Ophthamology Support Us

Who are we?

The League of Friends of the Ophthalmic Unit (L of F) was founded in the 1920s, before the establishment of the NHS, as a charitable organisation and has operated as such ever since. Our aim is to enable an improvement in the overall care of ophthalmic patients by contributing to the purchase of much needed equipment, medical and otherwise. As a charity, our members endeavour to raise funds through various fund raising events.

 

Fundraising events

Fundraising events such as cake sales, general tombolas, bottle tombolas and raffles are ongoing. Donations either in cash or in kind for any of these events would be very much appreciated. Suggestions for future fundraising from members of staff or patients are always welcomed.

 

What do we do with your donations?

We have purchased numerous essential equipment for use on paediatric patients, glaucoma patients, patients who have suffered retinal detachment and research equipment. We have also purchased toys for the orthoptic department, a digital camera for eye casualty, carpeting for the day case waiting area and a CD player for the operating theatre to help relax patients.

 

Become a member

Become a member of the L of F by completing the Ophthamology League of Friends Membership Form. The membership fee is £5.00 per year, due in September of each year.

The Committee is made up of 12 members including a Chairperson, a Treasurer and a Secretary. The Committee meet four times per year with the AGM being held at the beginning of September of each year. All members are invited to this meeting.

 

Donations

Any donation is always gratefully received. Donations can be made either in cash or by cheque made payable to League of Friends of the Ophthalmic Unit.

Donations can be handed in to a member of staff either in the Eye Outpatients, Eye Casualty Department, Ward C25 or posted to:

The Treasurer c/o Mrs A Padgett, Secretary/PA, Ophthalmology Administration, B Floor, The Eye & ENT Unit, QMC, Nottingham NG7 2UH.

Charity Number 503798

Every year in the UK, the miracle of cornea transplantation helps to restore the sight of more than 2,500 blind and partially sighted people. The shortage of donated eyes means that if there were more donors, many more people could be given the chance to see again, with all the opportunities that this brings.

One patient, Everette, said: "The transplants have given me both my sight and my life back. I can see my children's faces again and so much is possible. It is not only me that has benefited; my whole family shares it with me and I am able to carry on teaching, thanks to the kindness of others."

Corneal donation

The cornea is the tough transparent 'window' at the front of the eye that is vital for the process of sight. Disease and injury may cause a human cornea to become cloudy or distorted and prevent an otherwise perfectly functioning eye from seeing at all. The only way for some people to have their sight restored is through receiving a cornea that has been donated for transplant surgery.

Many blind or poorly sighted people can see almost perfectly after receiving a corneal transplant. Around 30% of corneal recipients are under the age of thirty. The success rate for this delicate operation is over 90%.

Corneal donor retrieval service

The corneal donor procurement and retrieval service is funded by UK Transplant and was established to meet current and future demand for scarce ocular tissue.

NUH has actively supported organ and tissue donation as a positive option at the time of bereavement. It has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that all patients' choices made in life are respected and facilitated in a timely empathetic manner at the time of death.

NUH is one of only 10 hospitals in the UK with funded eye/tissue retrieval scheme status. It is hoped that these 10 sites will generate over 90% of all corneas and tissue needed for transplant in this country. The main aim of our service is to obtain high quality locally donated corneas and prepare them for national distribution by the Corneal Transplant Service, and to reduce to the lowest level the chance of any potentially harmful disease from donor to recipient.

Corneal donation nurses (Nottinghamshire and South Derbyshire)

A very important part of these nurses' job is to help the family during a very difficult time. They can be available at the hospital and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Tel:0115 924 9924 Ext: 67620.

Join the NHS Organ Donor Register today

Visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk

Tel: 0300 123 23 23

Text: SAVE to 84118