Can I drive to my appointment?
If your letter states DO NOT DRIVE then please do not drive to your appointment. This is because the specialist may want to put some dilating drops in your eyes that will blur the vision for around five hours. You would also not be insured to drive after your appointment if you have had dilating drops.
Should I bring my glasses?
YES. Even if you don’t wear your glasses please bring with you the latest pair of reading and/or distance glasses that you have been prescribed by your optician. When you arrive at eye outpatients you will book in at reception and then have your visual acuity checked, you will need distance glasses if you have been prescribed any for this activity.
Do I need to take my medication with me to show the doctor?
It may be useful to bring a list of the medication you take to show the doctor if they ask you for it.
Can I get new glasses?
Please ask the specialist for advice on this at your next appointment because if you undergo treatment the specialist might like you to wait until your treatment is over.
I’ve just started to get a pain or visual disturbance should I wait until I see the doctor in a few weeks?
If you suddenly start to feel pain or discomfort or notice visual disturbance in your eyes please ring your specialists’ secretary straight away and describe the sensation to them. They may feel it necessary to bring your appointment forward after seeking advice or they may want you to come in to eye casualty or fast track for urgent assistance.
Why do I have to read the letters on the chart every time I have an appointment?
YES. Reading the letters from the chart through the mirror is how we record your visual acuity. We can use this to compare to another visit and also to compare to what the optician has recorded. This is part of the Government guidelines that states that we must check this every time you attend the clinic.
When visiting the eye day unit can I bring someone along?
YES. However, this department is not large enough to hold patients and their friends or relatives so we will ask for friends or relatives to leave the department and use our bleep system. When the patient is ready to leave we can use the bleep system to contact the them to come back to the department. Please note that during the COVID-19 pandemic we are asking people to attend on their own if they can.