Neuro-ophthalmology

The neuro-ophthalmology service looks after people who have problems with their eyes/vision, which may be related to “neurological” problems.

The neuro-ophthalmology service looks after people who have problems with their eyes/vision, which may be related to “neurological” problems.   This includes problems with the optic nerves such as inflammation or suspected tumours, vision problems related to problems in the brain, etc.  The lead clinician is Mr Tom Eke , and clinics usually take place on a Thursday morning, and sometimes a Friday morning.

What happens in neuro-ophthalmology clinic?

The work-up in the neuro-ophthalmology clinic will depend on the problem that the person has.   All patients will have their vision checked on the eye chart, by one of the nurses.  Many patients will need a visual field test, which involves looking at faint dots on a screen.   People with double vision will need to be assessed by an orthoptist, who is a specialist at assessing and measuring problems with double vision.  Your eyes will be examined by an eye specialist.  You will probably need to have eye drops to dilate the pupils, and this can make the vision blurry for a few hours.  Therefore, you should not plan to drive home after your visit to the neuro-ophthalmology clinic. Depending on the findings, you may need other tests such as photographs of the back of the eyes, a special head scan to look at the nerves behind the eyes, or blood tests.

Treatment depends on the underlying condition.  Many patients will be sent on to other specialists such as neurologists, cardiologists, vascular surgeons, or rheumatologists, depending on what the problem is.

Appointments are by referral, which would normally be through your optometrist (optician), your own doctor (GP), or another hospital specialist.