Ophthalmology

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

Tel: 01803 655088
Eye Clinic Liaison Officer: 01803 656121

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.

Orthoptic service

A full orthoptic service is offered, which includes:

  • Screening programme for four-year-old children in the community, screening in Special Schools and the John Parkes Unit
  • Investigation and management together with a consultant ophthalmologist of adults with eye movement disorders

Direct referrals can be made by the Health Visitor, School Nurse or GP.

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 social services. You can contact our Eye Clinic Liaison Officer on 01803 656121.