Ophthalmology department

Eye outpatients 

If you have a hospital appointment where you will be seen in one of our clinics, you are being looked after as an outpatient.

You may be seen by a doctor, optometrist, orthoptist, nurse, ophthalmic technicians or a variety of these professionals and you may need to attend a clinic for a test, treatment, advice and support. 

Before your appointment

There are a number of items you need to bring with you. These items may not apply to everyone but we ask you to consider bringing:

• Spectacles and reading glasses
• A list of current medications or bring the medication boxes with you 
• Insulin or something to eat if you are diabetic 
• Sunglasses – you may be given eye drops which increases light sensitivity 
• A book to read
• Wearing your contact lenses, unless attending the corneal topography clinic 

Getting to your appointment

James Cook provides outpatient appointments in a number of locations. Please check your appointment letter to find out where your appointment will take place.

You might be attending an appointment at:

• The James Cook University Hospital eye outpatients department

• The Friarage Hospital

• Low Grange Health Village

We also extend our services to the outpatients department at the University Hospital of North Tees.

At your appointment

During your appointment you may need to have drops put into your eyes to help us examine them, this can make your vision blurry and sensitive to light.

You may have a number of diagnostic tests while you are here to avoid you having to come back on another day. This could mean that your visit could last a few hours.

We utilise DrDoctor to let you know about the details of your appointment electronically, if you haven’t accessed the link sent to your mobile phone within 48 hours, you will be sent a letter by post. 

We provide a number of services including but not limited to

• General adult ophthalmology 

• Childrens and young people’s ophthalmology 

• Cataract assessment clinic 

• Glaucoma service

• Cornea 

• Vitreoretinal 

• Oculoplastic service 

• Medical retina including diabetic eye disease

• Nurse-led cyst and general clinic 

• Orthoptics 

• Optometrists 

• Humphrey visual fields testing 

• Ophthalmic photography 

• Fundus fluorescein and, or indocyanine green angiogram 

Eye outpatients department

To get to the the modern, purpose-built outpatients department at The James Cook University Hospital from the North or South Entrance, follow the yellow route to The Mall (near where Costa Coffee is).

Carol O’Connor is the manager of the department.

Paediatric ophthalmology and orthoptic department

We see and treat children at the eye outpatients in The James Cook University Hospital. 

Much of the time, children need to see an orthoptist as well as a doctor and we usually combine this in a one-stop visit. 

Jerry Tatton is the head of orthoptic services and is responsible for managing the department. 

You can phone the children and young people’s opthalmology team at James Cook via 01642 854059 Monday to Friday between 8.30am to 4pm.

We also provide some children’s eye outpatients appointments at Low Grange Health Village in Normanby Road.

You can contact the Low Grange team by phoning 01642 944281. 

Ophthalmic imaging 

Some photographs and techniques are used to help diagnosis and some are to record the eye condition. 

We have ophthalmic science practitioner scan clinics where the doctor refers a patient who is under treatment for fluid at the back of the eye to have their visual acuity checked by us and a scan taken of the back of their eyes. 

Based on this information the patient will either be sent home or the ophthalmic science practitioner will refer them back to the doctor if they are concerned that the patient may need treatment. 

The doctor will look over the information recorded in the notes along with the scan taken and will write to the patient to attend again in four to six weeks for the same appointment. 

Retinal screening

This is a service offered by the ophthalmology department in a community setting.

Clinics are held in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hambleton and Richmondshire. 

Untreated diabetic retinopathy is a significant cause of blindness.

Simon White is the manager of the department.

Eye day unit with operating theatres 

The opthalmology operating theatres can be found in the eye day unit, which is located behind the eye outpatients and casualty department at James Cook.

Opening hours for the department are between 8am and 8pm from Monday to Friday.

We do virtually all eye surgeries as day cases under general anaesthetics or local anaesthetics. 

Louise Cawthorn is the manager of this department.