John Downie

Dr John Downie is a Vitreoretinal surgeon, specialising in diseases of the retina and retinal surgery

Dr Downie cares exclusively for patients with conditions of the macula and vitreous, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions, macular hole, epiretinal membrane and retinal tears and retinal detachment.

Dr Downie performs retinal surgery at Chatswood Private Hospital.

Dr Downie studied Medicine at the University of Sydney, graduating with Honours in 1987. He trained as an Ophthalmologist at the Sydney Eye Hospital, and was the Professorial Senior Registrar at the Sydney Eye Hospital in 1995. He undertook further training as a retinal specialist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, and was a Vitreoretinal Surgical Fellow and Renee and Francis Hock Research Fellow during his time at Moorfields.

Dr Downie is a senior Vitreoretinal Specialist at the Sydney Eye Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital, where he is involved in both patient care and the teaching and supervision of ophthalmology trainees and Vitreoretinal Surgical Fellows.  He has twice received the Trainer of Excellence Award by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.

His interest in training young ophthalmologists extends to work overseas. Under the auspices of the Fred Hollows Foundation and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, Dr Downie regularly travels to Cambodia to teach trainees in the Cambodian Ophthalmology Residents Programme.

Dr Downie has a special interest in the management of patients with diabetic retinopathy. He is currently the Chairman of the Diabetic Retinopathy Working Group for the NSW Health Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Community Eye Care Project, which aims to improve the management of this increasingly common retinal problem in NSW.

Dr Downie is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Retinal Specialists and has contributed cases to the Macula Hole Project.

To make an appointment with Dr Downie, call 9411 7767.

retinal specialist john downie