Orthalmic nurse

Career in Orthalmic Nursing

Ophthalmic nursing is a clinical specialty within nursing focused on the care of patients with eye diseases, visual impairments, and conditions requiring ophthalmologic procedures. Practitioners support ophthalmologists in medical and surgical care while providing patient education, pre- and postoperative management, and visual rehabilitation.

Scope and roles

Ophthalmic nurses manage the continuum of eye care, from routine assessments and diagnostic testing to assisting in surgeries such as cataract removal or corneal transplants. They prepare patients for ophthalmic procedures, administer ocular medications, and monitor recovery. In community settings, they help detect early signs of eye disease and promote visual health education.

What does an Orthalmic Nurse do?

Ophthalmic nurses support eye doctors and surgical teams. They:

Prepare patients for eye surgery
Assist during ophthalmic procedures
Provide post-operative care
Administer eye medications and treatments
Educate patients about recovery and eye health
Perform eye assessments in clinical settings

Where do Orthalamic Nurses work?

Public and private hospitals
Day surgery centres
Ophthalmology clinics
Community eye health programs

Skills needed for orthalmic nursing work

Registered nursing qualification
Strong patient care, communication skills and empathy
Ability to work in surgical environments
Attention to detail
Emotional resilience

Aunty Janet Richardson

Aunty Janet is of the Baard and Yawuru Culture, an Ooranyg / Ngala Jandu (Saltwater Woman) Heritage from Broome in the Dampier Peninsula of the West Kimberley Region. Aunty Janet’s passion is working with Indigenous patients in eye health to minimise unnecessary vision loss. Aunty Janet currently works as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer at Lions Outback Vision in Broome, WA, where she joined in 2021 to help address blindness and vision loss among regional, remote, and Indigenous WA.

Education and Training Pathway

Education and training pathway

Bachelor of Nursing (3 years)
Registration with AHPRA (Nursing and Midwifery Board)
Postgraduate certificate or experience in ophthalmic nursing (optional but beneficial)
On-the-job training in eye units

Career opportunities and progression

Senior ophthalmic nurse or nurse educator
Theatre nurse in eye surgery
Nurse unit manager
Clinical nurse specialist in ophthalmology
Theatre nurse specialist
Clinical nurse educator
Further advancement into nurse practitioner roles

Job outlook and lifestyle

Strong demand in hospitals and surgery centres
Shift work (including nights in hospital settings)
Stable employment and good job security
Emotionally rewarding but sometimes fast-paced

Is optical orthalmic nursing a good career for you?

Good fit if you:

Want a nursing career with a specialty focus
Like surgical and hospital environments
Are comfortable with shift work and patient care

Click here to learn more about where to study Opthalmic Nursing