Ophthalmology

Reacting to light to allow vision, our eyes convey visual information to the brain and are vital for optimum function.

When there is a problem with the eyes, many of our patients tell us they feel unsettled or worried.

Consultants at Albyn Hospital offer assessment and treatment for a wide range of eye-related conditions listed below.

An estimated 400,000 people in the UK require cataract surgery every year – according to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

The condition can affect a person’s quality of life or their ability to perform certain tasks, such as driving.

A cataract is where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Affecting one or both eyes, the condition is usually associated with the aging process, with most people developing cataracts after the age of 65.

Symptoms include ‘misty’ or ‘cloudy’ vision, sensitivity to light, including bright sunlight or car headlamps, and everything looking more ‘washed out’ than it should be.

Cataract surgery can improve or eradicate symptoms in most patients – and Albyn Hospital has excellent facilities for this hugely successful procedure of cataract surgery.

Your surgeon at Albyn Hospital will usually break the cataract into small pieces using ultrasound (sound waves), before removing it from your eye through a small key-hole incision. They will then insert the new acrylic lens implant behind the iris in the same bag (or capsule) that held the natural lens in place. This can either be performed under a local anaesthetic or a general anaesthetic as a day-case procedure.

Our Consultant Ophthalmologists deal with complex cataract procedures, including the use of specialist toric and multifocal lens implants. Toric implants correct pre-existing astigmatism and improve quality of vision significantly.

Consultants at Albyn Hospital assess and treat what is a common problem – dry eyes. All forms of corneal transplants, including the latest endothelial transplants, are offered. Albyn Hospital is one of first to offer the cutting-edge endothelial transplants in Scotland and is the only private hospital north of Edinburgh to offer this procedure. Corneal transplants replace the cloudy front layer of the eye to restore eyesight.

Keratoconus is a common progressive thinning disorder of the cornea and can lead to severe sight impairment. Collagen Crosslinking is a very well-established treatment to reduce or stop the progression and is highly effective in preventing sight loss and improving the quality of vision in patients with Keratoconus. Assessment of Keratoconus and the Collagen Crosslinking procedure is available at Albyn Hospital. It is offered as a day-case procedure.

A full range of assessments for children’s eye problems are available, including assessment of squint and lazy eyes. If children need a surgical procedure, this can be arranged in the children’s hospital in Aberdeen.

Albyn Hospital has facilities for the assessment and treatment of most lid disorders, such as cysts, malformations, in-turning lids and droopy eyelids.

Problems associated with watery eyes are also assessed, with treatments, such as endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, available.

Albyn Hospital is proud to offer a fully functioning YAG and SLT laser.

The laser allows treatments, such as capsulotomy, for thickening of the capsule after cataract surgery, several glaucoma treatments, such as iridotomy for angle closure and selective laser trabeculoplasty.

Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery is now available at Albyn Hospital– one of the first hospitals across the North East of Scotland to offer this treatment. The procedure involves the use of a tiny (0.36mm) titanium implant, known as the iStent inject®. The smallest medical device known to be implanted in the human body, the iStent inject® is designed to bypass the resistance and facilitate the eye’s natural outflow of ‘aqueous humour’, reducing intraocular pressure.

For patients with certain types of glaucoma, which relates to approximately 70 to 90% of patients, the device has been shown in studies to be effective when implanted in combination with cataract surgery. It is also effective as a stand-alone procedure in those patients who require intraocular pressure reduction and/or would benefit from glaucoma medication reduction.

Invasive glaucoma surgery is used for patients who have worsening glaucoma, despite eye drops.

The consultant team at Circle Health offers consultations and treatments for retina disorders, such as diabetic retinopathy and occlusion of retinal blood vessels. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a common condition and is one of the leading causes of blindness.

The team at Albyn Hospital are equipped to assess and treat AMD with the use of anti-VEGF injections.

When you visit Albyn Hospital, our Consultant Ophthalmologist will take a full medical history, before asking you about the symptoms you are experiencing and the effect this is having on your day-to-day life.

During the consultation, treatment options will be discussed, and you will have time to ask questions and plan the most appropriate way forward.

Albyn Hospital is uniquely positioned to offer eye treatments to patients from a very large geographic area, including the City of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Tayside, Moray, the Highlands, Shetland and Orkney and further afield.

Appointments can be arranged at short notice; if the patient needs a surgical procedure urgently, it can be arranged within a few weeks.

The biggest advantage of visiting Albyn Hospital is that patients do not have to wait too long for assessment and treatment.

The consulting room, operating theatre and all the patient rooms at Albyn Hospital are on the ground floor and wheel-chair accessible.

With 15 consulting rooms, minor operations and treatment room here in our Aberdeen hospital, we also have 28 private rooms with en-suite facilities, a nurse call system, TV and free WiFi, as well as three operating theatres, two with laminar flow ultra clean air system.

A quick glance of the benefits of visiting Albyn Hospital:

• Shorter waiting times – Waiting times at Albyn Hospital are always short and appointment times are flexible.
• Consultant-led appointments – Your eye appointment at Albyn will always be consultant-led. You will see the same person each time, as well – from your consultation, right through to any treatment or surgery needed.
• Wide range of treatments available – Albyn Hospital offers several treatment options, which are not easily accessible elsewhere.
• Patient satisfaction and personalised care – In 2020, 98.9% of our patientssaid they would recommend the hospital and its care, with the results compiled by independent agency, Quality Health.
• Remote consultations – Albyn Hospital is equipped with tele-consultation technology, if you prefer to speak to our consultant from the comfort of your home.

If you would like to make an appointment with our Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon here at Albyn Hospital, simply call our friendly team on 01224 595993.

You can also book an initial ophthalmology appointment by using our handy online booking system.