Ophthalmology
Overview
The Royal Free Ophthalmology department strives to deliver world class care by experienced and respected clinicians within their field of expertise. We provide services across the Royal Free NHS Trust network but also at hospitals such as the Whittington and University College Hospital, taking with us the core values we are so proud of.
Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat a range of problems including red and painful eye, those related to a change in vision, double vision and squint, children’s eye complaints, eyelid problems, neurological eye problems and trauma. The ophthalmology team consists of ophthalmologists, nurses and health care professionals such as orthoptists, optometrists and ophthalmic technicians. The team work very closely with many other specialities including the emergency department, maxillofacial and ENT teams, neurologists, endocrinologists and paediatricians to name a few, as we provide a true multidisciplinary model of care.
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 are open to see patients and we are ensuring that we continue to provide a service in the safest manner possible. Any unfortunate circumstances that result in cancellation of appointments will be done so after individual review of a patient’s case and the individual concerned will be contacted about this.
We have set up an ophthalmology advice line for queries from patients already under our care. Please call: 07773 578 708 or email: rf.ophthalmologyadviceline@nhs.net Monday to Friday, between 8am and 5pm. If no-one answers the phone please do leave a voicemail and we endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible. We have the option of providing a virtual consultation service via video and if you would much prefer this please do let us know.
We encourage patients under the care of another service to please contact them in the first instance.
Emergency Eye Care
We provide an emergency eye care service at the Royal Free Hospital in our urgent eye clinic between the hours of 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 3pm on weekends and bank holidays (excluding Christmas day). This service is NOT a WALK-IN service and we will see patients on a referral based process only, from optometrists and GPs in the community, 111 or from clinicians in our general accident and emergency departments across the Trust who will conduct an initial triage and assessment. We are unable to provide second opinions or repeat prescriptions via this service.
Outside of the hours mentioned above, a doctor will be available for consultation and this is done via a clinician to clinician discussion after a patient has been assessed in the community or at accident and emergency. Advice for management will be given or should a face to face review be required an appropriate appointment will be made.
In light of the COVID pandemic avoiding a presentation to hospital if possible has become ever more important and thus limiting our exposure to the virus, hence the assessment in community first. Having said this it is important to understand our service continues to provide care to those requiring emergency eye care and would encourage those worried to please seek help so we can help reduce avoidable blindness and morbidity.
Contact
Do you have an appointment?
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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
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View in Google Maps
Royal Free Hospital
Hospital switchboard: 0207 794 0500
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.
The Team
Consultant
Dr Susanne Althauser
Consultant ophthalmologist
Email address: s.althauser@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31331/31332/31333
Mr Riaz Asaria
Consultant Ophthalmologist & Associate Professor
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31333
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31333
Miss Jennifer Forbes
Consultant ophthalmologist
Email address: jennifer.forbes@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 8732 6554
Dr Christina Horvath
Consultant
Mr Saurabh Jain
Consultant ophthalmic surgeon
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31332
Miss Alessandra Martins
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Phone number: 02077940500 ext 50441
Mr Hemal Mehta
Consultant ophthalmic surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 8216 4502
Private practice phone number: 07566 223 705
Mr Danny Mitry
Consultant ophthalmologist
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31332
Email address: danny.mitry@nhs.net
Mr Vik Sharma
Consultant ophthalmic surgeon
Phone number: 020 7000 3193
PA/secretary phone number: 0800 756 9993
PA/secretary email address: reception@londonoc.co.uk
Mr Laurence Whitefield
Consultant ophthalmologist
Email address: laurence.whitefield@nhs.net
Patient leaflets
Read our patient leaflets and publications
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Approved: 25/08/2020
Contact lens service
.pdf (413 KB)
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Approved: 15/06/2020
Vitrectomy surgery
.pdf (480 KB)
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Approved: 01/07/2019
Dry eyes treatment
.pdf (260 KB)
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Smoking and your eyes
.pdf (108 KB)
Latest news
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Donations to support our staff
12/01/2021