Ophthalmology

This is where a lot of activity takes place and where many patients have a first appointment.Clinics are held for adults and children, with optometrists, nurses and consultants.Minor surgery takes place here and staff offer a great deal of advice and support.

Outpatients A 0191 565 6256 extension 46273

The Outpatient B area provides a service to compliment the Cataract Treatment Centre. A number of nurse-led initiatives take place including preadmission assessment for cataract surgery and post-operative cataract clinics. Patients are given a choice of dates and times of surgery to suit.

Other services provided are diabetic clinics including laser treatments.

The aim of outpatient B is to provide patient-centred care of the highest standard, giving the patients and their relatives’ information, education and choice.

Outpatients B 0191 565 6256 extension 49080

The Ophthalmology team at Sunderland Eye Infirmary (SEI) is very committed to ongoing research and development to bring about advancements in the care and treatment of patients with eye disease and as such as a dedicated Clinical Trials Unit.

The Sunderland Eye Infirmary provide both medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases, as well as optometry and visual rehabilitation and as a result we support a wide range of research including:

• studies involving medicines for diseases of the eye and optic nerve
• studies involving devices in diseases of the eye and optic nerve
• studies of childhood and inherited visual disorders
• studies which document the natural history of eye diseases
• studies to identify the risk factors and causes of eye diseases
• studies of aids to help people with visual impairment and visual rehabilitation programmes

Active studies at the moment focus on conditions such as:

• Age related macular degeneration
• Diabetic macular oedema
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Retinal vein occlusion
• Vitreo-macular traction (VMT)
• Glaucoma
• Eye trauma

Click here for a full list of trials taking place at the moment.

The Research Team

SEI Research Lead: Mr David Steel

Ophthalmology Specialty Group Lead for Local Clinical Research Network:Mrs Deepali Varma

We also have a number of consultants actively leading on clinical trials

• Mr Maged Habib – Retina
• Mr Jonathan Smith – Retina
• Mr Ajay Kotagiri – Retina
• Miss Teresa Sandinha – Retina
• Mr Nick Wride – Glaucoma
• Mr Dugald Bell – Uveitis

Other staff involved in clinical research include:

• Doctors (the study investigators) who assess your eyes and give study treatments
• Research Nurses co-ordinating study activities and to support you during the study
• Optometrists to check your vision
• Photographs who take images and scans of your eyes

If you would like to find out more about current and future ophthalmic research please visit the UK Clinical Trials Gateway. To find out what may be involved in participating in a research trial at Sunderland Eye Infirmary Clinical Trials Unit click here.

Provides inpatient care for patients undergoing more major procedures and includes a children area with specially trained paediatric nurses. Length of stay on the Ophthalmology ward is not generally long due to the nature of the surgery, however should your stay be extended for any reason the staff here will make you feel as much at home as possible.

Meals are provided and a menu is available for each patient and staff will assist you to read this if needed. There is a sitting room if you prefer to leave your bed side and access to television and radio.

The ward prides itself on the highest standards of care and in treating every person as an individual.

Haygarth Ward 0191 565 6256 extension 46249