Dr Roger T Welch
MBChB, FRANZCO, FRACS
Vision Centre founder and current CEO Dr Roger Welch is recognised for his expertise in cataract, excimer laser refractive surgery, retina-vitreous and general ophthalmology, including glaucoma. A highly experienced ophthalmologist, he established his Gold Coast ophthalmology practice in 1989.
Dr Welch completed his postgraduate studies in ophthalmology and vitreoretina sub-specialty at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami’s School of Medicine in Florida, USA.
Subsequently, he devoted a year to consulting and lecturing in ophthalmology at the University of Auckland’s School of Medicine.
Dr Welch’s interest in refractive surgery saw him gain his C-LASIK diploma in 1996. He was a pioneer of phacoemulsification IOL and vitreoretinal surgery on the Gold Coast. He was also the first local surgeon to use Botox treatment to relieve facial spasms.
Dr Welch is a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Surgeons and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO). He is also a fellow of the Australian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. He is also a member of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society and an associate member of the Oceania Retina Association.
Dr Welch has served as a Visiting Consultant at Greenslopes Private Hospital in Brisbane, and at the Gold Coast Hospital where he has been President of the Visiting Medical Officers Association. Dr Welch has also been a Founding Director of the Gold Coast’s Pindara Day Procedure Centre and a member of the Pindara Hospital Medical Board of Advice.
Dr Welch founded the Moree Eye Service in 1996, where he provided a regular service to the Moree area, operating on a surgical bus, and then providing eye surgery through the Moree Base Hospital. From 2007 – 2022, he has also been a consultant to the Pius X Aboriginal Health Care Corporation at Moree.
In March 2022 Dr Welch provided his last clinic and operating list in Moree and in late 2023 he started providing a service to Grafton and the surrounding community.
Dr Welch is an active presenter at Society and College meetings. He is active in registrar and medical student teaching for local Universities.
Dr Roger Welch performs surgical procedures at Vision Centre Day Surgery in Southport. https://visionhospitalgroup.com.au/locations/vision-centre-day-surgery/