QUEENSLAND EYE & RETINA SPECIALISTS - Key Persons


Dr Katie Chen

Job Titles:
  • Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon
Dr Katie Chen is an Australian and internationally trained ophthalmologist, and a cataract and oculoplastics surgeon. She consults in general and comprehensive ophthalmology, with a special interest in surgeries of the eyelid (eg. lid malpositions, ptosis, ectropions, and entropions). Dr Chen completed her undergraduate degrees at the University of Queensland before progressing to her medical degree at the same university. Her junior doctor years were spent at Nambour General Hospital on the Sunshine Coast, and the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. During this period, she partook in many outreach ophthalmology clinics to the rural and remote towns of Queensland. Dr Chen completed her ophthalmology training in Queensland, working in the major tertiary hospitals in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville. Following this, she furthered her interest in rural and development ophthalmology by becoming a Fred Hollows Foundation fellow, spending time both in Alice Springs and the surrounding communities in Central Australia, as well as in the Pacific Eye Institute in Suva, Fiji. In 2014, Dr Chen returned to Brisbane to undertake a paediatric ophthalmology fellowship under Professor Glen Gole at the Royal Children's Hospital and Queensland Children's Hospital. Dr Chen then further pursued her interest in the subspecialty of oculoplastics, completing an 18 months fellowship at the world renowned Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, United Kingdom, before returning to her home of Brisbane. Dr Chen also currently practices publicly at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, and is involved in the teaching and supervision of medical students, junior doctors, and ophthalmology trainees. She is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland School of Medicine, and is on the RANZCO Women in Ophthalmology committee. In her spare time, Dr Chen enjoys reading widely and being active with her young family. Dr Katie Chen BSc BA MBBS(Qld) FRANZCO Dr Katie Chen Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon Dr Katie Chen is an Australian and internationally trained ophthalmologist, and a cataract and oculoplastics surgeon. She consults in general and comprehensive ophthalmology, with a special interest in surgeries of the eyelid (eg. lid malpositions, ptosis, ectropions, and entropions). Dr Chen

Dr Nirosha Paramanathan

Job Titles:
  • Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Dr Nirosha Paramanathan is a comprehensively trained and highly effective Ophthalmologist. Technical expertise, thoroughness, kindness and an instinctive commitment to holistic care, are demonstrated core values in her clinical practice. Dr Paramanathan studied both undergraduate medicine and post-graduate master's degrees, at the University of New South Wales. She then completed five years of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology accredited training, at Prince of Wales and Sydney Children's Hospitals. Having acquired extensive training in both adult and paediatric general ophthalmology, Dr Paramanathan went on to undertake a three-year mentorship with internationally renowned Strabismologist, Dr Ross Fitzsimons, to advance her appreciation of the science and art, of strabismus (squint). She has now returned home to Brisbane, joining Queensland Eye and Retina Specialists and Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, as a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon. Dr Paramanathan expertly manages a wide-range of presentations: adult cataract, strabismus, glaucoma, pterygium, ocular surface neoplasia, paediatric strabismus, amblyopia (lazy eye) and tear-duct obstruction. Dr Paramanathan is also the author of the acclaimed PINKY PONKY series of children's books. Dr Nirosha Paramanathan MBBS BSc Med (NSW) MHA FRANZCO Dr Nirosha Paramanathan Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon Dr Nirosha Paramanathan is a comprehensively trained and highly effective Ophthalmologist. Technical expertise, thoroughness, kindness and an instinctive commitment to holistic care, are demonstrated core values in her clinical practice. Dr Paramanathan studied both undergraduate medicine and post-graduate master's degrees,

Dr Sean Cheng

Job Titles:
  • Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon
  • Surgeon at Both Royal Brisbane & Women 's Hospital
Dr Sean Cheng is the Principal Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon at Queensland Eye & Retina Specialists, specialising in medical and surgical diseases of the retina - such as retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, retinal vascular disease, complex cataracts and diabetic eye disease. He also provides a comprehensive eye care service - including cataracts, general ophthalmology and ocular trauma. Dr Cheng grew up and was educated in Brisbane, Queensland. He was awarded First Class Honours in Engineering prior to commencing medical training at the University of Queensland. Dr Cheng completed specialist ophthalmology training in Queensland. He subsequently undertook two more years of cornea, cataract, oculoplastics and general ophthalmology training as the Senior Registrar at Princess Alexandra Hospital and Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital. Furthermore, Dr Cheng was awarded the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) Topham Scholarship. He travelled to the United Kingdom to complete two additional years of surgical sub-specialisation through a Vitreoretinal Fellowship under the auspices of Professor Andrew Dick and Dr Richard Haynes at the prestigious Bristol Eye Hospital and West of England Eye Unit at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital Dr Cheng currently works as a Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon at both Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital with Queensland Health. He is a Senior Lecturer with the University of Queensland School of Medicine and is dedicated to training the next generation of doctors, eye surgeons and ophthalmic allied health professionals in Queensland. Dr Sean Cheng MBBS (UQ), BE (Hons 1 UQ), MMed (USyd), FRANZCO Dr Sean Cheng Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon Dr Sean Cheng is the Principal Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon at Queensland Eye & Retina Specialists, specialising in medical and surgical diseases of the retina - such as retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, retinal vascular disease, complex

Dr Shyalle Kahawita

Dr Shyalle Kahawita MBBS (Adel), MMed (Ophth Sci) (USyd), FRANZCO Glaucoma Fellowship (Moorfields UK) Dr Shyalle Kahawita Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon Dr Shyalle Kahawita is a consultant eye surgeon and physician with subspecialisation in glaucoma. She studied at the University of Adelaide where she received the David Crompton Ophthalmology prize in medical school. She also completed