Jump to the information you need
Children, youth and families Healthcare providers
About the Ophthalmology Clinic
The Department of Ophthalmology evaluates and treats disorders of vision and the eyes such as:
- strabismus/nystagmus
- amblyopia
- cataract and glaucoma
- trauma to the eye and surrounding structures
- retinal disease, including retinal dystrophies and retinopathy of prematurity
- eyelid and lacrimal abnormalities including ptosis (“droopy eyelid”) and blocked tear duct
- genetic eye diseases
- inflammation and infection of the eye and surrounding structures
- ocular, orbital, and eyelid tumours/lesions, including retinoblastoma
We provide specialized care for both emergency and non-emergency care for outpatients from the Ottawa/Gatineau region, eastern/northern Ontario, western Quebec and Iqaluit. We also provide ophthalmic consultation services for CHEO inpatients.
About our team
The Ophthalmology Team includes Ophthalmologists, orthoptists, and nurses and can include Residents, Fellows, Ophthalmic Medical Technology students.
Information for children, youth and families
| Before your appointment |
| Please sign up for a MyChart account, before your visit. Our scheduling team will call you to schedule an appointment. If something changes and you need to reschedule your appointment, please let us know at least 24-48 hours in advance if you are unable to make it by calling 613-737-7600 x2222. No-shows or frequent cancellations may result in discharge from the service. |
| What to expect during your appointment |
| The Ophthalmology Clinic is located in C-8. Your child's appointment may take up to three hours. Please arrive early to allow for any delays in parking and registration. Please bring all of the following with you to your appointment:
Because CHEO is a teaching hospital you may be seen by a medical student, ophthalmology resident or ophthalmology fellow before an orthoptist or ophthalmologist. If you have received a call for a follow up visit or referral to the Eye Institute at the Ottawa Hospital, visit their website for more information. |
Frequently asked questions
| How can I make an appointment? |
| Children and youth are seen by referral only. Patients can be referred by an ophthalmologist, pediatrician, family doctor, or optometrist. After a referral is received, we will notify the referring Physician or Nurse Practitioner whether the referral has been accepted or denied. If accepted, we will provide an estimated wait time. This wait time can change based on demand and urgency. Once we have an appointment spot to offer, our Scheduling Team will reach you by phone to schedule an appointment. |
| Who should I contact if I am worried or have questions? |
|
| My child was referred and I have no received an appointment, why? |
| Because of overwhelming demand, wait times for non-urgent consults can be delayed. Your referring provider can confirm that we have received your child's consult and can provide an estimated wait time. |
| My follow-up appointment is past due, who do I contact? |
| Unfortunately, because of overwhelming demand, it is possible that follow up appointments can be behind schedule. You can contact our central booking center at 613-737-2222 or our ophthalmology clerk at 613-737-7600 ext. 2386. |
| I have a question about the scheduling of an upcoming surgery, who do I contact? |
| You can contact our administrative assistant at 613-737-2235. |
| Does CHEO Ophthalmology provide vision therapy? |
| Vision therapy is not provided by CHEO. Please see the vision therapy statement from the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. |
| What is an Orthoptist? |
| Orthoptists are certified eye care professionals who specialize in the non-surgical treatment of vision disorders. They assess, evaluate, and identify disorders particularly in the areas of strabismus and amblyopia. They work with the ophthalmologist responsible for your child's care. You are most likely to meet an orthoptist if your child has ocular motility problems. |
| What is the difference between an Ophthalmologist and an Optometrist? |
| An ophthalmologist is a fully licensed medical doctor who specializes in medical and surgical eye problems. Each CHEO eye clinic is held under the supervision of a staff ophthalmologist. They will assess and treat your child's eye condition and discuss a plan of care, order testing, surgery and more. An optometrist is a health-care professional who provides primary eye care through eye examinations to detect and treat various visual abnormalities and eye diseases. |
Sign up for MyChart to access your CHEO health record anywhere, any time.
MyChart is a secure, online patient portal that connects you to parts of your CHEO electronic health record and allows you to send two-way secure communication to your care team, complete any questionnaires your care team sends and much more.
To learn more about MyChart and sign up, visit our MyChart page and fill out the MyChart Access Request Form.
Looking for more resources or supports on ophthalmology?
Visit our Ophthalmology resource and support page to find helpful websites, local contacts, videos and more.
Information for healthcare providers
All properly completed referrals are triaged by our team in a timely fashion. Priority is given to conditions that threaten vision and/or require surgery.
To expedite your referral, please complete the appropriate form. Please note that demand for pediatric ophthalmology consultation is very high. We depend on referring providers to provide the critical information needed to appropriately triage each referral. Inadequate details/documentation may result in delays in your patient being seen.
Make a referral
Referral form for optometrists
| Referral criteria and eligibility |
| For information on referral criteria and eligibility please refer to the clinic Referral Forms above. |
| Other information |
Urgent referral criteria:
The referring practitioner must speak directly to the on-call ophthalmologist at 613-737-7600 x 0 to arrange an emergency ophthalmic consultation. Non-urgent referral criteria:
Due to high demand, we unfortunately cannot accept referrals for:
It is recommended that these children and youth be seen by an optometrist or community ophthalmologist.
Please indicate on the referral if an interpreter is required and for which language. |
Contact us
Ophthalmology Clinic C-8
CHEO
401 Smyth Road
Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1
Tel: 613-737-7600 x2386
Fax: 613-738-4237