Eye Conditions
Just been diagnosed? Start here. Plain-English guides to common eye conditions and what they mean for your sight.
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Support & Activities
Eye Clinic support - sight support service: someone to talk to when things feel uncertain
Being diagnosed with sight loss can feel overwhelming, and it’s not easy to take everything in.
Our Eye Care Liaison Officer, Helen Flett, is based at York hospital and offers emotional and practical support when you are ready to talk. She will explain what your diagnosis means, what support is available, and what to do next.
Is the Hospital Eye Clinic right for you?
If things feel confusing and overwhelming after an eye appointment, you are not alone. The Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO) will give you time to talk through the impact of your sight changes, linking you to community based services who can provide support to live well with sight loss. This support is right for you if:
You’ve recently been diagnosed and are unsure what it means for your daily life
You are struggling to come to terms with your diagnosis and need time to talk.
You want to understand what practical advice, benefits and services are available.
You are finding everyday tasks like cooking and getting around more difficult.
You are eligible to register your sight loss.
Still not sure if this service is right for you? Talk to us first
Call us on 01904 636269
What to expect when you visit the hospital Eye Clinic
The Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO): linking you to the right support
Our ECLO, Helen, can bridge the gap between your diagnosis and living well with sight loss. She’s non clinical, but can support you to deal with the emotional impact of your diagnosis and understand what this might mean in practical terms.
She is here to listen, explain, and signpost you towards the right support.
Helen can support you:
- To understand your eye care journey
- To understand your diagnosis
- With certification and registration
- With managing the emotional impact
- To explore the impact on your daily life
- To access low vision services
- To understand visual hallucinations
- To connect with local and national services
The difference our ECLO service makes
Practical and emotional support when you need it most
Losing some or all of your vision, or being told you have an eye condition, can feel overwhelming. At moments like this, practical help and emotional support can make a real difference. That’s where the Eye Clinic Liaison Officer or ECLO comes in.
Helen was fantastic. I was getting really down, and I couldn't see a way of getting help, I kept hitting brick wall after brick wall, I was at rock bottom. She was so helpful. I feel more positive now that I have spoken Helen. I didn't know there was so much help and support available to me.
How to Access the ECLO Service at York Hospital
If you have an eye condition and are under the care of York Hospital’s Ophthalmology clinic, you, your family, or your carer can ask to speak with Helen. You do not have to be registered as visually impaired to receive support, the service is there to help anyone affected by changes to their sight.
Ask at Your Clinic Appointment
When you attend your eye appointment, ask your clinician to arrange an appointment. You can also ask at the Eye Clinic reception desk when you arrive.
Contact Helen directly using the buttons below
Appointments are usually available Monday to Friday between 9am and 3pm.
Other ways MySight York can support you
Equipment & information Centre
Try out equipment and get practical advice to manage the everyday challenges of life with sight loss.
Digital Inclusion
Build your confidence with assistive technologies, stay connected with the digital world and learn new skills.
Counselling
Access emotional support, and talk through the issues affecting you and your family following your sight loss diagnosis.
