Public ophthalmology waiting time 2026: how long Hospital Authority ophthalmology new cases wait in each cluster
From October 2025 to September 2026, the median waiting time for stable new cases in Hospital Authority Ophthalmology was 25 to 65 weeks by cluster (about 6 to 15 months); the medians for urgent and semi-urgent new cases were roughly under 1 week and 4 to 7 weeks respectively. The actual order is decided by healthcare staff according to the patient's condition.
How long do ophthalmology new cases wait in each cluster?
The table shows new-case waiting times at Hospital Authority ophthalmology specialist outpatient clinics by cluster. From October 2025 to September 2026 there were 149,905 booked ophthalmology new cases, about 50% of them stable new cases.
‘Stable (90th percentile)’ is what the Hospital Authority calls the ‘longest’ waiting time: nine in ten stable new cases are seen before this point, which does not mean you will necessarily wait this long; for how to read the figures, see how to read Hospital Authority waiting times.
| Hospital cluster | Urgent (median) | Semi-urgent (median) | Stable (median) | Stable (90th percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong East | Less than 1 week | 7 weeks | 25 weeks | 56 weeks |
| Hong Kong West | Less than 1 week | 6 weeks | 34 weeks | 40 weeks |
| Kowloon Central | Less than 1 week | 4 weeks | 62 weeks | 67 weeks |
| Kowloon East | Less than 1 week | 6 weeks | 36 weeks | 99 weeks |
| Kowloon West | Less than 1 week | 6 weeks | 42 weeks | 97 weeks |
| New Territories East | Less than 1 week | 6 weeks | 65 weeks | 106 weeks |
| New Territories West | Less than 1 week | 4 weeks | 31 weeks | 71 weeks |
How is the order of the wait decided?
Referred cases are usually first assessed by a nurse and then reviewed by a specialist, and are classified into three categories: urgent, semi-urgent and stable. The Hospital Authority's target is to keep the median waiting time for urgent and semi-urgent new cases within two weeks and eight weeks respectively.
You can choose to book in another cluster, but healthcare staff might, depending on your condition, advise you to attend a clinic near your home.
How do I book an ophthalmology new case?
Specialist outpatient clinics mainly see patients referred by Family Medicine Clinics, private doctors or family doctors.
Booking a new case requires a referral letter issued within the past three months by a locally registered doctor; for some specialties you can submit an application through ‘BookHA’ in HA Go, as shown in the app.
If your condition gets worse while you wait, you can contact the clinic to ask for an earlier appointment; in an emergency, go to an Accident and Emergency Department.
Common misunderstandings
‘The Hospital Authority promises that urgent cases see a doctor within two weeks’: not so. Two weeks and eight weeks are the targets the Hospital Authority sets for the median waiting time of urgent and semi-urgent new cases, not a deadline for every patient; when a target is met, at least half of the cases are seen before then.
‘The “longest” waiting time is how long everyone has to wait’: not so. The ‘longest’ is the 90th percentile for stable new cases; nine in ten cases are seen before then, and your actual wait is arranged according to your condition.
How much do public specialist outpatient clinics cost?
From 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$250 per attendance at Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinics and HK$20 per drug item (charged in units of 4 weeks), with some pathology tests and non-emergency radiology examinations charged separately; Non-eligible Persons pay HK$850 per attendance at specialist outpatient clinics.
If you have financial difficulty you can apply for a medical fee waiver; the Hospital Authority also has an annual charge cap of HK$10,000, which requires an application and has no means test.
From 1 January 2026, the fee schedule for Non-eligible Persons also lists ‘Ophthalmology Clinic’ under Day Hospital / Day Procedure at HK$950 per attendance.
For the ophthalmology consultation fees published by the private hospitals and medical centres this site checked, see private ophthalmologist fees compared.
Frequently asked questions
What is the longest wait for a public ophthalmology appointment?
What the Hospital Authority calls the ‘longest’ is the 90th percentile for stable new cases, which from October 2025 to September 2026 was 40 to 106 weeks by cluster (about 9 to 24 months): nine in ten stable new cases were seen before then, which does not mean you will necessarily wait this long.
Can I book in a cluster with a shorter wait?
You can choose to book in another cluster, but healthcare staff might, depending on your condition, advise you to attend a clinic near your home.
How long is a referral letter valid?
Booking a new case requires a referral letter issued by a locally registered doctor with an issue date within the past three months.
What should I do if my condition gets worse while I wait?
If your condition gets worse while you wait, you can contact the clinic to ask for an earlier appointment; in an emergency, go to an Accident and Emergency Department.