane Clinical Centre through the main entrance at Building 4 (by the Pharmacy and Jamaica Blue) and walk through, past Planet Espresso to Building 8. Reception M is on the left. General Ophthalmology (Eye) clinics are open Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm. We also run weekend and evening clinics, please refer to your appointment letter for more details.

If you are booked in for a weekend or evening clinic (weekdays after 5PM) please note:

  • There is only one entrance to get to your weekend and evening Eye Clinic appointment. Please use the main entrance into building 4.

TOTARA WARD (Eye Ward) LEVEL 2, BUILDING 4, GREENLANE CLINICAL CENTRE The Totara Ward is located on Level 2, Building 4. Use lift bank A to level 2 and report to the main reception desk.

ACUTE EYE SERVICE: Please note we DO NOT have a "walk-in" clinic. You need to be referred by your GP, optometrist, local Emergency/Accident & Medical Clinic or have been advised to contact us directly if you have already been seen in our department. If you are seen by a GP/doctor or optometrist in the community or hospital, they can call us directly to discuss your condition. If you need urgent assessment an appointment will be made for you in the Acute Eye Service during normal business hours. If there are no appointments available, or your condition needs to be seen more urgently, you will be advised to attend the Emergency Eye Clinic with your referral. Please keep in mind that due to the large number of patients attending our acute service, there is often a very long wait (up to 6-8 hours) to be seen by a Doctor, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Practitioner or Optometrist depending on how urgent your condition is. The Emergency Eye Clinic is located in the Eye Clinic Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm, and Saturday 8am - 3pm. We have a reduced after hours service until 7pm, however no follow-up patients will be seen during this time. On Sundays the Emergency Eye Clinic is run from the Totara Ward as a reduced service 8am - 7pm. From 7pm until 8am every night all eye emergencies should please report to Auckland City Hospital Emergency Department, your local Hospital Emergency Department or your local emergency/A&M clinic. Please see the attached "Acute Eye Service" flyer below for further information.

WAITAKERE OUTPATIENT CLINIC: We also provide outpatient clinics for certain sub-specialties/conditions at the outpatient department at Waitakere Hospital, Monday - Friday 8am-5pm only. NO ACUTE SERVICE PROVIDED AT THIS LOCATION.

OTHER LOCATIONS: We also provide clinics and surgical services at various locations in the Auckland region. You will be contacted with this information or please check your appointment letter for more details.

Contact

Greenlane Clinical Centre

Street address

Ground Floor, Building 8
Greenlane Clinical Centre
Greenlane Road
Greenlane
Auckland

Please note we DO NOT have a "walk-in" clinic. All patients must be referred by their GP or optometrist, unless advised otherwise by the Ophthalmology Department staff.

Kia ora.

COVID Update
• We are still seeing patients in person who require appointments. If you have an in person appointment and have any COVID-19 symptoms or have been told by public health to isolate please phone the number on your appointment letter in advance.

The situation is changing so please continue to visit the Auckland DHB website for updates.



Enter Greenlane Clinical Centre through the main entrance of Building 4 (by the Pharmacy and Jamaica Blue) and walk through, past Planet Espresso, to Building 8. Reception M is on the left.

Postal address

Private Bag 92 189 Auckland Mail Centre Auckland 1142


Information for Patients, Family/Whānau

This information is also available in Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Samoan and Tongan.

The Acute Eye Service (AES) provides care to patients with eye emergencies and urgent eye problems. Patients from throughout New Zealand may also be referred to us for urgent care.

Who will I see for my eye emergency and urgent eye problems?

The AES is staffed by an experienced team of eye doctors, nurses and optometrists, led by an ophthalmologist (specialist eye doctor) who provides support and consultation to the team.

Our clinicians work as hard as they can to see you quickly but this may be delayed due to the assessment of complex patients, or patients who require urgent treatment. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

When it is your turn to be seen, we will call you.

When will I be seen?

Once the reception staff have registered you, you will be called by one of the triage nurses within 60 minutes.

You will be seen in order of urgency, not necessarily in order of arrival. However, we aim to have you through the department within four hours wherever possible.

During busy times there could be a 4-8 hour wait for less urgent conditions. We are only able to give a rough estimate of wait times, as this can change dramatically at any time, depending on the urgency of patients that come in.

I need to leave the waiting room temporarily, what should I do?

If you need to leave the waiting room temporarily for refreshments or other commitments, please let our reception staff or one of the triage nurses know so they can make a note to your file.




The information on this page has been provided by healthpoint.co.nz, helping people better understand and use New Zealand health services.