You have been diagnosed with an eye condition that affects your macula, the part of the eye responsible for detailed central vision. You should have received information about your condition and any treatments that have been recommended.
The most common conditions we treat in NHS Forth Valley are:
- Wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD)
- Retinal vein occlusions causing cystoid macular oedema (fluid affecting central vision)
- Diabetic macular oedema, which is fluid at the centre of vision caused by diabetic eye disease
Once you have been assessed
After your initial face-to-face appointment with the hospital eye service, any follow-up care may take one of the following forms.
This service is delivered by specially trained ophthalmic technicians. You will not see a doctor at this visit, but you will have several tests, including:
- A sight test to measure your distance vision
- An eye pressure check
- OCT imaging – detailed digital scans of your eye that help us monitor your condition and guide
treatment decisions
OCT appointment
At your OCT appointment, the tests listed above will be carried out. The results are reviewed by the clinical team to decide whether treatment should continue, change, or stop.
How we will contact you
We will update you about your treatment plan and next steps by letter.
If you have any concerns about the plan, please contact the Ophthalmology Department on 01324 614368 and a member of the clinical team will get in touch.
If you feel you have a new or different eye problem, such as cataract, please make an appointment with your community optometrist. They can refer you to our cataract assessment clinic if needed.
Face-to-face appointment
This appointment allows us to examine your eyes in person and discuss your management. Face-to-face appointments are usually only required at the beginning and end of treatment unless there is a clinical need.
This appointment may involve an injection of medication into your eye. Injections are provided by specialist nurse injectors and doctors.
The interval between injections varies depending on how active your condition is:
- If the condition appears inactive or has responded well, the interval may be increased by
2 to 4 weeks at a time. - If the condition appears active or has worsened, the interval may be reduced by 2 to 4 weeks
or more.
We may also recommend switching to a different medication. If this is advised, the reasons for the change and the name of the new drug will be explained to you in a letter.