For Patients

Make sure we have your referral well in advance of your appointment.

For cataract / corneal assessments:
Your pupils may be dilated which will blur your vision for 1-2 hours and you must not drive for this period of time.
If you wear contact lenses, please remove them as follows:
• Rigid (hard) contact lenses: take out 4 days before your appointment
• Soft contact lenses: take out 2 days before your appointment

For minor procedures in rooms:
If during the consultation with the doctor you are offered a minor procedure in rooms (such as a cyst removal), you may need to have the eye patched and will not be able to drive home. Public transport, taxi, or someone to drive you home may be required.

Parking
There is limited metered parking on Victoria Parade and surrounding streets. Wilson Parking is available for casual rate of approx $20.00 per hour (90 Victoria Parade) via Salvation Lane, P: 1800 727 546, W: https://www.wilsonparking.com.au/parking-locations/victoria/east-melbourne/90-victoria-parade-car-park/).

Train
You can reach us via Parliament Station, taking the nearest exit to Nicholson Street. For patients coming from the country and need assistance at either Southern Cross or Flinders Street Station, please call Travellers Aid Australia on 1300 700 399.

Tram
 Tram Routes 11, 12, 30, 109, Tram Stop Number 12 (St Vincent’s Plaza). For more information please go to: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/routes

Eye Surgery Consultants is located at 100 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne.
Our suites (216-218), are located at Level 2 in this building. Turn left once exiting the lift on Level 2, and head to the end of the corridor.

(A) Parliament Station is approximately a 10 minute walk
(B) St Vincent’s Public Hospital is located directly across the road from our building
(C) The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital is located on the same side as our building, and we are next door to (D) Fire Services Museum of Victoria
(E) Wilson Parking (90 Victoria Parade) is located on the other side of our building, access is via Salvation Lane
(F) Closest tram stop is Stop Number 12: St Vincent’s Plaza

‘East Side Story’ cafe is located on the ground floor of our building (street view below)

We recommend allowing 1.5-2 hours for your appointment in total, as it may be necessary to dilate your pupils or perform other tests / scans during your consultation.

Please bring the following (if they haven’t already been sent to our rooms prior to your appointment):

• Current referral from your GP / optometrist / specialist (information that is provided in your referral is important in assessing your eye condition, and it is also required to receive a Medicare rebate for the consultation)
• Completed New Patient Form (Please call or email rooms for a copy)
• Your Medicare card
• Private health insurance details (if applicable)
• Pension / disability card (if applicable)
• Veterans Affairs card (if applicable)
• List of current medications (including dosages)
• Any relevant blood tests (if available)
• Any relevant reports and films of x-rays, MRI, CT scans, ultrasound or other imaging (if available)

Check-in
If you haven’t already completed the New Patient Form (this would have been either emailed or posted to you prior to your appointment), you will be asked to complete this on the day with all your relevant information. Patients who have been to the clinic previously will be asked by the receptionist if their current details are up to date.

Assessment with the orthoptist (only for appointments with Dr Dermot Cassidy or Dr Colby Hart)
For those patients that are booked to see either Dr Dermot Cassidy or Dr Colby Hart, you will be seen by the orthoptist prior your appointment with the specialist.
The orthoptist will discuss the reason for your visit and help determine which tests are necessary for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. The orthoptist will ask for details regarding your general health, what medications you are currently taking, any allergies to medications you have, if there is a family history of eye disease and if you have had any injuries, treatment or surgery done to your eyes previously. Relevant tests and/or scans will usually be performed on the day, but some may need to be rescheduled for a later date. Once the appropriate tests have been performed, the orthoptist will provide these findings to your ophthalmologist.

Consultation with the ophthalmologist
During your consultation, your ophthalmologist will go over the relevant parts of your medical history, examine your eyes, and review any scans / test results. In many cases, a diagnosis can be confirmed during the consultation and a treatment plan or options will be discussed.
If further tests are required which cannot be performed at the clinic (e.g. radiology scans or pathology tests), then this will be requested and a follow up may be required to discuss the results.

Booking surgery
If you are offered surgery after your consultation with the specialist, you will be taken to the surgery booking clerk who will outline the relevant surgery options with you (including possible dates and any fees that are associated with the procedure). Our surgeons are usually booked anywhere from 4 – 12 weeks from the time of your consultation.

Check-out
Payment on the day of your consultation is required. The following payment options are accepted at our clinic: cash, cheque, money order or credit card (we accept Visa, MasterCard and AMEX). We will be able to claim any Medicare claims electronically after the account is paid in full.
If another appointment is required, then this will be made at the front desk.
Following your appointment, a letter will be sent to your referrer and your GP, which will outline the details of the consultation, diagnosis and any treatment options that were offered to you.