Please help us transform the Western Eye Hospital into a calmer, more accessible space for people living with sight loss by supporting our £1m appeal.
For more than 170 years, the Western Eye Hospital in London has been saving and restoring sight.
Every year, over 100,000 patients rely on the hospital for specialist emergency and outpatient care, often at moments of great anxiety when their vision is at risk.
The hospital's ground floor is its busiest patient area, housing the main reception, emergency department and outpatient clinics. As the gateway to expert care, these spaces play a vital role in how quickly and safely patients can access treatment.
Yet this space no longer meets the needs of the people who use it every day. Busy waiting areas, unclear routes and outdated facilities can make visits more stressful for patients, families and NHS staff.
With your support, we can create a brighter, more welcoming space that is easier to use. Patients worried about their sight will feel calmer and more confident from the moment they arrive, while staff can focus on delivering the best possible care.
Above: Patient and Art Historian, Carrie Scott, who underwent surgery for acute angle glaucoma.
Carrie's story
For Carrie, sight is central to who she is. As an art historian, her vision shapes her career, creativity and the way she experiences the world.
That’s why a routine eye test quickly became a moment that changed everything. When her optician noticed something unusual, Carrie was urgently referred to the Western Eye Hospital, where she was diagnosed with acute angle-closure glaucoma – a serious condition that can cause permanent sight loss if not treated quickly.
“I’m relatively young to have acute angle-closure glaucoma. It’s something we usually associate with ageing,” Carrie said. “The idea that I had this condition that could send me blind overnight was terrifying.”
At the Western Eye, specialist teams acted quickly, guiding Carrie through treatment and providing the reassurance she needed during an incredibly frightening time.
“The doctor was phenomenal, really talking me through the procedure and keeping me calm.”
Thanks to the expertise and care she received, Carrie’s sight was protected. Today, she continues to attend regular appointments at the Western Eye, where her vision is monitored and supported.
Donate now“As an art historian, my sight is my entire identity, career, raison d’être, everything is about seeing and being able to look at images and art. So the idea that I had this lingering condition that could send me blind overnight was terrifying.
Carrie, Western Eye Hospital patient
Designing a modern space to match the world-leading eye care delivered every day.
Eye care has advanced dramatically. Many conditions can now be diagnosed and treated in a single day at the Western Eye Hospital, with patients moving between tests, scans, and consultations all in one visit.
At the same time, demand for specialist eye services is growing rapidly as people live longer and need regular care to safeguard their vision.
For many patients, time is critical. A delay in diagnosis or treatment can make the difference between someone keeping their sight and losing it permanently.
The ground floor of the Western Eye Hospital was designed decades ago for a completely different era and far fewer people. Today, it cannot keep pace with the growing number of people who depend on us to protect their sight.
Above: Western Eye Hospital patient Ama.
Diva Shah, Eye Care Liaison Officer at the Western Eye Hospital, RNIB said:
"As Imperial's Eye Clinic Liaison Officer, I support more than 3000 people living with sight loss. I regularly meet people who arrive anxious, overwhelmed and disorientated before they have even reached the Eye Clinic. Navigating a busy, unfamiliar environment without clear visual cues can be exhausting and frightening, particularly for someone who has experienced sudden significant vision loss or whose vision is deteriorating.
"An accessible, well designed entrance would create an environment that is welcoming, intuitive and inclusive, enabling people with vision impairment to navigate with greater confidence and dignity. Walking with patients throughout their journey, I know that preserving dignity and independence wherever possible is one of the greatest gifts we can offer.
"Investing in an accessible entrance is an investment in every patient who comes to us for care, ensuring they begin their journey feeling respected, reassured and confident that this hospital has been designed with their needs at its heart."
With your support it is our ambition to create:
- A more welcoming arrival: A new reception area will create a clear first point of contact, helping patients and visitors reach the right care more easily. A discreet digital calling system will make waiting more respectful, alongside new, comfortable seating throughout the ground floor.
- Faster care when sight is at risk: Improved emergency facilities will help more patients be assessed quickly, allowing specialist teams to act faster when urgent treatment is needed to protect sight.
- More space for specialist care: Enhanced consultation and treatment areas will help the hospital support more patients, reduce delays and provide a smoother experience from arrival through to treatment.
- A hospital that is easier to navigate: Better lighting, clearer signage and thoughtful design will help people move around the hospital with greater confidence. These improvements will be complemented by artwork, co-designed with patients, staff and people living with sight loss.
Together, these improvements will help patients reach urgent care faster, find their way around the hospital more easily and feel calmer from the moment they arrive.
When you are worried about your sight, every moment matters. With your support, we can transform the Western Eye Hospital into a welcoming environment where patients feel reassured, supported and cared for from the moment they arrive.
Our goal is to raise £1 million to make this transformation possible. Every donation will help create a better experience for patients, families and the NHS staff who care for them.
Please support our Western Eye Hospital Appeal today.
Above: From L-R Dr Francesca Cordeiro, volunteer Nick, Carrie, and Ama - all Western Eye Hospital patients
Donate nowIf you would like to find out more about the appeal or discuss making a donation, please contact our Fundraising team at fundraising@imperialcharity.org.uk or call 020 3640 7766.