The unit provides high quality Ophthalmology care to the local population of East Lancashire and areas of Chorley (a population of over 630,000 people).  In addition, the department provides treatment for macular degeneration and vitreoretinal surgery to a wider population in Central Lancashire.

The Ophthalmology Department has seven substantive consultants and one locum consultant. Outpatient appointments and services are provided at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Burnley General Teaching Hospital, Clitheroe Community Hospital, Accrington Victoria Hospital and Rossendale Primary Care Centre.  All elective surgery is performed at Burnley General Teaching Hospital.  Almost all medical retinal services including intravitreal injections for various medical retina conditions are undertaken at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital. Acute eye trauma and emergencies are treated at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital.

  • Mr B S Fernando  -  Clinical Director, Consultant Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgeon
  • Mrs S Abugreen - Research Lead and Consultant for Macular services
  • Mrs M Mohan - Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist
  • Mrs C Sanghvi - Consultant Lead for Diabetic Retinopathy Service
  • Mr V Shankar - Consultant Glaucoma Surgeon
  • Mr H Usmani - Consultant Corneal Surgeon
  • Mr P David - Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon

The department is supported by one associate specialist, several speciality doctors, one MCH trainee, one glaucoma fellow, one vitreoretinal fellow, two specialist trainees. 

There are several nurses (nurse specialists) who have attained higher qualifications and run clinics independently specialising in glaucoma, vitreo-retina, and ophthalmology A&E services. The department was the first in the region to train and support nurse specialists to undertake intra-vitreal injections.  Nurse practitioners are involved in the treatment of glaucoma (they have completed their Master’s Degree in glaucoma management).  An in-house training programme has helped ‘up-skill’ other staff in vitreoretinal clinics, diabetic retinopathy clinics, Oculoplastic post-operative clinics and accident and emergency services. 

A large orthoptic team undertakes visual screening in the community for the whole of Lancashire.  The department also supports the clinical training of Liverpool Orthoptic trainees.

Training Role of the Department:

The department has two ophthalmic specialist trainees (StRs) on the full time rota (rotate though various sub-specialities). In addition, there are two part time ophthalmic specialists who attend the unit, one day per week, to gain experience in ophthalmic surgery.  The department offers specialist fellowship training in:

  • Vitreo-retinal surgery
  • Glaucoma
  • Medical retina services
  • Oculoplastic surgery
  • Paediatric ophthalmology.  

Recently, the unit has achieved recognition as a training centre for a MCH trainee from Edge Hill University. 

Mrs Abugreen is the research lead of the department and she is supported by various paramedical, technical and administrative staff.

Ophthalmology studies are listed below:

Age related macular degenerative studies:

  • IVAN trial - The UK Inhibition of VEGF in age-related choroidal neovascularisation (IVAN) trial
  • LUMINOUS - Observe the effectiveness and safety of Ranibizumab in real life setting (LUMINOUS)
  • TERRA - The clinical effectiveness of Ranibizumab treat and extend regimen in nAMD.
  • STAR - StereoTactic radiotherapy for wet age-related macular degeneration.
  • SRFCNV – The characterisation of subretinal hyperreflective material using Heidelberg OCT and Heidelberg Multicolour imaging in neovascular AMD

Other studies:

  • LEAVO - Double-masked Randomised Controlled Non-Inferiority Trial comparing the clinical and cost effectiveness of intravitreal therapy with ranibizumab (Lucentis) vs aflibercept (Eylea) vs bevacizumab (Avastin) for Macular Oedema (MO) due to Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)
  • OBTAIN - Efficacy and safety of Ranibizumab in patients with visual impairment due to choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathologic myopia
  • VICI – Clinical efficacy and mechanistic evaluation of Eplerenone for Central serous chorio-retinopathy – the VICI randomised trial

Paediatric research

  • EU Patch Study(European Paediatric Ophthalmology Amblyopia treatment study)
  • BCVIS2( British Childhood Visual Impairment study)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Access individual Ophthalmology Consultant research in web sites below:

·         East Lancashire hospitals NHS Trust@ researchgate.com

·         Pubmed

·         Google scholar

 

 

Publications / Pubmed enteries

Mr Bertie S Fernando - 11

Mrs Salwa Abugreen - 15

Mrs Meyyammai Mohan - 10

Mrs Chintan Sanghvi - 13

Mr Vikas Shankar - 8

Mr Hasan Usmani - 6

Mr Philip David - 4

 
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