Her Psychology degree allows her to provide tailored treatment plans and support for patients undergoing eye surgery or other treatments. She specialises in helping anxious patients, ensuring they receive clear, patient-friendly information about their conditions. This unique background helps her understand and manage nervous patients facing eye procedures or serious eye diseases.

Training

Her specialist ophthalmology training was completed at Moorfields Eye Hospital, in the North Thames rotation, from 1992 to 2001. She obtained a fellowship in retina and uveitis at Moorfields and was appointed a consultant eye surgeon at Croydon University Hospital in 2002. Her fellowship in uveitis has provided her with extensive experience in treating uveitic glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic cataracts.

Practice

At Croydon University Hospital, Miss Richardson served as the lead consultant for 10 years, focusing on glaucoma, cataracts, and medical retina. In 2003, she established the age-related macular degeneration service.

Miss Richardson finds diagnosing glaucoma particularly rewarding, ensuring patients feel comfortable and less anxious during this often challenging process. She has a particular interest in neuro-ophthalmology, including optic neuritis and optic neuropathy. Her strong diagnostic skills, honed through her work in casualty and the neuro-ophthalmology service at Moorfields enable her to accurately diagnose and manage conditions such as normal tension glaucoma.

In 2015, Miss Richardson joined Imperial Health Care Trust, working at The Western Eye Hospital as the lead for casualty. This Hospital provides additional benefits to Shirley Oaks patients by facilitating follow-up and emergency treatment if needed. She is also the lead for medical retina at Charing Cross Hospital. She continues her work at Shirley Oaks Hospital, maintaining connections with many of her previous patients from Croydon.

Teaching

Miss Richardson is dedicated to teaching the next generation of doctors. Trained by top professionals at Moorfields and the Western Eye, she actively participates in training medical students, foundation doctors, and surgical trainees at Imperial. She is a member of Euretina, a fellow of the RCOphth, and FRCS Edinburgh, regularly teaching a wide range of professionals, including nurse practitioners, technical staff, and optometrists.

As an experienced surgeon, Miss Richardson has performed thousands of laser surgeries for retina and glaucoma, as well as post-cataract YAG laser procedures. She has conducted over 20,000 cataract surgeries, including complex cases in charitable sectors such as Cambodia. During her time here, she employed both her surgical skills and experience in teaching to ensure that the highest level of care was provided.

Miss Richardson is an experienced trainer in cataract surgery, which keeps her highly proficient in managing surgical complications. As a result, her complication rate is extremely low. It should be highlighted that cataract surgery can be carried out as a day case; allowing patients to return home the same day.

One of her favourite aspects of her job is training and working in eye casualty, where she encounters unusual cases and diverse presentations, keeping her skills sharp and her work engaging.

Personal Life

In her spare time, Miss Richardson enjoys a variety of hobbies that contribute to her well-rounded life. She plays the piano for relaxation, is dedicated to improving her French through weekly lessons, and practices yoga three times a week for physical and mental well-being. 

Avid about literature, she reads all Booker Prize nominees each year and maintains a balanced lifestyle by tending to her allotment on weekends, where she grows vegetables and flowers. These activities enrich her life and enhance her ability to provide compassionate and comprehensive care to her patients.

Patient Feedback

"The experience was great, and I am very grateful to Miss Richardson and her team. Shirley Oaks itself is a lovely spot and I was impressed with the friendliness, professionalism and work ethic of the cataracts team. I felt looked after and cared for. I was nervous, because the procedure was on my eye, but Miss Richardson and the team talked me through it and made sure I felt safe and engaged. A really nice experience. Thank you, Shirley Oaks."

- Anonymised Patient, via Google

"I have recently had cataract surgery under the care of Ms Richardson. I can truly say my  experience was excellent from first outpatient consultation to surgery and discharge. All staff were helpful and I was put at ease by any questions asked. Ms Richardson is very experienced and in my opinion completely committed to her patients in every manner. I am delighted with the outcome of the surgery."

- Anonymised Patient, via Google

"A consultant who really cares about her patients. I have seen Theresa twice and both times she has gone out of her way to accommodate. I was seen promptly and the diagnosis was expert and professional."

- Anonymised Patient, via Doctify 

"I recently had the pleasure of being treated by Dr. Richardson, and I can't recommend her highly enough. From the moment I walked into her office, I felt comfortable and well-cared for. Dr. Richardson is not only highly knowledgeable and professional, but she also takes the time to listen and explain everything clearly, making sure I fully understood my treatment options. Her compassionate and attentive approach put me at ease throughout the entire process."

- Anonymised Patient, via Doctify

Awards and Recognition's

Miss Richardson was awarded the Frances Williams Prize for the best overall student at medical school. 

Her commitment to patient care has also earned her four clinical excellence awards at Croydon University Hospital. 

Recently, Miss Richardson has been awarded the Doctify Excellence Badge/Banner, recognising her exceptional commitment to patient care and transparency, placing her among the top 10% of clinicians. This prestigious honour is based on her impressive Patient Trust Score of 4.8 and above, along with over 100 positive reviews, including recent feedback.

Professional Website

https://theresarichardson.co.uk

Useful Links

Discover age-related macular degeneration (AMD): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h59wtR1FrUc

What is uveitis and what causes it?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaHf6W9TZ28

What are the signs and symptoms of uveitis?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZs4BE_irIo

• Cataract
• Medical retina
• Glaucoma
• Oculoplastics
• Diabetic retinopathy
• YAG laser
• Age related macular degeneration
• Uveitis

• Member of the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA)
• Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth)
• Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons