Eye outpatient clinic (ophthalmology) — Otago and Southland
At the eye outpatient clinic, we treat people who have issues with the health of their eyes and the surrounding tissues. This branch of medicine is ophthalmology.
On this page
Contact us
You can call Ophthalmology services on:
- 03 470 9491 — Dunedin Hospital
- 03 218 1949 — Southland Hospital.
Where to find us
Dunedin Hospital eye clinic
Level 2
Clinical services building
201 Great King Street
Dunedin
Enter the Cumberland Street entrance and take the elevator to Level 2. Turn right when you exit the elevator.
Filleul Street Surgical Centre
30 Filleul Street
Central Dunedin
Southland Hospital eye clinic
Kew Road
Kingswell
Invercargill
Other clinics
We have other satellite clinics, so make sure you read your appointment letter carefully so you know which clinic to attend.
Your appointment
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.
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.
There can be long waits at our clinics. Allow up to 2 hours for your appointment.
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.
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.
If you are coming in for a surgical procedure please remember to:
- Leave all your valuables at home and bring a support person if you want to
- Arrange for someone to pick you up after the procedure
- Take all your medications as usual on the day but leave them at home; no need to bring them with you
- Not wear makeup on the day of your surgical procedure.