Glaucoma
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
Glaucoma at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
The Glaucoma service at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital provides specialist assessment, monitoring and treatment for glaucoma across Greater Manchester. Observers and fellows can gain exposure to adult glaucoma, childhood glaucoma, cataract-associated glaucoma care and pathways supporting diagnosis, long-term monitoring and sight preservation.
The service uses a range of diagnostic assessments, including intraocular pressure measurement, visual field testing, optic nerve imaging, slit lamp examination, pachymetry, gonioscopy and fundoscopy. Observers and fellows can see how repeat testing, clinical examination and imaging are used to monitor progression and guide management.
Treatment exposure may include medical therapy with eye drops, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, and glaucoma surgery where clinically appropriate. The service also includes specialist nursing, optometry and orthoptic input, including optometric-led glaucoma assessment and transition pathways for children and young people with glaucoma.
The programme is suited to international ophthalmology doctors and aspiring clinicians seeking structured exposure to glaucoma diagnosis, longitudinal monitoring, multidisciplinary service delivery, laser and surgical decision-making, paediatric-to-adult transition, patient education and glaucoma pathway improvement.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
Impact of the Manchester Glaucoma Enhanced Referral Scheme on NHS costs, 2019: Manchester Royal Eye Hospital authors contributed to an observational cost analysis of the Manchester Glaucoma Enhanced Referral Scheme, reporting its potential to reduce false positive referrals and NHS costs.
Short-term safety and efficacy of Preserflo™ Microshunt in glaucoma patients, 2023: A multicentre retrospective cohort study, including Manchester Royal Eye Hospital colleagues, evaluated 1-year outcomes and safety for Preserflo™ Microshunt surgery in glaucoma.
MREH Optometrists national research prize: Manchester Royal Eye Hospital’s optometrists won a national research prize two years in a row.
Optometry-led glaucoma practice: The service includes optometric-led glaucoma assessment and glaucoma pathway development, with optometry leaders involved in hospital staff teaching, community optometrist training, and service delivery and patient care.
Rare and complex cases
- Advanced glaucoma with significant visual field loss requiring careful treatment escalation and long-term monitoring.
- Glaucoma requiring surgery when medication or laser treatment is ineffective or where sight loss is significant.
- Childhood glaucoma associated with abnormal trabecular meshwork development, raised eye pressure and enlarged or cloudy eyes.
- Glaucoma secondary to other genetic or eye conditions, including Sturge-Weber syndrome and glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery.
- Children and young people requiring multidisciplinary monitoring of eye pressure, optic nerve health, refraction and visual development.
- Transition care for young people moving from paediatric to adult glaucoma services through an orthoptic-led glaucoma transition clinic.
- Complex glaucoma assessment requiring interpretation of visual fields, optic nerve imaging, pachymetry, gonioscopy and longitudinal progression data.
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Meet our expert supervisors
Our team consists of highly qualified and motivated professionals, who are all experts in their field. With many years of experience in the industry, they have the expertise to provide comprehensive, first-rate services to our clients.
Leon Au
BSc, MBBS, FRCOphth
Mr Leon Au is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital with specialist interests in corneal disease, glaucoma, cataract surgery, and refractive surgery. Appointed as a Consultant in 2009, he completed advanced subspecialty fellowships in cornea, glaucoma, and refractive surgery, and is actively involved in research, innovation, and the development of minimally invasive glaucoma treatments.
Filofteia Tacea
MD, FRCOphth
Miss Filofteia Tacea is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital with specialist interests in glaucoma and cataract surgery. Appointed as a Consultant in 2022, she completed advanced glaucoma fellowships at St Paul's Eye Unit and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, developing expertise in complex glaucoma procedures, including glaucoma drainage devices and micro-invasive glaucoma surgery.
Our signature programmes
Observership
Glaucoma
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Understand the structure of glaucoma services across consultant-led, specialist nurse, optometry and orthoptic-supported pathways.
- Observe assessment and monitoring of adult glaucoma, childhood glaucoma and glaucoma-related cataract presentations.
- Develop insight into intraocular pressure measurement, visual field testing, optic nerve imaging, slit lamp examination, pachymetry, gonioscopy and fundoscopy.
- Observe how clinicians use repeated investigations and longitudinal data to identify progression and guide treatment plans.
- Gain exposure to treatment options including eye drops, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty and surgical pathways where appropriate.
- Understand the role of patient education, adherence, follow-up planning and multidisciplinary communication in long-term glaucoma care.
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
Fellowship
Glaucoma
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Consolidate supervised clinical reasoning in glaucoma assessment, monitoring and treatment planning, aligned to the fellow’s experience and agreed scope of practice.
- Strengthen interpretation of visual fields, optic nerve imaging, intraocular pressure trends, pachymetry and gonioscopy findings.
- Build confidence in recognising disease progression, treatment failure and indications for escalation to laser, surgical or multidisciplinary review.
- Gain supervised exposure to adult and paediatric glaucoma pathways, including transition care for young people moving to adult glaucoma services.
- Develop understanding of optometric-led glaucoma assessment, referral filtering, community interface working and pathway improvement.
- Engage with audit, research, teaching or service improvement activity.
Eligibility
- Postgraduate Qualification: Applicants must hold an overseas-recognised postgraduate medical qualification (MD, MS, Masters) in ophthalmology or a relevant specialty.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in ophthalmology or a related specialty within the last 5 years, including at least 12 months of continuous practice before applying.
- Training Level: Equivalent to ST5 or above, or post-CCT clinicians seeking subspecialty exposure.
- Language Proficiency: IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and overall 7.5, or OET Medicine with Grade B in all domains, with certificate validity within 24 months.
- Registration: GMC registration is required for fellowship activity. Sponsorship support may be available through approved routes where appropriate.
- Applicants must not have failed PLAB exams previously.
- Visa sponsorship is only available through approved routes; self-funded visas outside agreed schemes are excluded.
- Additional specialty expectation: Prior ophthalmology experience and familiarity with glaucoma assessment, intraocular pressure measurement, optic nerve evaluation, visual field interpretation, gonioscopy, laser or surgical decision-making is desirable.