History of Retina Associates (cont.)

He was appointed to the Honorary staff of the Hospital in 1949 and remained on the staff till his retirement. Shortly after his appointment to the Eye Hospital staff, Eddie did a survey of the results of retinal detachment surgery in Australia at that time and found that of those operated on, only about 10% were re-attached. The results overseas were reported to be considerably better and he floated the idea of establishing a special clinic for retinal detachments. Thus in 1952, the first of the Special Clinics at the Eye Hospital and the first Retina Unit in Australia was established.

In 1962 Eddie was able to secure funding to start a Retina training position at the Hospital and since that time Retina Registrars and Fellows from all parts of Australia and many overseas countries, especially in the underdeveloped world, have been trained at the Eye Hospital.

When he retired from his position as Director of Ophthalmology at the University Department attached to the Eye Hospital in 1977 there was no comprehensive private Retina Service in Sydney and shortly thereafter he joined Alex Hunyor at Chatswood to found the Chatswood Retina Service in rooms adjacent to those occupied since 1970 by Alex for his Ophthalmic practice. They later moved to Archer Street in 1983 and extended the service and facilities, a process which has continued since.

Today, Retina Associates has grown to be the leading retinal service in Sydney with an ever expanding number of fellowship trained retinal specialists and multiple office locations throughout Sydney.