Our Procedures

Oculoplastics include a wide variety of surgical procedures which treat the orbit (eye socket), eyelids, tear ducts and face. The most common conditions treated by an oculoplastic surgeon included eyelids lesions such as skin cancers, eyelid malpositions (such as drooping upper or lower eyelids), excessive eyelid skin, blocked tear ducts and orbit issues such as tumours. The conditions may be functional or cosmetic and can occur both in adults and children. 

Patients can expect a thorough consultation to discuss their options and ensure they receive both a functional and cosmetic improvement. 

The majority of eyelid procedures are a day procedure, and are performed with local anaesthetic and intravenous sedation if required. Smaller procedures to remove persistent chalazions, styes, abcesses and cysts can often be performed in the rooms on the same day with minimal discomfort to the patient. 

A cataract is a progressive clouding of the eye's natural lens that interferes with light passing through to the retina. The lens is responsible for focusing light and producing a clear image on the retina at the back of the eye. When the lens develops opacity, light cannot pass to the retina and the resulting image appears blurred or "cloudy" - similar to looking through a dirty window!

Cataracts are a natural part of ageing and are the leading cause of vision loss among adults 55 years and older. They can also exist at birth (congenital cataract), be caused by an injury (tramatic cataract), some medications, or be caused by conditions like diabetes or severe glaucoma. The vast majority of people with cataracts are healthy and have no other eye disease. Cataracts usually develop in both eyes, although not always at the same rate. Their rate of development will vary from person to person, but generally develop slowly. Occasionally the effect on vision, however, can be faster, occurring over a period of several weeks. 

Although there is currently no medical treatment to reverse or prevent the development of cataracts, they can be safely and successfully removed. 

Cataract Assessment

The cataract assessment is a thorough eye examination which includes testing vision and examining the front and back of your eye to assess overall eye health.  After the assessment is complete, we will discuss with you your treatment options. If your cataracts need to be removed surgically, you will need to have measurements taken of your eye to help with surgical planning. 

Procedure

Cataract surgery is performed in our on site operating theatre. Surgery is performed under a local anaesthetic and sedation can be given if you are feeling anxious about the procedure. 

Once the eye is numb, a small incision is made into the perimeter of the eye. This incision (which is self-sealing) creates a small tunnel through which the cataract is removed. 

The cataract is removed by phacoemulsification. This uses ultrasound energy to break up a cataract into microscopic pieces, which are emulsified and gently removed. This method of cataract removal is considered the least traumatic to the eye. 

Once the cataract has been removed, the artificial intraocular lens is implanted in the same capsule which once housed the natural lens (cataract) of the eye. This intraocular lens is specially chosen for your eye so that the focus and clarity is restored. 

Intravitreal Injections

This is an injection that delivers medication to the vitreous, which is the jelly like substance inside your eye. 

Why is an intravitreal injection performed? 

Intravitreal injections are used to deliver medication to the back of the eye. Conditions treated by intravitreal injections include macular degeneration, ocular inflammation, retinal vascular diseases and diabetic eye disease. The injection is performed under local anaesthetic eye drops and is usually not painful, but some people can experience brief pressure discomfort. The intravitreal injection lasts for a month or more and most people require repeat treatments. 

Steroidal intravitreal injections can also be used for uveitis or retinal swelling caused by inflammation, and can be a very effective treatment. 

Retinal Laser

Retinal laser is used in the treatment of retinal tears and to manage conditions such as diabetic eye disease and retinal vein occlusions. 

Retinal tears are treated by performing barrier laser around the tear or hole. The laser is used to make small burns around the tear, and this creates a barrier that seals the retina to the underlying tissue, helping to prevent a retinal detachment. 

Diabetic eye disease can benefit from laser treatment if it is progressing. Good control of blood sugars and blood pressure will reduce the risk of the disease progressing. 

Retinal laser is performed as a clinic procedure with local anaesthetic eye drops. Recovery is quick, but we advise that you do not drive for at least 2 hours after any retinal laser treatment. 

A pterygium is a pink, wedge-shaped growth of tissue which grows over the conjunctiva and edge of the cornea. The main cause is sun exposure and they are more common in sunny regions where people spend a lot of time outdoors. The risk is of developing a pterygium is increased by not wearing sunglasses. 

Pterygia are benign (non-cancerous) and relatively harmless but can require surgical treatment. The main reasons for undertaking pterygium surgery include:

•  frequent irritation, redness or dryness
• reduced or threatened vision. If the pterygium extends onto the cornea far enough it can affect the curvature of the cornea and result in blurry vision, abd if left untreated can eventually obscure vision
• increasing in size
• cosmetic concerns

Surgery is performed in our operating theatre and involves excising the growth under a local anaesthetic. A piece of conjunctival tissue (loose tissue covering the eye) is transplanted to cover the site where the pterygium has been removed. This graft is glued into place with a special tissue glue. This conjunctival transplant helps to improve recovery and comfort during the healing process and will reduce the chance of reccurence. 

Dr Rosser and Dr Sims deal with the diagnosis, management and treatment of eye conditions and disorders of the visual system, including prevention of blindness, promotion of eye health and rehabilitation of patients with visual disability.  General ophthalmology includes a variety of conditions, such as diabetes, dry eyes, cataracts and glaucoma.  An eye examination can include; visual acuity, refraction, ocular tonometry to determine intraocular pressure, slit lamp examination and retinal examination.