Ophthalmology
The Eye Unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital provides care for patients with a range of eye conditions. The Department undertakes an extensive range of treatments for eye and vision disorders of both adults and children. The Bolton Eye Unit is widely regarded as one of the leading NHS ophthalmic departments in England.
The Unit (or Ophthalmology Department) has a ward, 2 operating theatres, an Outpatient department, Pre-Assessment clinic plus Orthoptist and optometry clinics. Clinics are also run at Salford Royal Hospital and community settings within Salford and Bolton.
There are seven consultants in the Ophthalmology Department who treat general eye conditions as well as each specialising in specific conditions including Occuloplastics, Ocular motility, Age Related Macular Degeneration, Retinal Disorders and Corneal Transplantation.
The consultant team is supported by the wider multi disciplinary team of nurses (many with highly specialised skills), optometrists, Orthoptists, and assistant practitioners as well as the support teams of secretaries and admin staff. We are also assisted by our clinic liaison officer and volunteers who provide vital information and counselling for our patients.
The department is also an important centre for teaching and training for doctors, nurses, medical students, Orthoptists and optometrists.
List of Consultants:
Miss Priya Bhatt
Qualifications: MBChB (Hons), FRCOphth
Commenced appointment: February 2011
Specialising in: Cataract surgery, Oculoplastic surgery and Orbital surgery (including lid/face and socket reconstruction, post Mohs micrographic surgery reconstruction for periocular malignancies, correction of lid deformities, lacrimal surgery, orbital biopsies, enucleation and evisceration.
Miss Kath Smyth
Qualifications: MBCHB Hons Liverpool 1989, MRCP 1992, FRCOphth 1995
Specialising in: Oculomotility and neuroophthalmology Monthly dedicated children's clinic
Other Roles: Examiner for Orthoptc degree course at Liverpool University
Mrs Clare Inkster
Qualifications: MbChB, FRCOphth, Qualified 1990 Liverpool
Commenced appointment: Consultant in Bolton since November 2000
Specialising in: Oculoplastic surgeon - specialise in disorders of the eyelid, orbit (eye socket) and lacrimal (tear production and drainage) system. Undertake specialist clinics with Mr Lobo - ENT surgeon, and work with dermatologists, radiologists, pathologists, oncologists and endocrinologists.
Other Roles: Training Programme Director for the North West Region. Quality Standards Representative for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth). Executive Committee Member of British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS). Training Committee Member RCOphth. Equivalence of Training Subcommittee member RCOphth. Recruitment Subcommittee member RCOphth. Academic Advisor and Honorary Lecturer, University of Manchester Medical School.
Mr Simon Kelly
Qualifications: FRCOphth, FRCSEd, FEBO
Commenced appointment: 1991
Special Interest: Medical retinal disorders. Cataract surgery. Investigation of retinal disorders with OCT scanning and retinal angiography (outpatient). Retinal laser treatment for adults and for infants with retinopathy of prematurity (outpatient or daycase). Treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with injections of Lucentis (outpatient or daycase)
Other Roles: Over 50 publications on ophthalmic matters. Chairman of Quality and Safety Sub-Committee at the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. He has been elected to the Council of Governors at the Trust on behalf of medical staff.
Mr Simon Wallis
Qualifications: FRCSed DO FRCOphth
Commenced appointment: 1993, after training at Manchester Eye Hospital and a short fellowship at Moorfields Hospital, London.
Specialist Interest: Squint and Double Vision, Neuro-ophthalmology.
Mr Jeff Kwartz
Qualifications: CCST (Ophthal) MSc (Epi)
Special Interest: Medical Retina including Age Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy. Glaucoma including Glaucoma Surgery and use of tubes. Lasers for Retina, Glaucoma. Cataract Surgery
Other Roles: Clinical Lead.
Mr Evangelos Sioras
Qualifications: FRCSed DO FRCOphth
Commenced appointment: 2003
Specialist Interest: IT Lead for Ophthalmology. Lead for Multidisciplinary Glaucoma Team.
Contact Numbers
For general enquiries please ring the hospital's Main Switchboard on 01204 390390 and ask for the relevant department.
Hospital Telephone Number: 01204 390390
Department Ext:
H2 Ward 5736
Outpatients / Clinic 3935
Pre-Assessment 5337
Orthoptic Department 4544
Optometry Department 4806
H2 Theatre 4558
Secretary Ext:
Mr Kwartz 5497
Mr Kelly 5694
Mrs Inkster 5093
Miss Smyth 5092
Mr Wallis 5519
Mr Sioras 5442
Miss Bhatt 5093
Appointments are made via the Trust’s Telephone Access Centre on Tel: 01204 390400