Service Description: The Ophthalmology services provided by Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust include an outpatient diagnostic and treatment service for the management of eye conditions including ocular and periocular disorders, elective inpatient and day case treatment and emergency outpatient and inpatient care.
The Trust recently starting providing an acute macular degeneration service meaning patients no longer having to travel to Torbay.
Outpatient Service: The ophthalmological service is provided under the direction of Consultant Ophthalmologists at North Devon District Hospital. A full Outpatient service is available, which includes assessment, investigation, diagnosis and minor operative treatment of referred patients
Management of the majority of ophthalmic problems including Argon and Nd:Yag laser treatment is provided. Tertiary referrals are made by the Ophthalmologists as required, but mainly for complex orbital problems and ocular oncology.
As well as Outpatient consultations, North Devon District Hospital’s Eye Clinic has facilities for Visual Field Assessment, a Contact Lens Clinic, a Children’s Refraction Clinic, Fluorescein angiography, electro-diagnostic studies and ultrasound.
Emergency Service: There is a 24-hour emergency cover for all patients requiring ophthalmic intervention following referral from either a General Practitioner to a member of the ophthalmic medical staff or from the Accident and Emergency Department.
Preventative Care: Preventative eye care includes primary screening to prevent amblyopia, detection of refractive errors and secondary screening to detect early glaucoma, retinopathy of prematurity and other eye disorders.
A diabetic retinopathy screening service runs with the support of all local General Practice surgeries.
Service Location: Most services are provided from NDDH’s Eye Clinic which run outpatient, laser, pre-assessment and cataract clinics. Several disorders such as corneal disease, medical retinal disease, oculoplastic problems, acute morbidity, and paediatric ophthalmology and macula disorders are separated into special clinics.
