Dr Brian Harrisberg

Dr Brian Harrisberg is one of Australia’s most accomplished and experienced ophthalmologists, specialising in cataract surgery, refractive surgery, diabetic eye disease, and general ophthalmology. He is based at Central Sydney Eye Surgeons, located in Newtown.

With extensive expertise in vision correction, Dr Harrisberg has performed thousands of cataract and refractive surgeries and is a recognised authority in intraocular lens design. He plays an active role in trialling and developing new ophthalmic technologies and is frequently invited to present his research at international conferences in Australia and overseas. His contributions to ophthalmic research are widely acknowledged, with multiple publications in peer-reviewed medical journals.

Dr Harrisberg completed his undergraduate medical training in South Africa before relocating to Australia, where he undertook his medical and surgical residency at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. It was during this time that he developed a passion for ophthalmology, leading to his specialty training and fellowship with the Australasian College of Ophthalmologists (FRANZCO) in 1991.

Throughout his career, Dr Harrisberg has been dedicated to education and mentorship, serving as Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital from 2005 to 2010. He continues to mentor ophthalmology registrars, medical students, and endocrinology trainees, fostering the next generation of specialists through the hospital’s teaching program.

He has collaborated closely with The Diabetes Centre at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for over 30 years, managing complex diabetic eye disease in partnership with endocrinologists. His contributions to international multi-centre clinical trials span renowned institutions such as Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, the Brain & Mind Research Institute, and Sydney Cancer Centre.

Dr Harrisberg’s career highlights include being the first Australian surgeon to implant the Rayner EMV lens in 2021, the first to implant a sulcus-based intraocular lens, and the first in Australia to introduce the Schiaroth Macular Lens (SML) for macular degeneration in 2018. He pioneered dual in-the-bag and sulcus lenses as a primary procedure in Australia and has trained Fijian ophthalmologists in retinal laser treatments for diabetic eye disease.