Eye emergency department

Important information

You are encouraged to see your GP or call 111 in first instance for eye problems.

The eye emergency department is very busy, you should only attend if it is an emergency.

During the weekend, the eye emergency department is only open on Saturday mornings. You may not be able to be booked in and seen and may be advised visit NHS111 online or to attend the main emergency department if you cannot be seen within this Saturday morning period.

I had to visit the Eye Emergency Department. It was extremely busy, however, all the staff I came across were patient, helpful, professional and kept people informed if there were any delays. I was very grateful and comfortable being treated so well and having all my questions answered.

What is an eye emergency?

Chemical injury
Penetrating injury or eye lid laceration
Severe pain or loss of vision within 4 weeks of surgery or treatment injection
Sudden onset of double vision
Sudden loss of vision with pain
Sudden loss of vision without pain
Painful loss of vision if contact lenses normally worn
Pain or loss of vision after glaucoma drainage surgery or corneal transplant surgery at any time in the past
Severe eye lid swelling with fever and loss of vision or double vision
Eye pain keeping you awake at night

Opening times

Important information

There are no appointments given to patients, patients are seen in order of urgency of their condition, not the time they were booked in.

We advise not to drive to the hospital in case we need to administer eye drops which affect your vision.

Monday – Friday

8.15am – 4.30pm

Saturday

9am – 12:30pm (urgent or sight threatening conditions only)

Sunday and bank holidays

CLOSED – if you have a problem please call 111 or attend the main emergency department.

Existing patients

If you have severe pain, loss of vision, or a red eye following surgery please attend the eye emergency department or the main emergency department.

Clinic /Outpatient

Please contact the secretary team under your consultant, via the RVI phone line: 0191 282 5905

Medical retina injection

Please contact the medical retina consultant you are under. We are unable to book you an injection from the emergency department.

Prescriptions

We are unable to prescribe routine medications or if you have ran out of eye drops prescribed from a clinic appointment. If you have ran out of a prescription, please contact your consultants’ secretary.

Recent cataract surgery

If you have had cataract surgery in the RVI or Westgate Road cataract centre within the past 4 weeks contact:

Monday to Friday (8.30am – 5pm)

Patients should call the cataract centre on Westgate Road, you are provided this number on a card following your cataract surgery: 0191 933 0235 or 0191 9330 236

Monday to Friday after 4.30pm

Weekends or bank holidays, call ward 20 in RVI: 0191 282 5420

Important

If you have severe pain, loss of vision, or a red eye following surgery please attend the eye emergency department or the main emergency department.

How to find us

The eye emergency department is at the RVI, Claremont Wing, level 2. You can get to this easily from the multi-storey car park or from the New Victoria Wing entrance.

Staff you are likely to meet

You will see several different members of staff including doctors, nurses, opticians, orthoptists, medical photographers, visual field technicians, nursery nurses and other support staff.