Eye outpatient clinic (ophthalmology) — Canterbury

To contact the eye outpatient service:

• phone: 03 364 1470
• email: eye.service@cdhb.health.nz

Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4pm.

The eye outpatient clinic is at:

Level 2
Christchurch Outpatients building
2 Oxford Terrace
Christchurch

Use the Oxford Terrace entrance and take the stairs or elevator to level 2.

For detailed information on transport and parking options, see:

Christchurch Outpatients (internal link)

Your appointment

Your appointment letter will tell you when to come to see us.

Before you see the specialist, you will be taken for pre-testing. This might include:

• eye drops that dilate your eyes — these can make your eyes blurry and sensitive to light
• scans and photos.

After pre-testing, you will go to another waiting room until you see the doctor.

What to bring

When you come for an appointment at the eye clinic, bring:

• your glasses (both reading and driving), if you wear them
• sunglasses or a hat, to protect your eyes after the appointment
• supplies such as food, books or other entertainment and baby supplies if you need to bring a baby with you.

There can be long waits at our clinics. Allow up to 2 hours for your appointment.

Specialists you might see

You might see one or more of these specialists when you come for an appointment.

• Ophthalmologists are doctors who are trained in the treatment of diseases of the eye.
• Optometrists are university trained professionals who diagnose eye disease, assess visual function, and prescribe spectacles and contact lenses as appropriate.
• Clinical Nurse Specialists are university trained registered nurses in advanced nursing practice roles and are responsible for providing specialist nursing care.
• Orthoptists are university trained professionals who specialise in assessing, diagnosing and treating squints, amblyopia, eye movement problems and double vision. They can treat both children and adults.

Acute Eye Service

We run a clinic for acute cases but this is not a walk-in clinic — you will need a referral from a GP, an optometrist or an after hours clinic.

To access our services, you will need a referral from a healthcare provider such as a GP or an optometrist.