Ophthalmology

Overview

As part of the Royal Free London’s response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have made some changes to our ophthalmology service.


The clinics at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, Edgware Community Hospital and St Pancras Eye Centre have been closed until further notice. Affected patients are being contacted directly.
The clinic at the Royal Free Hospital remains open for patients who need to be seen urgently.
We have set up a temporary ophthalmology advice line for routine queries for patients and opticians. Please call: 07773 578 708 or email: rf.ophthalmologyadviceline@nhs.net Monday to Friday, between 8am and 8pm.

Our ophthalmology service offers expert care and advice for patients with a wide range of eye conditions. Ophthalmologists see, diagnose and treat problems including red and painful eye problems, visual problems, double vision, squint problems, children’s eye services, eyelid problems, neurological eye problems and trauma. The ophthalmology team consists of ophthalmologists, nurses and eye health care professionals such as orthoptists, optometrists and ophthalmic technicians. The team work closely with the emergency department, the maxillofacial/ENT team, neurologists and endocrinologists.

We run out-patient clinics across our three main hospitals and other locations as well as providing care for in-patients with eye conditions.

The urgent eye clinic at the Royal Free Hospital is open from 9am to 4.15pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 3pm on weekends and bank holidays (excluding Christmas day). This emergency service is not available as a walk-in service. Patients wishing to be seen in the urgent eye clinic must be referred by their GP, optician or other eye care professional, or by the hospital's emergency department,

Contact

Do you have an appointment?

Find your ward

  • Clinical pathway admin manager

    Barnet Hospital

    Sue Parker

    Tel: 020 7794 0500 ext 82139

    Email: susan.parker19@nhs.net​

     

    Edgware Community Hospital 

    Sue Parker

    Tel: 020 7794 0500 ext 82139

    Email: susan.parker19@nhs.net

     

    Royal Free Hospital

    Jo Birmingham

    Tel: 020 7794 0500 Ext 31213

     

    Whittington Hospital

    Elliot Fish

    Tel: 020 7794 0500 Ext 50441

    Email: elliot.fish@nhs.net

     

    St Pancras Eye Centre 

    Elliot Fish

    Tel: 020 7794 0500 Ext 50441

    Email: elliot.fish@nhs.net

Hospital locations

Referrals

Referral details

Accessing the ophthalmology service

Referrals are encouraged through the choose and book system. Appointments can also be made following a written referral from a GP or an optician. Emergencies are seen in the main clinic, on the first floor of the Royal Free Hospital on a daily basis at agreed times. Emergency referrals should go through the on-call registrar through the main Royal Free switchboard.

Accessing the orthoptic service

If you suffer from double vision, eye movement disorder; or concern about your child's vision or eye alignment, please ask your GP to refer you to the orthoptic department for advice.

Download our information leaflet.

The Team

Patient leaflets

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