Services
The Children's Eye Service is provided by Ophthalmologists and
Orthoptists who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of eye
conditions by medical and surgical means.
- Specialist Ophthalmic and Orthoptic services for children in
community clinics across Bedfordshire including Looked After
Children
- Specialist clinics for children with special needs at Child
Development Centre and Special Schools across Bedfordshire
- Vision screening at aged 4-5 years in Bedfordshire.
Where the Service is Based
- Enhanced Services Centre (Bedford)
- Child Development Centre (CDC - Bedford)
- Liverpool Road Health Centre (Luton)
- Wigmore Lane Health Centre (Luton)
- Edwin Lobo Centre (ELC - Luton)
- Flitwick Health Clinic
- Biggleswade Health Centre
- Shefford Health Centre
- The following special schools: Ridgeway; St John's; Sunnyside;
Hillcrest; Glenwood; Lady Zia Wernher.
Who to Refer
Children aged 0-16, or 19yrs with complex medical needs in
education, registered with a Bedfordshire GP
- Children with defects of binocular vision, squint and
amblyopia
- Children with symptoms of headaches and blurred vision
associated with close work, diplopia (double vision) or eye
movement problems
- Children who fail to meet agreed standards of vision at School
vision test (5+ years)
- Children whose parents/carers are concerned about their visual
development or possible eye movement problems or where there is a
strong family history of eye disorders
- Children who fail to meet local and national pre-school (4-5
years) orthoptic screening standards.
Additional Information to Support Referral Criteria
On receipt of the referral the Orthoptist prioritises urgency
and nearest clinic venue if not specified in referral letter.
Please note: when seeking/receiving advice in regard to patient
care and making referrals, NHS Connecting for Health Information
Governance standards and policies must be adhered to.
Resources
Patient Information Leaflets
Eye
Services in Bedfordshire
British & Irish Orthoptic Society (hyperlink to) http://www.orthoptics.org.uk/
