Refer a patient to Dr Simon Chen

Cataract and retinal surgery at Vision Eye Institute Chatswood.

Vision Eye Institute
Level 3, 270 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067

For urgent eye concerns, call the clinic directly. For an emergency, attend the nearest emergency department.

Conditions treated and procedures performed by Dr Chen

Thank you for trusting me with your patient’s care.

I welcome referrals from optometrists and GPs for cataract, retinal and complex lens problems. My aim is to provide thoughtful, personal care and help patients understand their condition and make confident treatment decisions.

I value your ongoing relationship with your patient and will keep you informed with detailed reports on their assessment, treatment and follow-up, with a copy for your patient.

I look forward to working with you.

Dr Simon Chen

Referral options

Referral form
Complete the referral form electronically or print it.
Referral form
For your patient: a printable appointment plan with what to bring, questions to ask and directions to the clinic.
Appointment plan (PDF)
Oculo
Select Dr Simon Chen at Vision Eye Institute Chatswood.
Open Oculo
Telephone, email or fax
Referrals are handled by Vision Eye Institute.
Telephone
Call 02 9424 9999
Email
chatswood@visioneyeinstitute.com.au
Fax
02 9410 3000
HealthLink e-referrals

In HealthLink Forms, open SR Specialists & Referrals. Search for Dr Simon Chen at Vision Eye Institute Chatswood and choose E-Refer for the Chatswood location.
HealthLink EDI: viseyeic

Before you refer

Please include the reason for referral, symptoms and onset, visual acuity, relevant ocular and medical history, medication, previous procedures and available imaging. Indicate any concern about urgency and call the clinic to discuss if urgent.

What happens after I refer?

You send the referralBy Oculo, HealthLink, the referral form, email or fax.
The clinic contacts your patientVision Eye Institute arranges the appointment with the patient.
Findings come back to youFindings and plans are sent to you promptly after the consultation.

For anything urgent, please phone the clinic on 02 9424 9999.

Urgent referrals

New flashes, a sudden increase in floaters, a shadow or curtain, or sudden loss of vision need urgent assessment.

Please phone the clinic on 02 9424 9999 to discuss urgent or same-day assessment rather than sending the referral alone. If the clinic is closed or the patient cannot be assessed promptly, direct them to the nearest emergency department.

The clinic (level 3) and the day surgery (level 4) are co-located at Vision Eye Institute Chatswood, so urgent retinal referrals can be assessed and, where appropriate, operated on promptly, subject to theatre availability.

Sydney Eye Hospital Emergency Department

For people based in Sydney: open 24 hours, every day, for adults aged 16 and over. 8 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000. 02 9382 7111 · Hospital switchboard.

For children under 16, attend a children’s emergency department. Call 000 for a life-threatening emergency.

When to seek urgent assessment

Vision Eye Institute Chatswood

Level 3, 270 Victoria Avenue
Chatswood NSW 2067

Monday–Friday, 8 am–5 pm

Map showing Vision Eye Institute Chatswood at 270 Victoria Avenue

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Conditions and procedures

Complex cataract and complication management

Referral experience

Dr Chen combines extensive cataract surgery experience with fellowship training and an active retinal surgery practice.
Other ophthalmologists regularly refer patients to him for management of cataract surgery complications, including retained lens material and dislocated intraocular lenses.

Cataract and retinal care

Posteriorly displaced lens material and other complications requiring pars plana vitrectomy commonly need referral to a retinal surgeon.
For patients whose cataract surgeon does not perform retinal surgery, these complications can mean referral to another surgeon and a further operation.
Dr Chen can provide both the cataract and retinal components of care, including combined surgery where indicated.

Theatre and team

Dr Chen’s cataract operations take place in theatres equipped for both cataract and retinal surgery, with nurses trained in retinal procedures and experienced with the specialist equipment.
Selected intraoperative complications can therefore be managed in the same sitting where clinically appropriate, potentially avoiding a further specialist referral and a separate procedure.

Cataract and lens surgery

Retinal surgery

Medical retina

Meet Dr Chen

Diagnostic and surgical capability

All of the following is available within Dr Chen’s practice: the clinic (level 3) and day surgery (level 4) are co-located at Vision Eye Institute Chatswood. Dr Chen also operates at Chatswood Private Hospital.

Show the full equipment list

Posterior segment imaging

Optos ultra-widefield imaging with fundus autofluorescence and fluorescein angiography
Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) with OCT angiography (OCTA): superficial, deep and choriocapillaris
B-scan ultrasonography
Automated perimetry
Retinal acuity meter (potential acuity behind media opacity)

Anterior segment and biometry

ZEISS IOLMaster 700 swept-source biometry with total keratometry and foveal fixation check
Pentacam Scheimpflug tomography
Oculus Keratograph Placido topography and tear-film assessment
SCHWIND PERAMIS Placido topography, pyramidal wavefront aberrometry and pupillometry
Specular microscopy (endothelial cell density)
Anterior segment OCT
Latest-generation IOL formulas, including post-refractive and post-RK calculations

Clinic lasers

Pattern scanning retinal laser (short-pulse multi-spot PRP)
YAG laser: posterior capsulotomy, peripheral iridotomy, vitreolysis
Selective laser trabeculoplasty

Cataract theatre

Alcon UNITY Vitreoretinal Cataract System (VCS): Intelligent Fluidics, Intelligent Sentry, 4D phaco, Thermal Sentry
ZEISS CALLISTO eye markerless digital guidance and toric alignment
Femtosecond laser cataract surgery

Vitreoretinal theatre

Alcon UNITY Vitreoretinal Cataract System (VCS): HyperVit 30,000 cpm, integrated IOP control and illumination
23, 25 and 27 gauge sutureless vitrectomy
ZEISS RESIGHT non-contact wide-angle viewing
Directional, curved and illuminated endolaser probes; diathermy; cryotherapy; binocular indirect laser
Perfluorocarbon liquid, gas and silicone oil tamponade
Dual vital dye for ERM and ILM peeling

Lens surgery

MST microforceps for IOL manipulation and explantation
Yamane flanged intrascleral haptic fixation and sutured scleral fixation
Sulcoflex and 1stQ AddOn piggyback IOLs
Custom high-power IOLs for extreme axial lengths
Access to all intraocular lenses commercially available in Australia

Patient guide to the technology

Apps for clinicians

Reference tools Dr Chen built for eye-care colleagues. They run in the browser, including on a phone.

See all apps, including three eye-care games