About | Dr Sky Chew

Hello and welcome!

I'm Dr. Sky Chew, a dedicated and passionate Retinal Surgeon, Cataract Surgeon, and Ophthalmologist. My journey into the world of Ophthalmology has been fueled by an insatiable love of learning and a commitment to providing the best care for my patients. The following summarises my 19 years of medical and surgical training.

Educational Journey

I started my medical journey by graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Biomedical Science from the University of Melbourne in 2011, followed by a Masters in Ophthalmic Science from the University of Sydney.

Professional Training and Fellowships

My foundational training in Ophthalmology (4 years) was completed at the prestigious Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, which set the stage for my specialized career.

Unlike the typical pathway of completing one fellowship (typically a 1 year duration), I chose to undertake four sub-specialist fellowships. This journey, driven by my desire to offer the best care possible, took me to some of Australia's leading hospitals: Here’s a glimpse of where my subspecialty training has taken me:

Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Queensland Children's Hospital, STARS Hospital, Brisbane (Vitreoretinal Fellow)
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital & Lions Eye Institute, Perth (Vitreoretinal Fellow)
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne (Medical Retina and Uveitis Fellow)
Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (Paediatric Ophthalmology Fellow)

Each of these fellowships has enriched my experience, equipped me with a diverse skill set and allowed me to refine my surgical techniques to offer comprehensive and advanced eye care. I have performed over 1,000 retinal surgeries, including vitrectomy and scleral buckle procedures. These cases have encompassed a wide range of complexities, from straightforward cases to highly challenging conditions requiring the integration of multiple surgical techniques.

Personal Background

Originally from the sunny tropical island of Penang, Malaysia, I bring a multicultural perspective to my practice. Being multilingual, I can speak conversational Bahasa, Mandarin, and Hokkien, which helps me connect with a broader range of patients.

Beyond the Operating Theatre

When I'm not in the operating room or consulting with patients, you'll find me actively involved in my local church community. Music is another one of my passions—I play the piano, guitar, and violin well enough (I reckon!) but am still working on refining my chord progressions! If you bring a guitar to clinic you could test me out. Check out my

- amateur guitar skills at an Ophthalmology Department Christmas dinner

- piano playing for a Masters assignment eons ago!

These hobbies not only provide relaxation but also enhance my finger dexterity, which undoubtedly benefits my surgical precision. Above all, I am a proud and doting dad to my daughter, who brings immense joy to my life.

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about me. I look forward to meeting you and providing you with the highest level of compassionate and cutting-edge eye care.

Areas of Expertise

Medical and Surgical Retina

I specialise in all aspects of medical and surgical retina. With extensive experience in various retinal procedures, including eye injections, retinal laser treatments, and surgery, I am dedicated to providing comprehensive care for all retinal issues.

Cataracts and Dislocated Intraocular lenses

During my fellowship at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, I had the privilege of working with Professor Graham Barrett, the renowned inventor of the Barrett formula for intraocular lens calculations. This invaluable experience has equipped me with exceptional expertise in managing both routine and complex cataracts, including cases involving dislocated lenses, traumatic injuries, and congenital cataracts.

General Ophthalmology

In addition to my retinal and cataract expertise, I am well-versed in addressing general ophthalmological issues, including paediatric eye conditions. As a product of Australia's excellent ophthalmology training program, I strive to ensure that my patients receive top-notch care for a wide range of eye health concerns.

Research and publications

Chew S, Tran T, Sanfilippo P, Lim LL, Sandhu SS, Wickremasinghe S. Elevated aqueous TNF-α levels are associated with more severe functional and anatomic findings in eyes with diabetic macular oedema. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024; 1-10. doi:10.1111/ceo.14425

Chew S, Colville D, Hutchinson A, Canty P, Hodgson L, Savige J. Obstructive sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertensive microvascular disease: a cross-sectional observational cohort study. Scientific Reports. 2022 Aug 3;12(1):13350.

Chew SK, Favilla M, Carden SM. Handheld ocular coherence tomography: An adjunct to grading retinopathy of prematurity. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 2022 Apr 19;58(9):1693-4.

Pham C, Boo A, Chew SK, Okada M. Paracentral acute middle maculopathy in a young patient following routine phacoemulsification surgery. Clinical & experimental ophthalmology. 2019 Dec;47(9):1206-9.

Gin TJ, Wu Z, Chew SK, Guymer RH, Luu CD. Quantitative analysis of the ellipsoid zone intensity in phenotypic variations of intermediate age-related macular degeneration. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 2017 Apr 1;58(4):2079-86.

Chew SK, Levy J, Rogers S, Lim LL. Long-term outcomes of limited Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2016 Jul 1;167:52-6.

Chew SK, Colville D, Canty P, Hutchinson A, Wong A, Luong V, Wong TY, McDonald C, Savige J. Hypertensive/microvascular disease and COPD: a case control study. Kidney and Blood Pressure Research. 2016 Feb 1;41(1):29-39.

Chew SK, Watson S. Use of topical retinoic acid for limbal stem cell failure: a retrospective clinical case series. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. 2015 Dec 7;44(3):217-8.

Preece P, Yao HH, Chew S, Liew D, McMullin R. PSA doubling time as a screening test to predict bone scan positivity. Journal of Clinical Urology. 2015 Nov;8(6):396-401.

Oya J, Vistisen D, Christensen DL, Faurholt‐Jepsen D, Mohan V, Ramachandran A, Chew SK, Shaw JE, Jørgensen ME. Geographic differences in the associations between impaired glucose regulation and cardiovascular risk factors among young adults. Diabetic Medicine. 2015 Apr;32(4):497-504.

Samarawickrama C, Chew S, Watson S. Retinoic acid and the ocular surface. Survey of ophthalmology. 2015 May 1;60(3):183-95.

Chew SK, Skalicky SE, Goldberg I. Brinzolamide plus brimonidine for the treatment of glaucoma: an update. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2014 Nov 1;15(16):2461-71.

Chew SK, Taouk Y, Xie J, Nicolaou TE, Wang JJ, Wong TY, Lamoureux EL. The relationship of retinal vessel caliber with erectile dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 2013 Nov 1;54(12):7234-9.

Chew SK, Taouk Y, Xie J, Nicolaou TE, Wang JJ, Wong TY, Lamoureux EL. Relationship between diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular oedema and erectile dysfunction in type 2 diabetics. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. 2013 Sep;41(7):683-9.

Chew SK, Chew A. Facebook Friend Finder - understanding sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive value. BMJ. 2013 May 10;346.

Chew SK, Xie J, Wang JJ. Retinal arteriolar diameter and the prevalence and incidence of hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of their association. Current hypertension reports. 2012 Apr;14:144-51.

Deva R, Alias MA, Colville D, Tow FK, Ooi QL, Chew S, Mohamad N, Hutchinson A, Koukouras I, Power DA, Savige J. Vision-threatening retinal abnormalities in chronic kidney disease stages 3 to 5. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2011 Aug;6(8):1866.