Optometry Department |
B29
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Clinics
Clinics & Services
Contact Lens Clinic
Staff in our contact lens service treat patients whose vision cannot be improved with spectacles, but can only be improved with contact lenses.
- We run weekly contact lens clinics
- We prescribe and fit contact lenses for a range of medical eye conditions, such as keratoconus, corneal distortion, scarred or white corneas
- We also treat patients with very high prescriptions, or to relieve pain or aid cosmesis if your eye has become unsightly following damage from, for example, infection or trauma
- We cannot fit lenses if normal vision can be obtained with spectacles
You will be assessed in the clinic to ensure you are suitable for lenses. A lens type will be selected depending on your medical need. As the lenses are often complex designs, and are therefore usually specially made, your contact lenses will be issued at your second appointment. You will also receive instruction on handling and caring for your lenses at this appointment.
Patients pay for all lenses provided under the hospital eye service unless they are exempt from payments due to income based assessments.
How do I make an appointment with this service?
To be seen in the clinic you must be referred by your GP, your community optometrist, or by an ophthalmologist at RUH or another hospital.
Your referral is then reviewed by the optometrist of the contact lens clinic to ensure there is a medical need for contact lenses, following which an appointment is sent to you.
How to Make a Payment for Contact Lenses
Payments for contact lenses can be made either online or by credit card:
- Online :
Please click on this link and follow the instructions.
Please note you will be taken to a Gov.Pay webpage to make the payment.
- By credit card :
Please ring 01225 824602
Low Vision Service
Where good vision cannot be achieved with spectacles or contact lenses, patients can be assessed in our low vision clinic.
During a low vision assessment, one of our optometrists will perform an examination to identify any refractive errors (problems with focusing) and demonstrate low vision devices such as specialist spectacles, magnifiers or telescopes that could help you see better. Low vision aids are loaned to patients by the NHS free of charge.
We also check eligibility for certification and registration of sight loss. There are two levels of certification: severely sight impaired (this used to be called ‘blind’) and sight impaired (this used to be called ‘partially-sighted’). If you are registered, this may entitle you to some benefits and concessions.
Electronic magnifiers are also available for demonstration and the optometrist will also talk to you about optimal lighting and other methods to make the most of your remaining vision.
Video about magnifiers
How do I make an appointment with this low-vision service?
Your GP, community optometrist or ophthalmologist (hospital eye doctor) will arrange an appointment for you with the low vision clinic if your vision falls below a certain level and cannot be sufficiently improved by spectacles or contact lenses.
We have an Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) employed by the RNIB. They offer practical and emotional support to people living with sight loss, their families and carers.
You can call or email directly at : ruh-tr.batheclo@nhs.net
Refraction
Children who have first been assessed by the orthoptic or ophthalmology team, and have problems with focus or eye muscles, will then be seen by an optometrist. The optometrist will perform a refraction to determine whether glasses are needed and also to check the health of their eyes.
With children this often needs to be carried out with eye drops to dilate the pupil and stop the eyes from focusing to obtain an accurate prescription.
If the optometrist finds that your child’s vision can be improved with glasses, a prescription is issued which can be taken to your local optometry practice to provide spectacles.
How do I make an appointment with this refraction service?
Children are usually referred into this clinic with suspected reduced vision and/or concerns of a possible squint (turn) in one or both eyes.
If you are concerned about your child’s vision, you should first visit your local optometrist, GP or health visitor who will assess your child’s eyes and, if appropriate, refer them to our Paediatric Clinic.