Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology
Eye Clinic and Eye Surgery Unit
Torbay Hospital
Lowes Bridge
Torquay TQ2 7AA

Eye Clinic Reception: 01803 655088
Eye Surgery Unit: 01803 655143

Our services

We care for people with eye and vision problems. Every year our Eye Unit provides over 70 000 consultations. We carry out more than 3000 ocular operations for the local population.

The Ophthalmology services include:

  • Outpatient diagnostics and treatments
  • Orthoptic service
  • Emergency eye care
  • Elective and emergency eye surgery
  • Children’s Ophthalmology service (including retinopathy of prematurity screening, orthoptics and refraction)
  • Low vision and sensory services (including RNIB Eye clinic liaison officer)

Location of services

Most services are held in Torbay Hospital’s Eye Clinic and Eye Surgery Unit.

Outpatient clinics are also held at Dawlish Hospital, Newton Abbot Hospital, Teignmouth Hospital and Totnes Hospital.

Outpatient service

Our consultants have a range of sub-speciality expertise and run specialist clinics including:

  • Cataract
  • Cornea and anterior segment
  • Glaucoma
  • Medical retina
  • Ocular motility
  • Oculoplastic
  • Paediatric ophthalmology
  • Surgical retina
  • Uveitis

Patients referred with cataracts are seen in the Eye Surgery Unit. A comprehensive pre-operative assessment is given before their surgery. The majority of patients needing treatment will be offered a date for surgery on their first appointment. For further information see our ophthalmology video library.

We carry out a range of treatments in our outpatient clinic including:

  • Minor operations
  • Intravitreal injections (injection of medicine into the eye)
  • LASER treatment

The Devon Diabetic Eye Screening Programme, which checks for diabetic retinopathy in people with diabetes, is provided by Health Intelligence. This runs with the support of all local General Practice surgeries.

For more useful information, see our ophthalmology information leaflets.

Orthoptics and Optometry service

Details of the services offered can be found on our Orthoptics and Optometry page.

Emergency service

There is a 24-hour emergency cover for all patients needing emergency ophthalmic intervention. This service is accessed by referral from either a General Practitioner or the Emergency Department (A&E).

Sensory – Visual and Hearing

The Low Vision Service is delivered by Optima Low Vision Services. The low vision clinic is situated at Dart Side, Ford Road, Totnes, TQ9 5LQ.

For more information about the support available for those with visual loss, visit our Sensory – Visual and Hearing page.

We have a Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO). They assist those with vision loss and act as an important bridge between health and sensory teams. You can contact our Eye Clinic Liaison Officer on 01803 656121.