Ophthalmology

You may be referred to an ophthalmologist if you have a problem with your eyes or eyesight or have an eye condition that needs specialist monitoring or treatment.

You can access private ophthalmology treatment with us using private medical insurance or by paying for your own treatment.

Often, ophthalmology treatment will be covered by your private health insurance, but not always. Speak to your provider directly to see what's covered in your policy.

If you want to pay for your own treatment, you can either pay in full or take advantage of our flexible payment options, which allow you to spread the cost over a period of up to five years.

Our self-pay customers benefit from fixed-price packages, meaning you'll know exactly what you're going to pay before you book your treatment. Your initial consultation and early diagnostic tests won't be included, but the cost of your treatment, hospital fees and aftercare programme are, meaning there are no hidden costs down the line.

The symptoms of eye conditions vary depending on the type and severity of the eye condition you have. Symptoms can be mild or severe, may affect one or both eyes and may involve your eye and/or the surrounding area, your eyesight, or both. If you experience the following symptoms or are concerned about your eye health, make an appointment with a consultant ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

Some common symptoms of eye conditions include:

• Vision problems: Include blurred vision, double vision, light flashes, floaters, distorted vision, changes in the way you see colour, loss of peripheral or central vision and vision loss. Sudden loss of vision is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment
• Eye problems: Include redness, soreness, itching, burning, dryness, excessive watering, discharge and bloodshot eyes
• Other symptoms: Problems with your eyes or vision can lead to other symptoms, such as headaches and sensitivity to light

Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the transparent part of your eye, called the lens, becomes cloudy, causing symptoms such as cloudy, blurred or double vision, seeing halos around lights, poor night vision and increased sensitivity to light and glare. Anyone can develop cataracts, but the condition is more common in people over the age of 60. Treatment for cataracts includes cataract surgery, which involves replacing your cloudy lens with an artificial one.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition where there is damage to the optic nerve (the nerve that connects your eye to your brain). It is usually caused by a build-up of fluid at the front of your eye, which increases pressure inside your eye (ocular pressure). It can lead to blindness if not treated early. 

There are several types of glaucoma, the most common of which is primary open-angle glaucoma. This develops gradually and usually has no symptoms in the early stages. Later symptoms may include blurred vision, gradual loss of peripheral (outer) vision, and rainbow-coloured circles around lights.

Primary angle-closure glaucoma is another type of glaucoma that develops suddenly and is a medical emergency. Symptoms include sudden severe eye pain, blurred vision, halos around lights, nausea, vomiting and headache. Glaucoma can also be congenital (present at birth) or may develop as a result of another eye condition or injury.

Treatment for glaucoma includes prescription eye drops, laser treatment and in severe cases, surgery to improve fluid drainage and reduce the pressure inside your eye. 

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a possible complication of diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of your eye (retina). It can lead to blindness if left untreated.

Diabetic retinopathy develops gradually over several years and often doesn’t cause symptoms in the early stages. People with diabetes should have regular eye screening appointments to detect any changes early.  If you have diabetes, you can reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy by keeping your blood sugars stable, managing other conditions like high cholesterol and high blood pressure and making healthy choices such as not smoking, taking regular exercise and following a healthy diet. More advanced retinopathy can be treated with laser treatment, eye injections or surgery. 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. It is most common in people over the age of 50 and can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms of AMD include blurred or reduced central vision, difficulty recognising faces, reading and driving, sensitivity to bright light, and distorted vision such as straight lines appearing wavy, and seeing flickering or flashing lights. 

There are two types of AMD:

• Dry AMD: This is the most common type of AMD and occurs when your macula gradually thins out over time. There is no treatment for dry AMD, and managing the condition is focused on helping you cope with reduced vision
• Wet AMD: This is a less common and more severe type of AMD that occurs when abnormal new blood vessels form behind your retina and leak fluid, causing vision loss. Wet AMD is treated with eye injections to reduce blood vessel growth and leakage

Retinal detachment

A detached retina is when your retina becomes loose and pulls away from the back of your eye. It is commonly caused by an age-related condition called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where there are changes in the vitreous gel (a jelly-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina). It can also occur as a result of an injury to your eye or an eye condition.

Symptoms of a detached retina include blurred vision, a dark “shadow” or “curtain” across your vision, and seeing dots, lines and flashes of light. Retinal detachment is usually treated with surgery called a vitrectomy to remove the vitreous gel and reattach your retina.

Refractive errors 

Refractive errors are a common type of eye problem caused by abnormalities in the shape of your eye. This abnormal shape prevents light from focusing correctly on your retina, causing problems with your vision. Symptoms vary depending on the type of refractive error you have, but may include blurred vision, difficulty seeing objects close-up, faraway or both, headaches and eye strain.

There are several types of refractive error:

• Myopia (near-sightedness): Affects your ability to see distant objects
• Hyperopia (farsightedness): Affects your ability to see close-up objects
• Astigmatism: Affects your ability to see both close-up and distant objects
• Presbyopia: An age-related condition where close-up objects gradually appear blurred and out of focus

The primary treatment for refractive errors is glasses or contact lenses. These work by bending the light as it enters your eye and allowing it to focus correctly on your retina. Another option is laser eye surgery, which works by reshaping the surface of your eye (cornea) and can permanently correct your refractive error.

Medication

Medications for eye problems depend on your diagnosis and may include eye drops or oral medications. Some commonly prescribed medications for eye problems include:

• Anti-inflammatories: Reduce inflammation and swelling in your eyes
• Antibiotics: Are used to treat bacterial eye infections
• Artificial tears: Help lubricate dry eyes 
• Medications to reduce eye pressure: Are used to reduce intraocular pressure in conditions like glaucoma
• Anti-VEGF injections: Work by controlling the growth of abnormal blood vessels in conditions like diabetic retinopathy and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Glasses and contact lenses

Glasses and contact lenses work by redirecting the light as it enters your eye, allowing it to focus directly on your retina and correcting refractive errors that cause blurred vision.

Laser treatments

These are procedures that use lasers to improve your eyesight, correct problems with your vision, or treat certain eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, secondary cataracts and some types of glaucoma. Some types of laser eye surgery can treat refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. There are several types of laser eye treatments, including YAG laser iridotomy, LASIK eye surgery, LASEK eye surgery, and selective laser trabeculoplasty.

Surgery 

In some cases, if your eye condition is severe and/or hasn’t improved with other treatments, your ophthalmologist may recommend surgery. Surgical procedures to correct eye problems, include cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, retinal detachment surgery (vitrectomy) and corneal transplantation (keratoplasty).

Booking a consultation is easy, and you can do this either by calling our dedicated team of friendly advisors or by using our easy online booking system.

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times and locations that are convenient for you
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant best suits your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities with expert multidisciplinary care 
• Private ensuite rooms as standard, and a range of delicious, healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to learn more about private ophthalmology treatment, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.

1. Ophthalmology, NHS England
2. Ophthalmologists, Cleveland Clinic 
3. Eye Conditions and Diseases, National Eye Institute