Richard J. Symes is an ophthalmologist based in Sydney, NSW, Australia. His work is all about looking after the health of eyes, from day-to-day problems to more complex eye conditions that need careful ongoing care.
In clinic, he sees people with issues affecting the front of the eye, including inflammation like uveitis, episcleritis, and scleritis. At times, eye redness and pain can be part of these conditions, and getting the right diagnosis matters because treatment can be quite different from common causes of irritation.
He also helps patients with infections that involve the eye. Endophthalmitis, for example, is a serious problem that needs prompt attention. Other eye infections and related complications can also come up, including nocardiosis and related cases.
Eye pressure problems are another big part of his practice. That includes glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OHT). In many cases, managing eye pressure helps reduce the risk of ongoing vision loss, and people may need long-term follow up.
Cataract care is also part of the work. Richard looks after patients who have cataracts and supports them through cataract removal when it’s the right option. Cataract surgery can make a real difference for vision, especially when glare and blurry sight start to affect daily life.
Some patients need help with retinal conditions too. This can include late-onset retinal degeneration, birdshot chorioretinopathy, and inherited issues like cone dystrophy and cone-rod dystrophy. At times, these conditions can change slowly, and monitoring is important so any changes to vision are not missed.
He also works with eye conditions that are linked to the shape and development of the eye. Examples include aniridia and Peters anomaly. For some people, these are present from a young age, while for others they may be noticed later as vision changes.
There are also cases related to underlying health conditions, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), which can affect the eyes and lead to inflammation. And for people who have had eye surgery in the past or need procedures to help with eye pressure, Richard can be involved in treatments like trabeculectomy.
Over time, he’s built a practice focused on careful assessment and practical treatment plans for a wide range of eye conditions. He stays mindful that every case can look a bit different, even when the eye diagnosis sounds similar on paper.
