An Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) at Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has won an Unsung Hero Award at an eye treatment honours event.

Sabeena Kaushali Weyhenage of Kingston Hospital's Eye Clinic was presented with the award at the at the 2018/19 Ophthalmology Honours ceremony earlier this month (March 7).

The Ophthalmology Honours programme is supported by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and recognises the excellent work of multi-disciplinary ophthalmology teams and individuals throughout the UK.

Ophthalmology deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of eye and visual system diseases.

With the help of her guide dog Neima, Sabeena has made an exceptional contribution to both patients and staff at Kingston Hospital’s Royal Eye Unit (REU) by increasing the awareness of the impact of sight loss.

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Kingston Hospital, Miss Vasuki Sivagnanavel, praised Ms Kaushali Weyhenage's work in promoting awareness of sight and visual disability

Miss Sivagnanavel said: "Sabeena has become an example to everyone through the achievements she has made while living with sight loss.

"She has worked extremely hard to increase staff awareness around the challenges patients face and has taught the team practical skills, inspiring a greater level of compassion among staff."

Kingston Hospital said that Sabeena qualified and worked as a doctor until sight loss sadly ended her career.

She became associated with RNIB at retrained as an ECLO, joining Kingston Hospital’s REU in May 2017.

Giant pharmaceutical company Bayer sponsor the Ophthalmology Honours awards.

Bayer's Medical Director of Ophthalmology and Neurology, Dr Jackie Napier, meanwhile hailed the winners at the awards ceremony as leading the way on improving care in this complex area of medicine.

Dr Napier said: "We are very proud of the Ophthalmology Honours programme, and in particular of all the entrants who have demonstrated outstanding work, resulting in advancements in ophthalmology and ultimately improved patient care.

"The programme supports and acknowledges the importance of multi-disciplinary and innovative working in the NHS, both of which Bayer wholeheartedly support as part of our commitment to transforming lives."