Dr Timothy Forster

MBBS, FRANZCO, FRACS, FRCOphth (UK), FAAO 

Dr. Tim Forster was educated in Queensland at the Church of England Grammar School (Churchie) and the University of Queensland. His post-graduate studies were in the Brisbane Ophthalmology Training Scheme rotating as a Registrar through the Princess Alexandra Hospital, the Royal Brisbane Hospital, the Royal Children's Hospital, the Mater Hospital and Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital, obtaining his Fellowship of the RANZCO and RACS in 1980. 

Although he practices as a comprehensive Ophthalmologist, Dr. Forster has special interests in the treatment of the ageing eye, particularly cataracts and glaucoma and also regularly sees patients with macular degeneration and retinal vascular disease such as diabetic retinopathy. The operations he commonly performs are cataract surgery, pterygium excision, glaucoma surgery and minor lid surgery. 

Dr. Forster has a particular interest in the management and surgical treatment of cataracts and as a high volume surgeon is extremely experienced and expert in this area. The surgery is always performed by phacoemulsification utilising a clear corneal sutureless incision and implanting a foldable acrylic intraocular lens with anterior and posterior edge modification as well as posterior surface modification, resulting in rapid rehabilitation, superior wound healong and less side effects such as glare, dysphotopsia, posterior capsular opacification and higher order aberrations. This lens also has an ultraviolet and a blue light filter. The phacoemulsifier of choice is a trimodal device which allows the surgeon to customise the surgery and lens removal technique for each individual patient. As well as the standard state of the art handpieces used for the majority of patients, it has alternative handpieces to facilitate more efficient and friendly removal of the most dense nuclei as well as a third handpiece for use with very soft nuclei which occasionally occur in younger patients. 

Dr. Forster sees a large number of glaucoma patients and has equipped his practice to offer the most advanced state of the art equipment to manage them. The Humphrey Field Analyser is equipped with SITA (Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm) and GPA (Glaucoma Progression Analysis) to halve the time for testing, while, at the same time, retaining superb accuracy, sensitivity and reproducability as well as allowing the user to statistically differentiate true visual field progression from normal variability as well as objectively identifying such progression. Pachymetry is now available to measure central corneal thickness making for more accurate assessment of intraocular pressure readings and therefore resulting in more aggressive management in appropriate patients and observation rather than unnecessary treatment in others. The latest acquisition is the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II which is a high resolution confocal scanning laser camera with multi-functional capabilities which analyses the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fibre layer. This allows for early as possible detection of glaucoma and monitoring of structural damage in incredible detail which usually precedes further visual field loss by several years. 

Dr. Forster regularly performs pterygium surgery and believes that pterygium excision should be associated with an auto-conjunctival transplant and should be performed under microscopic control with peri-bulbar anaesthesia in a Day Surgery facility. This technique gives excellent results with no recurrences detected over recent years. 

Dr. Forster believes in continuing medical education to enable his patients to benefit from the latest in medical knowledge and techniques. As such, he has participated in the RANZCO's CPD (continuing professional development) program from its inception easily meeting the requirements per triennium. He regularly attends conferences in Australia and overseas, subscribes to many journals and attends numerous meetings and lecures to keep up to date. 

Dr. Forster has actively contributed to his professional college (RANZCO) as Chairman of the state branch, as a state and federal councillor and as a member and current Chairman of the Anomalies Committee which advises the HIC and Medicare on appropriate matters. 

Dr. Forster has also given service to the Government of Australia by his membership and participation in the Private Health Insurance Medical Devices Expert Committee (PHIMDEC) and the Lens Prosthesis Clinical Advisory Group (LPCAG). 

Dr. Forster has given 20 years service as a Visiting Medical Officer to the Royal Brisbane Hospital and earlier in his career, 5 years of service as a VMO to the Royal Children's Hospital but now devotes his time to his busy private practice with his central consulting rooms located at the Wesley Medical Centre but with branch practices at Jindalee, Kenmore, Sherwood, Indooroopilly, The Gap and Wynnum. 

Dr. Forster is a foundation shareholder/surgeon at the Queensland Eye Hospital and believes that it is the pre-eminent Ophthalmic Day Surgery in Australia equal to any such facility worldwide. He has a confirmed commitment to the Queensland Eye Hospital serving on the Board of Directors for seven years and as Medical Director for three years. He believes that the facility and staffing are second to none and he utilises the Queensland Eye Hospital for his surgical patients whenever possible. 

Professional Qualifications and Memberships: 

• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Qld)
• Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
• Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
• Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK)
• Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmologists
• Member of the Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
• Member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
• Member of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
• Member of the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia
• Member of the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists
• Member of the RANZCO Foundation
• Member of the Australian Medical Association