Cornea clinic in GB

[stella]

I'm from GB and just want to encourage other readers under the NHS to try to get into a "corneal "clinic in a good hospital - the larger the eye department the better facilities and specialization.
I cant describe the relief it has been to me to know i am being supervised and monitored - previously i had had to resort to self-treatment and felt unsure and scared at times
I had gone privately and paid £100 to see an ophthalmologist who diagnosed blepharitis and instructed my GP to give me a course of steroids which i could not take because they contained the dreaded BAK - but there was no follow-up and i cant afford £100 a time to see him
When you get into a clinic you can request a follow up but i did'nt have to do this - i was offered it in 6 months
I intend to remain in that clinic ,as hopefully i try various things for my DE like plugs ,even cyclosporin which i was told WAS anailable to me
So -go for it, get your GP to refer you to a CLINIC so you can get the supervison required

[EllMitcho]

Hi Stella

Could you tell me which clinic you are attending and how you got your foot in the door please (my GP is a joke)

Thanks

EllMitcho

[stella]

I will send you a pm to let you know my area and hospital - for reasons of preserving anonymity.
Firstly ,you do need a GP who will work with you
Are you in a practice with several doctors ?
Try to find one who is prepared to refer you (after you have done some research ) to the hospital of your choice
There is bound to be a large hospital with an eye department in your
area ,or better still an eye hospital
Find out which of their consultants has a special interest in the cornea,or better still in occular surface disorders or tear film disorder
Then ask if they have a clinic and then go to your GP with that info and ask him/her to refer you.To get this info you will have to phone the hospital - try the secretaries of some of the eye consultants /or your local optician may know
I have a very good relationship with my GP and she wrote a pretty comprehensive letter explaining that i had researched the whole problem of DE and was treating myself from the internet and needed supervision
What happened with me was - the letter was assessed with lots of other letters - I was graded according to urgency -I had to wait several months -and then i was offered an appointment specifically at a "corneal clinic" which deals amougst other conditions ,with dry eye
Maybe i was just lucky
Anyway all the best

[batty]

Would you mind sending me the details of your clinic too? I live in Northern Ireland and as we have no large eye hospital, my GP should be able to refer me to the mainland to a eye hospital.

Many thanks

Laura

[EllMitcho]

Hi - just to add to this. My doc is useless but I got my optometrist to write a letter to my doc recommending a referral to our local consultant (who my optometrist is sure is the 'main man' for corneal dysfunction)

I will have to pay for private treatment but at least I know I am in safe(ish) hands!

EllMitcho

[stella]

When you see this corneal expert you could ask to be transfered as an NHS patient for subsequent follow ups. INSIST on follow ups - tell him if he does'nt moniter your progress you will have to resort to self treatment from the internet
Also - going privately for your first visit will speed things up considerably
All the best