Book a GP

Our Ophthalmology Services

Both of our consultants cover the conditions most likely to bring someone through the door of an eye specialist and those where private access makes the most meaningful difference.

Specialist Ophthalmology Consultation
Specialist Ophthalmology Consultation

Your first appointment is a proper clinical consultation, not a rushed assessment. Your consultant takes the time to understand your symptoms, review your visual history, and carry out a thorough examination using our diagnostic equipment. You leave knowing what is happening with your eyes and what, if anything, needs to be done about it.

Cataract Assessment & Surgery
Cataract Assessment & Surgery

Cataracts cloud the eye's natural lens over time, causing vision to blur progressively, often more quickly than patients expect. Both Ms Cooke and Mr McCullagh perform cataract surgery and can take you from the first assessment through to surgical treatment without the delays typically associated with the public pathway.

Glaucoma Investigation & Management
Glaucoma Investigation & Management

Glaucoma is particularly important to catch early because the damage it causes, from elevated intraocular pressure, is irreversible. Our consultants assess, diagnose, and manage glaucoma on an ongoing basis, giving patients the specialist continuity this condition demands rather than being seen by a different doctor at every appointment.

Eyelid Procedures
Eyelid Procedures

Structural eyelid conditions, including drooping lids, lids that turn inward or outward, and other eyelid abnormalities, can significantly affect both vision and comfort. Our consultants assess and surgically manage these conditions with the precision of experienced ophthalmic surgeons, not general practitioners.

Diagnostic Eye Assessments
Diagnostic Eye Assessments

Not every appointment ends in a diagnosis or a surgical plan; sometimes, patients simply want a thorough, expert check of their eye health. Our diagnostic assessments cover visual acuity, intraocular pressure, retinal health, and other key markers, giving you a clear and complete picture of your eyes' current status.

Our Packages

Meet Our Specialists

A dedicated team of experienced professionals focused on your health, comfort, and confidence.

Carole Cook
Carole Cook

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon

Donal McCullagh
Donal McCullagh

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon

What Patients Say About Us

FAQs

Get quick answers to common questions about our services.

You will be seen by one of our two consultant ophthalmic surgeons, Ms Carole Cooke or Mr Donal McCullagh. Both are experienced surgeons rather than general eye practitioners, which means the person assessing your condition is the same person who would manage or perform any treatment needed. That continuity matters, particularly for conditions requiring ongoing care.

Our consultants see patients with cataracts, glaucoma, and eyelid conditions, including ptosis, ectropion, and entropion. If you are experiencing changes in vision, increased eye pressure, or structural eyelid concerns and are unsure whether our team can help, call us before booking and we will give you an honest answer.

Yes. Private ophthalmology appointments at Blackwater Private Clinic do not require a GP referral. If your GP has written to you or provided relevant investigation results, bring those along; your consultant will factor them into your assessment. If you are coming without a referral, simply bring a note of your symptoms and any medications you are currently taking.

A diagnostic consultant can tell you what is wrong. A consultant surgeon can tell you what is wrong and fix it. Having surgeon-level expertise in the room from your very first appointment means that if your condition does require surgical intervention, you are not being bounced between a diagnostic specialist and a separate surgical team. Assessment, decision-making, and treatment all sit with the same experienced hands.

The honest answer is speed. Public ophthalmology waiting lists in Ireland regularly run to six months or longer, and for conditions like cataracts and glaucoma, that is a significant amount of time for your vision to continue deteriorating. Private appointments are available far sooner, assessments are thorough, and you are seen by a consultant rather than working through a triage system before reaching one.

Bring your current glasses or contact lens prescription if you have one, details of any eye drops or medications you are using, and any correspondence from your GP or previous eye appointments. If you wear contact lenses, it is advisable, where possible, to switch to glasses for a few days before your appointment, as lenses can temporarily affect certain measurements taken during a diagnostic eye assessment.

You no longer need to join a lengthy public waiting list

Our two consultant ophthalmic surgeons see patients here at the clinic, with appointments available promptly and clinical expertise you would expect from a leading eye unit.

Book an Appointment Contact Us