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Useful experience for ophthalmologists includes:

• work in hospitals and clinics, or other health-related work
• work caring for people.

Ophthalmologists may do some or all of the following:

• diagnose eye conditions, such as cataracts, and eye injuries  
• perform eye exams
• discuss and prescribe medications
• perform eye surgery
  
• check patients' progress after an operation
• write prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses
• consult with other medical professionals about patient care and treatment
• keep medical records and send reports to general practitioners and optometrists
• teach medical students and trainee ophthalmologists
• carry out research. 

High demand for ophthalmologists

Job opportunities for ophthalmologists are good as there is a shortage of workers due to:

• New Zealand’s ageing population being treated for age-related eye conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma.  
• most ophthalmologists living in the main cities
• an ageing workforce – the average age of ophthalmologists is 51 years old
• a worldwide shortage of specialist doctors, which means it can be hard for New Zealand to attract ophthalmologists to work here
• the long training period of 13 years to become qualified. 
  

Ophthalmologist appears on Immigration New Zealand's regional skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled ophthalmologists from overseas to work in New Zealand.

There are 157 ophthalmologists working in New Zealand, according to the Medical Council of New Zealand. Ophthalmology is one of three medical specialties with the largest increase in workforce numbers between 2018 and 2019.  

Most ophthalmologists work for public hospitals and private practices

District health boards employ all ophthalmologists who work in public hospitals.

Many ophthalmologists work in private practice in a group or solo clinic and operate at private hospitals or surgery centres.

The Universities of Auckland and Otago also employ ophthalmologists in teaching and research roles.

Kiwi Health Jobs

info@kiwihealthjobs.com - www.kiwihealthjobs.com

Medical Council of New Zealand

0800 286 801 - mcnz@mcnz.org.nz - www.mcnz.org.nz

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)

ranzco@ranzco.edu - https://ranzco.edu

Ophthalmologists may progress to teach students and trainee ophthalmologists, or become senior consultants with responsibility for ophthalmology departments in hospitals.

Ophthalmologists can specialise in a number of roles including:

Corneal Specialist

Corneal specialists diagnose and treat diseases of the cornea, such as dry eye disease and corneal trauma.

Glaucoma Specialist

Glaucoma specialists treat conditions that affect the optic nerve, the most common being glaucoma.

Neuro-ophthalmologist

Neuro-ophthalmologists treat vision problems related to the brain and nervous system, such as those caused by stroke. 

Ocular inflammation specialist

Ocular inflammation specialists work with immunology specialists to treat immune system conditions that affect the eye, such as scleritis. 

Oculoplastic Surgeon

Oculoplastic surgeons perform restorative and reconstructive surgery of the structures around the eye, such as the eye socket and eyelids.

Paediatric Specialist

Paediatric specialists diagnose and treat eye conditions that affect infants and children. 

Refractive Surgeon

Refractive surgeons perform vision correction procedures to correct astigmatism and short-, long- and age-related sightedness. 

Retinal Specialist

Retinal specialists diagnose and manage diseases affecting the back of the eye.

Ophthalmologists need to be:

• able to work well under pressure
  
• able to make good decisions
  
• good at problem solving
• good at time management
• able to work well in a team   
• able to listen and communicate well
• understanding of different cultures' attitudes to medical treatment.