Our paediatric eye service is designed for children who have, or are at risk of, ocular abnormalities.
This includes premature babies needing Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) screening, children who have failed eye checks by health visitors or opticians, and those experiencing vision issues, squints, or requiring specialised eye monitoring due to the risk of developing an eye condition.
Dedicated services for children with additional needs, hearing impairments and Down's syndrome, along with support from Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLO), are also available.
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At a paediatric eye appointment, the process and duration can vary based on the type of assessment required but are typically between one to two hours.
This video offers more information on what to expect.
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At a paediatric eye appointment, the process and duration can vary based on the type of assessment required. Your child may be seen by one or more specialists, including doctors, orthoptists, optometrists, and nurses, who will check vision, eye movement, and other aspects of eye health. Some appointments may involve the use of eye drops to dilate the pupils for a more detailed examination, which can extend the length of the visit. Appointments typically range from one to two hours, depending on the complexity of the assessment. It is important to arrive on time, as late arrivals may result in the appointment being rescheduled.
Children can be accompanied by a Play Specialist to help make their experience more comfortable. Translation services via LanguageLine are also available—please inform the hospital if you require this support.
You can find out more about what to expect from your appointment here:
The below video will help you prepare your child for the process of receiving eye drops. We’ll walk you through each step, explaining what to expect and how we make the experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible for your child.
Guide Dogs is a national charity supporting people with visual impairments. Its ECLO Services provide emotional and practical support to families from diagnosis onward, working with Paediatric Ophthalmology specialists at the hospital. They offer guidance on eye conditions, welfare rights, and connects families to sensory services and other Guide Dogs programmes, including education, buddy dogs, and technology.
Emergency children's eye conditions should be referred via the GP to the oncall Ophthalmology doctor, via switchboard.
GPs wishing to refer patients into some Barts Health services need to do this through a process known as 'advice and referral' (A&R) using the advice and guidance (A&G) pathway on eRS.
Patients can also be referred to us by Choose and Book.
Requests for advice and guidance can be submitted through Choose and Book. A clinician will respond to this within five working days.
For those transitioning into adult services with learning disabilities, several options are available. Eye tests can be accessed through local opticians using SeeAbility Charity, which helps find optometrists offering reasonable adjustments. Some opticians also provide home visits for eligible individuals. If local assessments are unsuitable or there are specific concerns, referrals to the specialist hospital Ophthalmology ALD clinic can be made via a GP. Those already accessing care in a paediatric ophthalmology clinic may have their care transitioned automatically.
Please contact our dedicated mailbox with any ALD queries: bartshealth.aldeyeclinic@nhs.net.
Patient information leaflet on living with CVI
Patient information leaflet on living with CVI
| Version number | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 25 Apr, 2025 | Updated by Hannah Crouch |
| 3 | 25 Apr, 2025 | Updated by Hannah Crouch |
| 2 | 17 Apr, 2025 | Updated by Hannah Crouch |
| 1 | 17 Apr, 2025 | Updated by Hannah Crouch |
