Virtual Macula Assessment Clinic

Patient Information Leaflet

Thank you for attending the Virtual Macula Assessment Clinic. This appointment has been made following your last clinic appointment where you saw the medical team.

What is the Virtual Macula Assessment Clinic?

This clinic is for patients who attend the Eye Clinic and need to have their condition assessed on a regular basis, but are not required to be seen by the medical team. The tests that take place at this appointment will allow your consultant to make a decision about further monitoring or treatment for your eye condition.

Tests involved are the same as on previous visits to the eye department:

Visual acuity: your vision will be checked by asking you to read from an alphabet chart.

Eye pressure: the pressure of your eye may be checked. You will be informed if this test is required and why it is needed.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT): a scan of the back of your eyes will be taken. We may need to put lubricant drops into the eye to obtain a clear scan. If it is not possible to obtain a clear scan, we will put dilating drops into your eyes.

Optos Fundus Photo/Angiography: a wide field photograph may be taken of the back of your eye if requested by your eye doctor.

Following these tests, you will be able to go home. If you have had previous eye injections (Lucentis / Eylea / Faricimab) and it is obvious from your OCT scan that you will require a further injection, the nurse may give you antibiotic drops to use. This will save a return visit to the hospital to collect a prescription. However, the final decision of whether you need the injection will be made by the consultant who reviews your details.

What will happen next?

The above test will be reviewed by your consultant, who will make a decision as follows:

• You do not need any treatment at present. You will be informed by post of a further appointment to attend the Eye Department for monitoring.
• You do need treatment. You will be listed for treatment and will be informed by post of when treatment is due to take place.

What if I have any problems or questions after reading this leaflet?

If there is anything you do not understand, or you are concerned or worried about any part of the treatment, contact:

The Urgent Referral Clinic team at Russells Hall Hospital Eye Clinic on 01384 456111 ext. 3633.

Eye emergency, out of hours

In case of an eye emergency after the closing hours of the Eye Clinic at Russells Hall Hospital (including weekends and bank holidays), please contact: Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre on 0121 507 4440

The doctor on call is usually based at the Eye Centre, City Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham. They may need to call you back, and if necessary, they will arrange for you to visit them.

Note: the information in this booklet is provided for information only. The information found is not a substitute for professional medical advice or care by a qualified doctor or other health care professional. Always check with your doctor if you have any concerns about your condition or treatment. This is only indicative and general information for the procedure. Individual experiences may vary and all the points may not apply to all patients at all times. Please discuss your individual circumstances with you eye doctor.

Author: Sister Cooper

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on 01384 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Virtual Macular/DC/SS/ST/DP/11.2022 v3 review 08.2025 – DGH ref.: DGH/PIL/01359