Welcome to Toowoomba’s Specialist Eye Clinic

Toowoomba Retina and Eye Specialists delivers high quality care and outstanding clinical results.

Our eye clinic provides:

  • Purpose built rooms
  • State-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment equipment
  • Toowoomba’s only locally based vitreoretinal service
  • A convenient location at St. Andrew’s Hospital
  • Free and accessible parking.

Dr. Andrew McAllister, our ophthalmologist and retinal specialist, will take the time to answer your questions and explain your treatment options. Your surgery will be performed on site with equipment previously only available at tertiary eye hospitals.

Our Toowoomba eye clinic treats the following conditions:

  • Retinal disease
  • Retinal vascular occlusion
  • Age related macular degeneration
  • Diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy
  • Retinal detachment
  • Epiretinal membrane
  • Macular hole
  • Vitreomacular traction
  • Vitreous haemorrhage
  • Floaters
  • Intraocular tumours
  • Uveitis and intraocular inflammation
  • Eye trauma
  • Cataract surgery
  • Sutured and sutureless intraocular lens fixation
  • Glaucoma

Urgent appointments or emergencies

Dr. McAllister is available for emergency phone advice. Urgent appointments at short notice or after hours are always available.

If you have a patient that needs a same day appointment, please contact our Toowoomba eye clinic staff or Dr. McAllister directly.

About Dr Andrew McAllister

Ophthalmologist and Retinal Specialist

BVSc(Hons) MBBS(Hons) MMed(OphthSc)

GradDip(Cataract Refractive Surgery) FRANZCO

Dr Andrew McAllister is an eye surgeon who has additional sub-speciality training in the surgical and medical treatment of disorders affecting the retina, vitreous, and in cataract surgery.

Andrew was born in Toowoomba and grew up in the South Burnett. He worked as a veterinarian in the Kimberley for 2 years before completing his medical degree at the University of Queensland. He went on to train as a general ophthalmologist, before undertaking subspecialty fellowships in vitreoretinal surgery and medical retina at Hamilton NZ, Townsville, and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne.

Dr. McAllister’s additional training was in the surgical and medical management of retinal detachments, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, age related macular degeneration, retinal vascular disorders, diabetic retinopathy, tumours of the eye, uveitis, ocular trauma, and complex cataract surgery.

He has a Master of Medicine, has published in international journals, authored textbook chapters, has a graduate diploma in cataract and refractive surgery, and teaches University of Queensland medical students

Andrew is committed to providing specialist eye services to regional and rural patients.

Andrew is dedicated to providing you with the very best care and treatment in your home region, so you won’t have to travel to treat your sight or remedy an urgent problem.

For Patients

Important information for your visit

Important Patient Information

  • Waiting times

    • Your first appointment will take 1 - 2 hours. This allows us to perform diagnostic tests, dilate your pupils and spend time with Dr. McAllister. 
    • Emergency appointments will always be allocated an appropriate time slot. These appointments may cause an unavoidable delay to other patients.

  • You will need to bring

    • Your referral letter.
    • Medicare card, pension card, DVA card, private health insurance details (as applicable).
    • Your current glasses.
    • Contact lens case (as applicable).
    • A medication and allergy summary from your GP.
    • Your travel forms from your local hospital (if any).

  • Accounts and payment

    • We will discuss treatment costs and procedures with you. 
    • Payment is required at your appointment.
    • We can process Medicare refunds for you.
    • There will be a gap, or out-of-pocket expense for surgery. The amount will depend on your fund and level of insurance cover. 
    • We can treat you if you don’t have private health insurance.

  • Eye surgery

    • You will need to fast (no food or drink) for 6 hours before your operation.
    • We will let you know if it is safe to continue taking your existing medication with a sip of water, up to 2 hours before your operation.
    • Most retinal surgery is performed under local anaesthesia with sedation. This is safe and painless, and it allows us to move you into the correct postoperative position when the operation is complete.

  • After surgery

    • We will see you after the operation so we can remove your eye dressing and discuss your post-operative care.
    • Generally, you shouldn’t work in the work in the garden, swim, do vigorous exercise, wear contact lenses or drive until advised it is safe to do so. 
    • You may need to take 2-4 weeks off work so that you are rested, and your surgery is successful. 
    • You must follow posturing (how you sit, stand or lie down) instructions after retinal surgery. This is extremely important for your eye surgery’s success. 
    • If you have a gas bubble in your eye, you cannot fly, ascend to altitude rapidly or attempt any strenuous activity until the gas is completely gone. This usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.

  • After an eye injection

    • Please do not worry if you have a red or bloodshot eye after an eye injection, or some blood in your tears. This is normal and it will not cause long term damage. 
    • The redness may take two weeks to go away, and bleeding is more common if you take aspirin or blood thinners. 
    • You may have some pain in the evening after your injection, due to the combination of local anaesthetic and antiseptic that is used to minimise the risk of infection.

  • Eye infections

    • Eye infections require urgent treatment because they can result in blindness. 
    • Our staff wear face masks to reduce the risk of infection from bacteria in our mouth and nose. Because of this, we keep talking to a minimum when delivering eye injections.
    • If you develop new floaters in your eye within 1-2 days after your injection, you may have an eye infection. This can happen with or without pain and decreased vision. In this case, please contact Dr McAllister for urgent review.

You should not drive after your appointment. It is important that you have someone to drive you home, or to pick you up after your consultation.

Referrals

If you would like to refer a patient to Dr. McAllister, please use this form:

If your patient needs a same day appointment, please contact our staff, or Dr. McAllister, directly.

Patient Referral Form

Urgent Call for Local Ophthalmology Care in Toowoomba!

Every individual deserves timely and local access to critical healthcare services. However, many of our fellow Queensland residents in the Darling Downs Health Service area face challenges accessing urgent Ophthalmological Care. Presently, they have to undertake a strenuous journey to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. This not only escalates medical costs but also adds unnecessary stress and inconvenience for both the patients and their loved ones.

Your voice matters and we need your help

E-Petition: Treatment of Acute Ophthalmology presentations via private rooms of Ophthalmologists in Toowoomba

Please take a moment to support us in advocating for localised Acute Ophthalmology Care, sparing our residents from undue hardship and promoting healthcare accessibility in our region to ensure that everyone gets the eye care they need, right here at home.

Sign the Petition
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