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Consultant interview - Miss Joanne Hancox

Hancox, Jo


Miss Joanne Hancox is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon specialising in strabismus in adults and children and in children’s eye conditions at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Moorfields Private Hospital.

What are your areas of expertise?

I focus on strabismus in adults and children and on children’s eye conditions, common ones being allergic eye disease, watery eyes, and lumps and bumps that children can get on an eyelid, such as chalazion.

What is strabismus and how can it affect vision?

Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes. Normally, when our eyes are working together, they are both pointing to the same direction. People can have large and small, less obvious, misalignments of the eyes. Both of them may cause double vision which can be completely disabling and stop people performing their day-to-day activities.

Can strabismus be treated in adults?

There is a misperception that strabismus can’t be treated in adults - it can almost always be treated.

Adults who have strabismus need to be referred to an appropriate specialist, so they can have an assessment and discussion regarding potential treatment.

Are you involved in research projects?

I have continuously undertaken research projects and contributed to many peer-reviewed journals. My research interests include strabismus associated with thyroid eye disease, psychological effects of adult strabismus, effects of strabismus and amblyopia on children’s quality of life and Botulinum toxin (Botox) treatment for strabismus.

Why do patients come to see you?

Patients commonly come to me for a second opinion, especially for children. And lots of comments I get from parents of my child patients suggest that people find very beneficial not just my level of expertise, but also my clear and concise explanation of conditions and treatment options.

Many of my adult patients come to me because they have seen some of my publications including those on the psychological impact of strabismus on the individual and wanted to be seen by someone who understands the complexity of the condition.

Why refer paediatric patients to Moorfields Private?

We can offer world-class expertise across the board – not just the consultants that see children but also the allied professionals that we work with and the facilities that we provide.

We are one of the few places that have an absolutely dedicated Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Centre, one of the world’s largest specialist children’s ophthalmology centres.

We are committed to getting the best assessment of children and providing the best treatment and service to them.

video transcript

I think some of the strengths of Moorfields Private is that we're able to
offer world-class expertise with children's eye services really across the board not just the consultants that see children but the allied professionals that we work with.

The facilities that we have available to us and one of the few places that have an absolutely dedicated children's eye hospital that sits on its own and with an environment that is specifically designed for children.

We have people that perform tests - if you'll need tests - that some of them almost exclusively work with children, day in day out, and as a whole package we are unusual in that sense in being able to provide that that sort of complete area of expertise and which is really
dedicated and to getting the best out of children and the best assessment problem and providing the best treatment and service to them.

We really have a high level of expertise associated in all the professionals that would see your children at Moorfield's Private.

Strabismus in its simplest terms is a misalignment of the eyes now this
misalignment can be where one eye drift out or when the eye drifts in or there can be a vertical misalignment so the the height of the eyes is different now normally when our eyes are working together they're both pointing in the same direction.

When people have a large misalignment of the eyes that is obvious
and it's very visible to other people but people can also have a small
misalignment of the eyes that cannot necessarily be visually obvious but because of that misalignment it can mean that the two eyes no longer work together so people can then experience double vision which is completely disabling and and stops them performing their day-to-day activities even without having an obvious visible misalignment.

There's actually a misperception that strabismus can't be treated in adults and so I've had a gentleman come to me with strabismus and he said oh he said I'm here now because my wife's an optometrist and
she came to your referral refinement course and she came home and she said do you know your squint can be treated and and that initiated a referral.

I focus on strabismus in adults and in children and in children's eye conditions common ones being things such as allergic eye disease watery eyes and lumps and bumps that children can get on
the lids such as chalazion.

Patients commonly come to me for a second opinion and I would say that probably one of the most frequent things as particularly with children and a lot of comments I get from parents after they come for a second opinion is this is the best that I've ever understood the condition.

Nobody's explained it like that before or we're really pleased that you
were able to explain that in simple terms or we're really glad we came now that that seems it seems really clear we weren't quite sure before or we've had such conflicting opinions but this seems to have cleared up the matter so I think that's what in my experience from
the feedback I get I think that's what people find most beneficial is that I'm able to provide not just an area of expertise but a really clear and concise explanation to them about their condition or their children's
condition to find out how we can help you and to book an appointment please call us on 0800 328 3421 or find us online