We provide Specialist Optometrist support for the Ophthalmology glaucoma clinics within the Trust, with Specialist Optometrists with specialist glaucoma qualifications and/or Independent prescribing working alongside Consultant teams to assess and manage glaucoma patients.
The Optometry team are supporting Glaucoma services which are being delivered primarily from our Seacroft hospital site.
There is more information on specialist glaucoma qualifications on our higher qualifications page.
There is more information on our non medical prescribing page.
Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye conditions that cause permanent sight loss by damaging your optic nerve. Glaucoma can be caused by raised eye pressure or a weakness in your optic nerve.
Your eye needs a certain amount of pressure to keep the eyeball healthy and in the right shape. But if the pressure is too high, it can cause your optic nerve to become damaged at the point where it leaves your eye.
The Glaucoma Consultant Ophthalmologists are Mr Peter Galloway, Mr Ed Ridyard and Miss Salina Siddiqui.
Glaucoma Monitoring unit (GMU)
A Glaucoma monitoring unit provides clinical measurements of stable glaucoma patients, these clinical measurements are assessed in a virtual management clinic by our Glaucoma Consultant Ophthalmologists. This service is managed by the Principal Optometrist.
How do I make an appointment with this service?
To be seen in the clinic you must usually be referred by your GP, or your community optometrist.
Clinics
Glaucoma clinics supported by the Glaucoma Specialist Optometrists run on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings alongside the Ophthalmological glaucoma clinic at the Eye clinic at Seacroft Hospital.
Stand alone glaucoma clinics are provided by Glaucoma Specialist Optometrists on Wednesday morning and afternoons and Friday mornings at Wharfedale General Hospital.
Waiting times
Please be aware that you may have a series of examinations from a range of clinicians and your appointment may take up to two hours to be completed from the time your appointment is booked.
Video
View an information video about one person’s glaucoma journey below:
My glaucoma journey
I went to my optician for my routine eye test, where they tested the pressure in my eye like they always do. But this time my person checking my eyes told me they were concerned about my test results. They told me there was a possibility I might have glaucoma; they explained that it’s usually caused by an increase in pressure in the eye because of a build-up of fluid. This can cause the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, to become damaged. It can lead to vision loss if it is not diagnosed and treated. It was unexpected, and I was quite scared as I didn’t have any symptoms, but they reassured me that it tends to develop slowly over many years and doesn’t usually cause symptoms.
At first, they wanted to refer me to the hospital for further tests and possible treatment, so I agreed. I got an appointment for my local eye clinic and had some tests done in a special diagnostics clinic. I met a nice healthcare professional who explained the test results to me and the next steps. He told me it is impossible to reverse any sight loss caused by glaucoma, but treatment can help prevent feather damage and sight loss. He said some people can manage the glaucoma with eye drops daily, but he recommended for me to have a laser treatment. This would open the blocked drainage system in my eye and relieve the pressure.
I was nervous about having laser treatment, but after thinking about it, I thought it would be the better option for me. He explained he could do it that day, which was great for me as it meant I wouldn’t have to go back again. He explained the procedure is performed in a specially equipped laser room in the clinic. I would get eye drops to numb the eye, and I was surprised when he said there are no injections or needles. They would place a special lens on the eye with a gel to focus the laser, which stops the eye from blinking and keeps the eye still during the procedure.
A special microscope then flashes lights into the eye. The whole thing took a few minutes, and I only had some mild discomfort. My eyes were a bit sore afterwards and sensitive to light, but this soon went away. He gave me eye drops to take home to use if I had discomfort later. I was surprised at how quick and easy it all had been. I still needed regular appointments afterwards to check my eye was healing and that the laser treatment was working. These were at the hospital Eye Clinic. Some people are then seen by a specialist eye care professional in the community. I’m glad I went for my eye test on time; if I hadn’t, glaucoma would not have been picked up.