Patient Information

What to expect before your first appointment with Dr James English.

What should I bring with me?

  • Your medicare card.

  • Private health details, if applicable.

  • A copy of your referral if you have been given one

  • Your current glasses (both near and distance if you have them)

  • Any other treatments, such as eye drops, that you are currently taking.

  • Useful information about diabetes and sugar levels are helpful also but not essential as are any scans or imaging procedures you may have had.

  • Other than bringing yourself, please also feel free to bring someone along to help you with transport and to provide a ‘second pair of ears’ in your appointment.

  • A driver home is important for those patients having a procedure with Dr English in-rooms such as intraocular injections, chalazion curretages, eyelid lesion excisions or blepharoplasties. If dilating drops are used (most new patients receive these) it may take a few hours to safely be able to drive home.

FAQs

  • Your appointment will see you meet four groups of our staff. Your journey will start with our fabulous reception staff. Second, our eye professionals will assess you and direct/perform further testing that Dr English will require.

    Our team of ophthalmic technicians will then perform these investigations and then you will be seen by Dr English. This process can be expected to take between 1 to 2 hours or longer if dilating drops are required. Your time is valuable and all efforts are made to ensure you are seen promptly.

  • Generally speaking 4-6 weeks after the completion of surgery. This gives the opportunity for the eye to heal and “set” (somewhat like clay).

  • Yes, Dr English is delighted to see uninsured patients for surgery and a comprehensive written financial disclosure will be provided. Dr English is very empathetic to those needing surgery and recognise each patient has different needs and he is happy to discuss this with you.

  • This is a common misconception. Some steps of cataract surgery can be assisted with laser, however the vast majority of cataract surgery remains in the hands of the surgeon with blades and modern phacoemulsification instruments.

    The scientific literature finds no significant difference in outcomes between laser assisted and non-laser assisted and the lasers can be unnecessarily costly for patients given there’s no benefit. Hence, Dr English does not use laser-assisted techniques as does the vast majority of cataract surgeons in Australia and New Zealand.

  • Your appointment may require you to undertake testing that is no more invasive than looking into a camera for a photo. Dr English accesses the very latest in modern ophthalmic imaging including Optical Coherence Tomography, widefield retinal imaging, ocular ultrasound and visual fields.

  • Your consultation will take place in the state of the art surrounds of the renovated remains of the historic Dawn Theatre, a Brisbane landmark. Learn more at M3 Architecture’s writeup here.

  • Dr English believes very strongly in excellent communication between providers and a new letter will be written for initial and significant subsequent consultations to ensure your team is updated. Please let Dr English know if you would like a copy and he would be only to happy to assist.

  • Please see the contact page. For Brisbane North Eye Centre patients, parking is directly behind the building with copious parking. Drivers and those assisting patients often walk to Chermside Shopping Centre, only one block away, to do some shopping while waiting.

    Oxford Eye Patients have onsite parking directly on the premises as well as copious on-street parking around the clinic.