Elective surgery on hold in SA

Update, Feb 2022: The directive has been lifted and all elective surgery is back to normal in SA. Day surgeries are screening patients and staff to ensure safe surgery.

The SA government have put a temporary hold on all elective surgery due to COVID-19.

I can still see new and existing patients in clinic, but cataract operations are deferred until restrictions are lifted.


Latest news

The SA government have put a hold on all elective surgery due to COVID-19.

> Read the announcement and legal directive here

Which eye operations will be put on hold?

  • Cataract surgery

  • Pterygium surgery except for suspected cancers

  • Eyelid surgery except for cancer removal

This applies to all surgeons in South Australia, in the public and private systems.

What does this mean for your surgery?

If you have elective surgery booked, unfortunately your procedure will have to be deferred until the restrictions are lifted. There is no specified end date yet.

Once the restrictions are lifted I will contact all patients to offer new surgery dates, and will arrange extra operating lists to minimise further delays.

If you want to see me in clinic for advice on cataracts, I can still see you for an appointment and make a booking for surgery once the restrictions lifted.

What’s exempted from the restrictions?

  • Emergency surgery – e.g. acute glaucoma, urgent eye trauma, etc

  • Non-emergency surgery where a delay would risk permanent vision loss or other harm to a patient – e.g. large cataracts causing eye pressure problems that cannot be treated with drops or tablets

  • Procedures done in outpatient rooms – e.g. minor eyelid procedures and biopsies


For more information and to discuss whether your surgery is affected by this news, call me on 8273 1600.

Previous
Previous

Patient information sheet – Lens options for cataract surgery

Next
Next

How much will cataract surgery cost?