Find out more about pre-admission procedures, day surgery and being an inpatient at the Eye and Ear.
Our redeveloped surgical areas offer a fresh and bright environment, designed to provide a comfortable and healing atmosphere
Surgery at the Eye and Ear
Patients coming for surgery are admitted to Surgical Admissions + Recovery on Level 2 via the Green lifts (Smorgon Family Wing). Day surgery patients are discharged from the same level. Patients requiring ward admission will be transferred to the Inpatient Ward on Level 4 of the Blue Wing after their surgery.
We provide a range of different specialist surgeries, including:
cataract surgery
squint surgery
glaucoma surgery
corneal surgery
oculoplastic surgery
minor eye procedures, such as chalazion and pterygium
various ear, nose, and throat surgeries, such as tonsils, adenoids, grommets, septoplasty.
SMS messages from VicKey
VicKey is a secure patient portal, your information remains private and is only accessible to your health care team.
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital uses VicKey: ‘Your Hospital Care Portal’ to manage planned surgery waitlists. If you’ve received an SMS message from VicKey regarding your planned surgery, you can be confident this is a legitimate and authorised communication.
VicKey helps us confirm your details and keeps our surgery waitlists accurate and up-to-date, ensuring you receive timely care.
If you have questions or wish to verify the message, please visit the VicKey Contact Us page for further information.
Pre-Admission
Pre-admission appointments are for people who need to see a specialist or have some tests before surgery.
Not everyone who has surgery at the Eye and Ear has a pre-admission appointment. We may just call you to ask about your medical history and to confirm the details of your surgery.
What happens at the pre-admission appointment?
At the pre-admission appointment we will:
answer any questions you have
provide you with information about your surgery and what to expect
take any tests that are required before surgery, they may include an ECG (electrocardiogram), a blood test, and a chest x-ray.
What should you bring?
Please bring your:
medications in their original containers
Medicare card
pension, social security, veteran affairs, or private health insurance cards, if relevant
Your Concession card and Safety Net Card (if you have one)
A list of your current medicines and doses and purpose of medicine (if you have one available.)
GP’s address and phone number and
any updated information about your current problems, previous illnesses, medication, allergies, and other health matters.
Please wear loose, comfortable clothing that you can remove easily. If you are having tests, you may need to take some of your clothes off.
Please also note that the hospital does not take responsibility for the loss or misplacement of these items.
Please do not bring cash.
Yes. You will not be having surgery on this day so there is no need to fast. You should also take your usual medications.
Expect to be at the hospital for two to three hours.
Yes. You may bring someone with you, however, due to limited seating we ask that only bring one person. Please check our COVID-19 updates for any changes.
Yes. Visiting hours for our inpatient ward are 10am – 7pm. Currently there are visitor restrictions, patients are limited to 2 visitors at a time due to space constraints. Thank you for your understanding.
If you need to change your appointment, call us on 03 9929 8647, Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4pm.
If you do not attend the pre-admission clinic, your surgery will be cancelled and you will be put back on the waiting list.
On the day of your surgery
On the day of your surgery, please go directly to the admissions area specified in your appointment letter.
The majority of patients who have elective surgery are discharged back home soon after surgery. Some patients requiring further observation are discharged to the ward.
What you need to bring?
Please bring:
medications in their original containers
Medicare card, pension card (if you have one), and any other medicine concession and Safety Net cards you may hold.
any personal items you may need, please do not bring jewelry or valuable personal items
All patients under 16 years of age require a parent or guardian to be present at admission. For children under 12 years of age who are staying overnight, a parent or guardian is required to stay with them.
Please note that the hospital does not take responsibility for the loss or misplacement of any personal items. Please do not bring cash.
What to expect
1. Registration:
You will be asked to take a seat and wait until a nurse calls out your name. Patients are called based on the order of the Surgery lists, not on arrival times. Most patients do not require pre-medication.
2. Pre-Surgery:
Once called, the nurse will prepare you for surgery. Any pre-medication ordered by the doctor will be given to you at this time as well.
3. Anaesthetic Room:
If you have any questions about the procedure, you can ask your nurse or you doctor at any time before having anaesthesia and surgery. Please refer to Informed Patient Consent for more information.
4. Operation Theatre:
Your nurse and anaesthetist will take you into the operation theatre where you will have your surgery.
5. Recovery:
Once the procedure is complete, you will be transferred to a recovery room where recovery nurses will take care of you until you are ready for discharge to either go home or the ward.
6. Home:
Your post-operative instructions, discharge medications and follow-up appointments will be given to you before you leave the unit.
Want to know more?
These are really informative resources and videos to help prepare you for surgery at the Eye and Ear:
