Cataract and lens surgery
Cataract surgery, lens selection, refractive lens exchange, IOL exchange and complex cataract surgery.
Dr Simon Chen
Cataract and retina surgeon
MBBS BSc(Hons) FRANZCO
Dr Simon Chen is an ophthalmologist at Vision Eye Institute in Chatswood. His practice includes cataract and lens surgery, vitreoretinal surgery and medical retinal care.
He trained in medicine at the University of London, completed ophthalmology training at the teaching hospitals of the University of Cambridge (Addenbrooke’s Hospital) and the University of Oxford (Oxford Eye Hospital), and undertook fellowships at Oxford Eye Hospital and the Lions Eye Institute, Australia.
Dr Chen considers your symptoms, examination and scan findings, and personal priorities when discussing your care.
Consults at Vision Eye Institute, Level 3, 270 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067 · 02 9424 9999
- TeachingAdjunct Senior Lecturer at UNSW and invited conference lecturer.
- ResearchClinical research into cataract surgery and treatments for retinal disease. Research and publications →
- A surgical firstPerformed the world’s first combined femtosecond laser cataract surgery and vitrectomy. Read the publication →
Trusted by colleagues
More than 170 medical professionals and their closest relatives have trusted Dr Chen with their cataract or retinal surgery.
They include Sydney ophthalmologists (eye surgeons), optometrists, GPs and nurses.
Training, affiliations and clinical innovation
Specialist qualification
Practice
Teaching & research
Medical training
Ophthalmology training
Fellowship training
Membership
Clinical software · created by Dr Chen
Areas of clinical practice
Vitreoretinal surgery
Assessment and surgery for epiretinal membranes, macular holes, retinal tears and detachments, and selected symptomatic floaters.
Medical retinal care
Assessment and treatment of macular degeneration, diabetic retinal disease and retinal vein occlusion, including injection treatment where appropriate.
Complex and combined care
Planning for eyes with previous surgery, ocular trauma or coexisting cataract and retinal disease.
Education and training
London
Dr Chen studied medicine at St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London, graduating with an MBBS and a BSc with Honours in Biomedical Science.
Oxford and Cambridge
He trained in ophthalmology at the teaching hospitals of the University of Oxford (Oxford Eye Hospital) and the University of Cambridge (Addenbrooke’s Hospital).
Clinical Supervisor, Gonville & Caius College, 1997–1998Specialist fellowships
He undertook vitreoretinal and cataract surgery fellowships at Oxford Eye Hospital in the UK and the Lions Eye Institute in Australia.
Teaching and professional roles
As an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at University of New South Wales, Dr Chen teaches medical students, optometrists and optometry students about retinal disease and surgery. He is an invited lecturer at conferences in Australia and overseas and reviews research manuscripts for medical journals. From 1997 to 1998 he was a Clinical Supervisor at Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge.
His professional memberships include RANZCO and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Retinal Specialists.
In Australia, he has spoken to community groups including the University of the Third Age, Probus and the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation about cataract surgery and retinal disease.
Research and publications
Dr Chen has served as a principal investigator in numerous clinical trials of treatments for retinal disease, including VIEW2 in age-related macular degeneration. In VIEW2, he was the principal investigator at Vision Eye Institute, Chatswood, one of the participating centres.
VIEW2 was one of two pivotal trials that helped establish intravitreal aflibercept (an injection into the eye) as a treatment for wet (exudative) age-related macular degeneration. Aflibercept is now used internationally for this condition.
His published work spans retinal disease, cataract surgery and combined procedures.
Publications and presentations
Articles, commentary and conference abstracts
Clinical publications and conference contributions, with links to the published records where available.
2026
- Prognostic Ability of Automated RPE Sinuosity for Late AMD Supersedes Qualitative Outer Retinal Band Assessment.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 5 Jan 2026, 67(1):33.
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.67.1.33. PMID: 41537758; PMCID: PMC12814984
Show full record Earlier years · 14 entries
2025
- Determinants of Intergrader Agreement for Key Retinal Photography and OCT Biomarkers in AMD.
Transl Vis Sci Technol 1 Dec 2025;14(12):4.
- Localising OCTA changes induced by the isometric hand-grip test to the superficial retina in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
Eye Vis (Lond) 1 Nov 2025;12(1):44.
- Proposal of a Simpler Eye-Level Risk Model Incorporating Reticular Pseudodrusen for the Clinical Prediction of Late AMD
Clinical Experimental Ophthalmology, 2025 [Epub ahead of print]
DOI: 10.1111/ceo.14576 PMID: 40610024
2024
- Patient-surgeon discussion in phacovitrectomy surgery: an analysis of patient information, comfort and anxiety
Abstract presented at RANZCO Conference 2024.
2021
- Reply: Bilateral retinal detachments in a healthy 22-year old female following Moderna SARS-CoV-2 vaccination
J Emerg Med, Dec 2021. (Published online)
doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2021.10.049.
- Comment on: ‘Acute macular neuroretinopathy following COVID-19 vaccination’
Eye, Sep 2021
2020
- Pearls for the Yamane Technique
CRST Europe, Feb 2020
2017
- Branch retinal vein occlusion secondary to a retinal arteriolar macroaneurysm: a novel mechanism supported by multimodal imaging.
Retin Cases Brief Rep, Jan 2017 [Epub ahead of print]
2015
- Copy number variations of TBK1 in Australian patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.
Am J Ophthalmol, Jan 2015 159(1):124–30
2014
- Lacquer cracks developing after phakic intraocular lens implantation
J Refract Surg, Sep 2014 30(9):646–8
- Cystoid macular oedema following selective laser trabeculoplasty in a diabetic patient.
Clin Exp Ophthalmol, Mar 2014 42(2):200–1
2012
- Femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery in phacovitrectomy
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol, Oct 2012 250(10):1549–51
2009
- A head-tilt test for hypopyon after intravitreal triamcinolone.
Retina, September 2009;29(8):1210–1.
2008
- Anaesthesia for the laser treatment of neonates with retinopathy of prematurity.
Eye, May 2008 22(5):734
Conference presentations and lectures
2024
- Patient-surgeon discussion in phacovitrectomy surgery: an analysis of patient information, comfort and anxiety.
Poster presented at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (RANZCO) Congress, Adelaide, 2024.
Show full record Earlier years · 12 entries
2017
- Practical tips for managing diabetic retinopathy
Specsavers Clinical Conference, Melbourne, September 2017
2015
- Anterior capsule integrity during femtosecond laser cataract surgery
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists 47th Annual Scientific Congress, Australia 2015 Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 43:42-42 • October 2015
- Visual acuity outcomes by baseline perfusion status in COPERNICUS and GALILEO
Asia Pacific Vitreoretinal Society Congress, Australia, 2015
2014
- A comparison of the verion image guidance system values with conventional measurement devices
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists 46th Annual Scientific Congress, Australia 2014 Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 42:31-32, November 2014
2005
- Anaesthesia for the laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity - A survey of ophthalmologists in the United Kingdom.
Royal College of Ophthalmologists Congress, UK, 2005
2004
- Endoscope guided, fluorescein-assisted vitrectomy for phakic malignant glaucoma.
British & Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons (BEAVRS), UK, 2004
2002
- Transpupillary thermotherapy in the management of choroidal neovascular membrane.
XV International Congress of Eye Research, Switzerland, 2002
- Electronic books.
British Oculoplastic Surgery Society, UK, 2002
- Shrinking eyeball: a new phenomenon?
XXIX International Congress of Ophthalmology, Australia, 2002
2001
- Retinal detachment following long-haul flights, another addition to economy class syndrome?
British & Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons, UK, 2001
1999
- Post-phacoemulsification Macular Oedema: Pseudophakic or Diabetic?
Medical Ophthalmological Society (UK) 4th Annual Meeting, UK, 1999
- Sympathetic ophthalmitis associated with deafness.
Medical Ophthalmological Society 4th Annual Meeting, UK, 1999
The 2024 patient–surgeon discussion project is listed as a conference abstract and a poster presentation; these are two forms of the same contribution.
Developed by Dr Chen
Supporting driving visual-field assessment
DRIVE Fields
An app developed by Dr Simon Chen to support Australian driving visual-field assessment.
A resource for clinicians, with a visual-field grid, workflow guidance and learning material.
Community eye care
Dr Chen has supported ophthalmology training in Cambodia and Papua New Guinea, including teaching local ophthalmologists and trainees about retinal disease.
In Cambodia, his volunteer work has included cataract and vitreoretinal surgery. He has joined multiple charitable surgical trips with Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA), most recently in 2026.
AHHA is an Australian charity whose work includes eye surgery and other health and humanitarian programmes.
About AHHA
Ready when you are.
Appointments and enquiries through Vision Eye Institute, Chatswood.
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