Ophthalmology

What is ophthalmology?
Ophthalmology is the medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the eye. Disorders commonly treated include cataracts, retinal detachment, glaucoma, trauma, macular degeneration and eye conditions caused by complications of diabetes.

Thanks to recent technological developments and research in ophthalmology, ophthalmologists are able to restore vision to many patients in cases where — even just a few years ago — it might not have been possible.

UHN’s ophthalmology care area
Our Ophthalmology department is the largest ophthalmology department in Canada. Each year, we treat more than 55,000 outpatients and conduct more than 4,000 surgeries.

On the leading edge of technology and treatment techniques, our team has made extensive advancements in recent years, including the surgical repair of complicated retinal detachment, the repair of macular holes to restore vision and the revolutionary use of photodynamic therapy using special dye and lasers to identify and destroy abnormal eye tissue.

Looking to the future with exceptional patient care, research and education
Recognized leaders in their fields, our physicians are at the forefront of state-of-the-art ophthalmology. Our department includes experts from all major subspecialties, including vitreoretinal surgery, medical retina, cornea and external disease, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, adult strabismus and ocular genetics.

Along with providing exceptional patient care, our department is dedicated to ophthalmology education and research. We run the largest ophthalmology residency-training program in Canada, as well as the country’s largest ophthalmology subspecialty fellowship training program. We’re also home to the only ophthalmology clinician-scientist training program in Canada.

Our research team is made up of researchers funded by the Vision Science Research Program, which operates out of Toronto Western Hospital. Our ophthalmology residents and our fellows also conduct research in the areas of vitroretinal surgery, glaucoma and corneal surgery. Basic and clinical research has made many advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions and diseases, such as the rare childhood cancer of the eye known as retinoblastoma.

For more information on ophthalmology at UHN, visit our Web site.