Facts & figures

1964 The Specialty of Clinical Ophthalmology was formed
1980 The Specialty received its first NHMRC grant and research expanded
2004 The Master of Ophthalmic Science was introduced.
2009 The first postgraduate qualification in refractive surgery and cataract management was introduced.
Rated well above world standard (ranking of 5) Ophthalmology and Optometry, Excellence in Research Australia since 2010

Clinical ophthalmology and eye health

Leading teaching and research into eye diseases and conditions

Based at Sydney Eye Hospital but located across eight different clinical schools, the Specialty of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health trains 80 percent of ophthalmologists in the state.

Study options

The Specialty of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health has a distinguished history of excellence in the teaching of ophthalmology and research skills to medical students, for general practice, graduates seeking a specialist career, ophthalmologists seeking subspecialty education, research students seeking a career in vision science and ophthalmic registrars.

Learn more about how to become an ophthalmologist.

Elective placements

Please refer to our elective placements page.

Doctor of Medicine

Students in stages 2 and 3 of the Sydney Medical Program will receive a series of lectures and skills sessions in ophthalmology. Stage 3 students undertake a clinical attachment, which is arranged through your clinical school.

Learn more about the Doctor of Medicine at the Sydney Medical School.

Postgraduate coursework

We have been delivering innovative postgraduate distance learning courses since 2003. Our experience and expertise in designing online courses for busy medical professionals has made us leaders in the field of ophthalmology education.

Basic Sciences

Cataract and Refractive Surgery

International Ophthalmology

Postgraduate research

Research students in the specialty are hosted at the Save Sight Institute where they undertake supervised research, the major component of which is a research project leading to the production a thesis. You can undertake a:

Available HDR student programs (pdf, 150.98KB)

To learn more about research opportunities in the Faculty of Medicine and Health visit our postgraduate research page.

For more information on higher degree research opportunities, please submit an expression of interest.

Professional development and short courses

The specialty offers short courses and professional development opportunities through the Sydney Medical School. It is possible to take almost any unit of study as a non-award student.

Learn more about our upcoming short courses.

To keep up to date with our short course offerings please join our mailing list here.

Our research

Research for the Specialty of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health takes place at the Save Sight Institute and covers the study of all major parts of the eye across laboratory research, clinical trials, implementation and ongoing patient monitoring.