Ophthalmology patient information
Find out what to expect when you come to hospital for your ophthalmology appointment.
Before your appointment
We aim to see and treat all patients within 18 weeks of referral by their GP.
Your appointment letter will have anything specific you need to bring to your appointment. In general, please bring a list of your medications and a copy of your glasses prescription if available to the appointment. If you wear glasses, please bring them with you to the appointment.
You are welcome to bring a relative, close friend or carer with you to your appointment.
Please note, you may be given eye drops at your appointment to dilate your pupils. As these will blur your vision for up to four hours you are advised to take public transport or to arrange a lift to and from your appointment.
During your appointment
Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside.
Please be aware our waiting times can vary from 10 minutes to two to three hours depending on the number of staff present and demand on the service. Once called in, your appointment will take 10 to 15 minutes.
Tests are often required prior to seeing the doctor. These can include but are not limited to:
- testing your vision
- measuring the pressure in the eye
- scans of various parts of the eye as applicable
Patient information leaflets
- Adenoviral conjunctivitis
- Adult Squint Surgery leaflet
- Amblyopia and occlusion therapy
- Anterior uveitis (Iritis)
- Atrophine occlusion for children
- Bacterial conjunctivitis
- Blepharospasm (eyelid spasm)
- Blepharitis and eyelid hygiene treatment
- Blood thinners and oculoplastic surgery
- Botulinum toxin treatment for squint
- Cataract surgery
- Chalazion
- Chlamydial conjunctivitis
- Chronic open angle glaucoma
- Children's eye care service
- Convergence exercises
- Corneal cross-linking
- Corneal transplants
- Dacryocystorhinostomy
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Double vision
- Drainage operation lacrimal bypass using a Lester Jones tube
- Dry eyes
- Ectropion and entropion
- Epiretinal Membrane (ERM)
- Episcleritis
- Eye preparations that are available to buy over the counter
- Evisceration and enucleation
- Eyelid tumours
- Fitting and wearing your glasses
- Fundus fluorescein angiography
- Glaucoma diagnostics and monitoring service
- Glaucoma drainage device
- Immunosuppression for thyroid eye disease (TED)
- Immunosuppression in Covid-19
- Implantable collamer lens
- Lattice degeneration
- Macular Hole
- Medical retina diagnostic clinic
- Microbial keratitis (cornea infection)
- MINIject glaucoma drainage device
- One-stop cataract clinic
- Orbital decompression surgery
- Orthoptic and visual field service
- Peripheral iridotomy laser
- Preparing for day surgery or a short stay in hospital
- Post-operative posturing following vitreoretinal surgery
- Posterior vitreous detachment
- Preparing for day surgery or a short stay in hospital
- Pterygium and surgery
- Ptosis
- Pupil-dilating eye drops
- Recurrent corneal erosion
- Retinal detachment
- Retinopexy laser
- Selective laser trabeculospasty
- Scleritis
- Subconjunctival haemorrhage
- Squint surgery
- Trabeculectomy surgery
- Visual aids
- What you need to know about your dilating eye drops treatment
- YAG laser capsulotomy
- Your glaucoma clinic journey
- Your visit to the macula clinic
Further online resources
Information from NHS Choices
This is also a great resource for in-depth information. Please click below for relevant information
NICE Guidance
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence regularly publishes information for the public as well as for eye care professionals related to various ophthalmic techniques and interventions.
Click here to see information related to ophthalmic interventions.About this page
- Last updated