About Us

Our Children’s Ophthalmology Service is a dynamic team of specialists who examine, evaluate and treat children’s eye conditions.

During your visit, you may be seen by several ophthalmic specialists. Depending on your child’s eye condition, patients will be seen by the following:

Orthoptists check your child’s vision and eye movements, even in non-verbal children as there are several ways to examine the eye muscles. We also monitor visual development in children, including recommending glasses and eye patches. We manage both adults and children with strabismus (eye turn), amblyopia (childhood lazy eye), diplopia (double vision).

Opticians/ Optometrists undertake glasses assessments and can also evaluate the general health of your child.

Nurses will assist in instilling eye drops prior to your child being seen by the ophthalmologist, optician or optometrist, as well as perform other diagnostic assessments.

Dilating drops are commonly given in order for the doctor to fully check your child’s eyes. These drops may sting but are necessary to ensure that the eyes are thoroughly evaluated. Numbing drops can be given to ensure patient comfort prior to instilling the dilating drops.

Please note that dilating eye drops may need some time to take effect, depending on your child’s eyes (darker-eyed patients take longer to dilate) so please remember to bring food, toys, treats or comfort items that your child may need during your appointment. If the eyes do not dilate at a certain time, we may require instilling another set of drops in order to ensure optimal dilation prior to examination. You may notice that the child’s pupils (the black part of the eye) will look enlarged after the drops have been given.

Not all patients may need eye drops during their visit.

Ophthalmologists perform examination of the child’s eye, as well as recommend and provide treatment for their eye problems.

Please note that some patients may not necessarily see the doctor during their visit.

What is the Eye Clinic Liaison Officer Service?

  • Our Eye Clinic Liaison Officer provides service for children, young people and families
  • Initial emotional and practical support to parents
  • Information / signposting parents and children to local and national VI children services
  • Advice / information to parents on best etiquette around communication and sighted guiding.
  • Advice / information on education and QTVI (Qualified Teacher of Visual Impairment)
  • Onward referrals to QTVI Service and Disabled Children services run by the patients’ local authority. Providing information on peer support groups/networks, play groups and events.

A baby-changing room is also available in our unit.

See our My first eye test at the hospital information leaflet for more information. 

How to access services

On arrival, please check the patient in at the reception desk and wait for one of the staff members to call you from the waiting area. There is a particular reception section intended for our paediatric patients.

Please note that visiting is on appointment basis. Referrals should be sent by your doctor, GP or optician prior to receiving an appointment from our admin department who will get in touch with you.

For emergency eye cases, please contact our Acute Referral Clinic.

Due to limited space, we kindly ask that you come close to your appointment time in order to avoid crowding in our waiting area.