Ophthalmic Imaging

Ophthalmic imaging is a specialised field that uses advanced cameras and scanning technologies to capture detailed images of the eye. These images help clinicians diagnose, monitor, and manage a wide range of eye conditions, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and other retinal diseases. If you have been referred for ophthalmic imaging, it is because your eye care specialist needs a closer look at the structures inside your eye to ensure the best possible care for your vision. In the last 12 months the ophthalmic imaging team has performed over 100,000 procedures.

Contact us

f you have any questions about ophthalmic imaging, please feel free to contact the department via email at sth.ophthalmologypatientqueries@nhs.net

Alternatively, call the number printed on your appointment letter and ask to speak to the Ophthalmic Imaging team.

Types of appointment

In these appointments we perform a set of tests to investigate/monitor your eye condition. The results are sent to our team of doctors and clinicians who will write to you or discuss the findings in a telephone consultation (specialty dependant). These appointments usually take 15 - 90 minutes.

Virtual/Imaging only

Same day imaging

Your clinician will decide which tests are needed to aid your consultation. We usually perform tests before you see the clinician and results are available within 5-10 minutes.

Typical appointment workflow

Initial checks

Vision check (reading the letter chart)
Eye pressure check (air puff)
Dilating eye drops (if required for your condition)
Condition specific health questions (e.g. diabetic status)

Ophthalmic imaging

Ophthalmic imaging tests are pre-determined based on your eye condition or instruction from your clinician
Reports and results are exported to a database that can be viewed electronically
If you are attending for imaging only your appointment will finish at this point

Consultation

Your clinician will discuss your eye test results, examine your eye using the slit lamp (a type of microscope) and discuss options for managing your eye condition.

Additional ophthalmic imaging, nursing assessment or other tests

Sometimes the clinician will request further procedures with ophthalmic imaging, the ophthalmic nurses or other departments (e.g. blood tests)

Further visits

After your appointment any further visits, treatments or surgeries are arranged by the administrative team, they will contact you closer the time via letter or telephone.

Dilating eye drops

Some of our tests require dilation of the pupil. To do this we use dilating eye drops (usually 1% tropicamide and 2.5% phenylepherine).

These drops expand the size of the pupil (the hole or dark space in the middle of the iris) to allow more light into the eye.

They take 20-30 minutes to reach full effect and last for 4-6 hours.

Dilating drops can make everything feel brighter, especially if it’s sunny outside. They also blur your vision. You should not drive or operate heavy machinery until your sight returns to normal and your eyes are comfortable.

Dilating drops used in eye clinics

Undilated pupil

Dilated pupil

Ophthalmic imaging sites

Our team rotates around 4 different sites:

Royal Hallamshire Hospital

This is the home of the main ophthalmology department, including the Emergency Eye Centre.

Here we offer a combination of “virtual” appointments and “same day” imaging for a range of ophthalmic specialties including:

Medical retina (e.g. macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy)

- Glaucoma

- Vitreo-retinal

- Cornea

- Ocular oncology

- Oculoplastics

- Neuro-ophthalmology

The Hallamshire hosts most of our equipment and we provide over 30 different eye investigations.

Eye Imaging Hub at Longley Lane

The Eye Imaging Hub was established to meet our rising demand for imaging only appointments. The service has expanded to cover almost every specialty, and the hub now provides ~20% of our total capacity (over 20,000 procedures per year)

If you are attending an appointment at the Eye Imaging Hub your appointment will be “imaging only”. This means that your results will be sent via letter or discussed during a pre-booked telephone consultation (specialty dependant).

In our 2024 patient satisfaction survey 100% of patients said they would recommend the service to others needing imaging only appointments.

Eye imaging hub

Address: Sheffield S5 7JN, United Kingdom

The Hub is located to the rear of the drive through phlebotomy service and has its own car park (charges apply)

Northern General Eye Centre

The Northern General Eye Centre is our standalone cataract unit. It first opened its doors in 2018 and boasts modern, purpose build cataract clinics and theatres. To date, over 25,000 patients have had their cataract surgery at the Northern General Eye Centre.

The Ophthalmic imaging team performs pre-operative biometry – a light-based test that measures the size and shape of your eye to calculate the power of the lens implant

More information about the Northern General Eye Centre can be found on the dedicated page here

Sheffield Children's Hospital

In 2021 we opened a dedicated ophthalmic imaging service at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. This means that children can have all of their required tests on the same day as their appointment, without having to come back or travel to a different site.

For more information about the eye department at SCH please visit the website: Eye Department - Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Frequently performed procedures

Optical coherence tomography (OCT): A quick, painless scan that uses light waves to create highly detailed cross-sectional images of the retina. This test helps detect and monitor conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease. It provides essential information about the layers of the retina, allowing early diagnosis and treatment.

Retinal photography: A simple test that captures a high-resolution image of the back of the eye, including the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels. This helps in detecting and tracking changes related to conditions such as diabetes, and macular degeneration. It is often used for routine monitoring of eye health.

Ocular ultrasound: A scan that uses sound waves to produce images of the eye’s internal structures. This test is particularly useful if the view of the retina is blocked due to cataracts, bleeding, or other eye conditions. It helps in diagnosing retinal detachment and other abnormalities that may not be visible through a standard eye exam.

Visual field testing: A test that measures your peripheral (side) vision and identifies any blind spots. It is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring conditions like glaucoma, optic nerve disorders, and neurological conditions affecting vision. The test involves looking straight ahead and pressing a button when small lights appear in different areas of your vision, helping doctors assess any changes in your sight.

Retinal angiography: A specialized imaging test that examines the blood flow in the retina. Dye is injected into a vein in your arm, which travels to the eye’s blood vessels. Photographs are taken as the dye moves through, highlighting any leaks, blockages, or abnormal blood vessel growth. This test is often used to diagnose diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and other vascular issues affecting the eye.