Medical Retina

The Medical Retina Department treats a large range of conditions that affect the retina (the light-sensitive film at the back of the eye). These include common conditions such as diabetic eye disease, age-related macular degeneration and retinal vein occlusions, as well as numerous other less common macular and retinal conditions including the rare inherited eye diseases.

Investigations:

We invested in a range of most advanced retinal imaging technologies for accurate and speedy diagnosis for our patients. These include non-invasive retinal cross-section imaging called OCT (ocular coherence tomography), fluorescein dye angiography and Indocyanine green angiography (to image the blood flow through the retina) and electrodiagnostic tests to determine the health of the various layers that make up the retina.

Treatment:

We offer a comprehensive range of eye treatments from eye drops and laser therapy to injections into the eye; for examples Ranibizumab (Lucentis) injections to treat age-related macular degeneration; Bevacizumab (Avastin), Triamcinolone (steroid) injection and Dexamethasone (Ozurdex) implants for other retinal diseases. We are equipped with the latest laser machines that improves patients experience for safer, faster and gentler laser procedures. BMEC is also the only NHS eye clinic in Birmingham facilitated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat eye conditions not amenable for injection therapy.

Clinics and Referrals:

Our main patient referrals are from Sandwell and West Birmingham catchment areas. We have high tertiary referrals from throughout Birmingham, the Midlands. BMEC is recognised for its excellence service in providing advanced diagnostic techniques, skilled and specialised one-stop laser therapy and maintaining short-waiting time for injection treatment.  Our fast-tract macular service is well-established to provide urgent AMD referrals

Our main specialist clinics and treatment are based at BMEC and Sandwell Hospital led by skilled doctors, with some peripheral clinics at at Rowley Regis hospital and community venues (Riverbrook and Lordswood).

Examples of the specialised services we offer include:

• A monthly Sickle Cell Retinopathy clinic (Mrs PL Lip)
• Von-Hippel-Lindau clinic (Ms B Mushtaq)
• Fast-Track Wet ARMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration) clinics
• Macula Virtual clinics
• Diabetic eye clinics
• Retinal laser clinics
• Photodynamic Treatment clinic
• Lucentis injection clinics
• Avastin / Triamcinolone / Ozurdex injection clinics

Locations:

Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre

City Hospital

Dudley Road

Birmingham

B18 7QH

Lordswood Ophthalmology Clinic

Lordswood Surgery

54 Lordswood Road

Harbourne

Birmingham

B17 9DB

Riverbrook Medical Centre, Eye Clinic

3 Riverbrook Drive

Stirchley

Birmingham

B30 2SH

Rowley Regis Hospital, Eye Clinic

Moor lane

Rowely Regis

B65 8DA

Sandwell General Hospital, Eye Clinic

Lewisham Street

Hallam

West Bromwich

B71 4HJ

Services

At BMEC, we have a Wet ARMD Fast Track Service.

Wet AMD is one of the leading causes of severe visual loss in the UK. It is an acute and aggressive condition. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment may prevent or reduce further visual loss. BMEC set up a Wet AMD Fastrack Service in 2005 to allow local optometrists, A&E and GPs to refer patients who they suspect to have Wet AMD.

Patient Information

Pathway for AMD patients:

• Fastrack appointments (referred by local optometrists/GP’s/ local A&E – for those patients who are suspected to have wet age macular degeneration).
• Referral received via fax, registered on IPM and appointment made.

Fastrack Appointment Day

• Patient reports to reception to acknowledge arrival
• Optometrists refracts patient
• Nurse dilates eye(s)
• Doctor sees patient and advises on investigations. This could be either FFA or OCT.
• Doctor reviews diagnostic results and advises on the best course of treatment. If treatment is required, (for example with Lucentis) the doctor will call the MR office who will provide details of that appointment there and then. If the patient requires another appointment they will be given the white slip to hand to the receptionist, who will make the appointment.

Lucentis

If the patient is a new patient they will be booked for their loading dose (3 injections four weeks apart, plus a four week follow up (force booked into consultant clinic only) after their 3^rd dose).

• Patient will arrive in clinic and be booked in via reception
• Nurse will logmar patient and administer drops
• Patient will then be seen by injector for a brief heads up on procedure and check the ey
• The injector will then mark the eye
• The injector will then inject the eye
• Patient will then be told to take a seat in the recovery suite for approx five minutes
• Patient will then go to reception to book out and hand in appointment slip

Lucentis follow up – Nurse lead (no more than 2 consecutive appointments)

• Patient will arrive in clinic and be booked in via reception
• Nurse will logmar patient and administer drops
• Diagnostic test (OCT – Occular Coherence Topography) will be performed by photographer
• Patient told to go home and advised a doctor will review their images and advise next steps. An appointment will be sent via post of either further injections or follow up

Lucentis follow- up – Doctor

• Patient will arrive in clinic and be booked in via reception
• Nurse will logmar patient and administer drops
• Diagnostic test (OCT -) will be performed by photographer
• Doctor will see patient and advise on result and suggest next steps
• Patient will then go to reception to book out and hand in appointment slip.

Contacts

If you would like to get in contact with any part of BMEC, please dial our central number 0121 507 4440.