We are a specialist Ophthalmic Accident and Emergency department
open 7 days a week from 08:30am - 4:30pm.
This department is for people with eye emergencies only. The
following are examples of eye emergencies: -
- 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
Please see your Optician or GP if it is not an emergency eye
problem.
You should not attend the Accident and Emergency Department for
the following: -
- Second opinions
- Repeat prescriptions
- Non-urgent problems such as dry eyes, itchy eyes, hay fever and
cataracts.
If you require a repeat prescription, then please contact your
GP or the sub speciality that you are under i.e. glaucoma, corneal
team. We are unable to issue repeat prescriptions
in A&E.
If you have had a gradual reduction in vision over a significant
period of time and you are overdue a sight test, please attend a
high street optician for assessment.
For patients living in areas outside of Bristol i.e. Somerset,
Bath and Gloucester, Community Optometrists may be able to provide
a Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES). These Optometrists can
treat urgent and emergency eye conditions. Please follow the link
below to see what services are available in your locality.
https://primaryeyecare.co.uk/find-a-practice/
We do not currently operate a phone line for advice, if you feel
that your problem is an accident or an emergency then please attend
the Eye Hospital between our opening hours. If you require
telephone advice, please contact the NHS 111 service. If you are
currently under the care of a specialist team at the Eye Hospital,
then please contact that specialty for advice and
guidance.
When you visit us, you will be seen by an experienced Ophthalmic
Nurse Practitioner who will assess and treat your condition or
establish whether you need to be seen by an
Ophthalmologist.
We will aim to see and treat you as promptly as possible,
however please be aware that the department is very busy and any
visit can take up to 4 hours. Please be aware that UHBW Trust
operates a zero-tolerance policy in regards to abusive and
aggressive behaviour towards our staff and you will be asked to
leave should you behave in this manner.
Please do not drive to the hospital as you may require
medication that can affect your vision. If you are currently
experiencing Covid symptoms or have tested positive for covid,
please contact 111 prior to attending.
Opening hours
- 8.30am - 4.30pm, seven days a week.
If you have an emergency outside of our opening hours, you
should contact your nearest A&E department.
