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Emergency Services

In an emergency or if you experience any of the following:

  • Sudden or severe eye pain
  • Loss of sight
  • Lots of flashing lights
  • Chemicals in your eye
  • Severe eye trauma

Contact your GP or your local Emergency Department:

It is helpful to bring a GP letter, list of your regular medications, any letters/correspondence that relates to your medical conditions, your health insurance or medical card details and a contact number for the person designated to be your liaison between family and staff.

The following hospitals have an Ophthalmology Department:

Cork

Dublin

Children's Hospitals

  • CHI at Temple Street (01) 878 4274 
  • CHI at Crumlin Hospital Emergency Department (01) 409 6326
  • CHI at Tallaght (01) 6937500, (01) 6937501

Website: https://www.childrenshealthireland.ie/list-of-services/emergency-department/

​The Emergency Department’s (ED) are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing emergency care for children and young people aged 0 to the eve of their 16th birthday.

Galway

Limerick

Sligo

Waterford

Hospitals with Specialist Eye Emergency Service

Dublin

The Mater Hospital eye emergency department is timed review slots only and closed to walk-in patients.   The eye emergency department is separate from the main emergency department in the hospital and you need a referral letter from your GP/optometrist/optician sent in via the EED email. Once this email is received, it will be triaged and you will either receive a call from our eye emergency team to arrange an appointment, have a virtual (over the phone consultation) or be referred directly to outpatients if the condition requires outpatient rather than emergency care.

Please do not attend the Mater Hospital until you have been contacted by the eye care team.

The eye emergency department is located in the McGivney Wing of the hospital entrance on Eccles St (open from 7:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday only).  At other times, please use the Whitty entrance on North Circular Road. 

Referral Information for GPs/Optometrists/Opticians/Other Emergency Departments:

If you have seen a patient who you feel requires urgent/emergency review in the eye emergency department please email your referral letter to: EED@mater.ie* and note the below:

This email is manned Monday - Friday 8:00am - 17:00pm and Saturday 8:00am-12:00pm. 

If you have an eye emergency and cannot attend your GP or Optician you can be triaged over the phone by a member of the medical team and advised or provided with an appointment time to attend. To speak with a member of the triage team please call: 01-6644600 and press option 1 for the Emergency Department.

Chemical Injuries / Penetrating Eye Injuries / Bleeding:

If you arrive at the hospital with these serious conditions, please alert security staff immediately to prioritize care.

Ophthalmic Phone Triage Hours:

  • Monday - Friday: 8am - 5pm
  • Saturday - Sunday: 9am - 5pm

Out-of-Hours Eye Emergencies:

  • Northside: Call D-DOC at 1850 22 44 77
  • Southside: Call EDOC at 01-2234500
  • Alternatively, attend your nearest emergency department.
  • Patients can be accepted outside of the above hours by doctor-to-doctor agreement only.
    Please ask your doctor to contact the Ophthalmologist on call on 01-6644600 for urgent advice.

Paediatric Patients:

There is no age limit for ophthalmology patients; however, younger children may be better served in a pediatric setting (for example, neonatal cases should be referred back to a neonatal service). Children under 16 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Clinics with Specialist Emergency Eye Service

Dublin

Cork

  • Institute of Eye Surgery Cork, The Elysian, Eglington Street, Cork, T12 KTD1 Tel (0818) 246 246 / www.ioes.ie

Kildare

  • UPMC Kildare, Prosperous Road, Clane, Co Kildare W91 W535. Tel 045 982300 / www.upmc.ie
  • Vista Eye Clinic, Vista Primary Care Centre, Ballymore Eustace Road, Naas, Co. Kildare W91 XW83 Phone 045 881000 / www.vistaeyeclinic.com
  • Institute of Eye Surgery, UPMS Kildare Hospital, Prosperous Road, Hoganswood East, Clane, Kildare W91 W535 Tel (0818) 246 246 / www.ioes.ie

Kilkenny

  • UPMC Aut Even Hospital, Freshford Road, Co Kilkenny R95 D370 Tel 056 7775275 / www.upmc.ie

Waterford

  • UPMC Whitfield Hospital, Cork Road, Bulterstown North, Waterford X91 DH9W. Tel 051 337400 / www.upmc.ie
  • Institute of Eye Surgery, UPMC Whitfield Hospital, Suite 14 Tel (0818) 246 246 / www.ioes.ie

Westmeath

  • Institute of Eye Surgery Mullingar, Ballinderry Clinic, Ballinderry, Co. Westmeath, N91 WR82 Tel (0818) 246 246 / www.ioes.ie
  • Institute of Eye Surgery Athlone, 22 Mardyke Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 KC44 Tel (0818) 246 246 / www.ioes.ie

Wicklow

 

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