SMS Healthcare acquires Sydney Eye Clinic

Private health care provider SMS Healthcare has expanded its eye surgery services into Sydney CBD and the northern beaches, with new ophthalmology acquisitions in Darlinghurst and Brookvale.

The latest acquisition of local Sydney Eye Clinic follows SMS Healthcare’s acquisition of Queensland-based LASERSIGHT Australia earlier this year.

According to SMS Healthcare Managing Director Carl Adams, the new acquisition aligns growing demand for elective eye surgery procedures with the company’s commitment to bringing the latest eye surgery and collaborative care advances directly to local communities.

Adams said the aging population combined with a backlog of elective eye surgery procedures following the pandemic highlighted the importance of streamlining the patient journey, while also supporting SMS Healthcare’s diversified healthcare consolidation strategy.

Demand for eye surgery, currently a $1 billion industry, is forecast to increase over the next five years, with highest growth expected in cataract surgery, laser correction and other types of corrective eye surgery.

Sydney Eye Clinic founding partner Dr Ilan Sebban said, “Through this new synergy we can expand the suitability of eye surgery to a larger group of people, while focusing on widening treatment applications.

“Together we can support faster patient access to the latest technologies through established collaborations and a broader professional support network.”

SMS Healthcare’s local investment is part of a larger support strategy to alleviate poor patient access to overwhelmed local area health services.

“As we focus on integrating capability with a high level of patient satisfaction, together with our partners we’re in prime position to help increase patient access and provide suitable options to them,” Adams said.

Sydney Eye Clinic will continue to operate under its existing trade name with the support of the shared services team at SMS Healthcare.

SMS Healthcare’s eye surgery portfolio now includes 16 combined eye assessment and laser eye day surgery clinics across Australia. Across its wider portfolio, SMS Healthcare holds co-investments alongside the medical professional founders of 21 day and short-stay hospitals, allied health and specialist medical practices spanning ophthalmology and laser eye surgery infrastructure across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

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