Over the last 12 months, staff and customers kindly contributed £1607.74 to support the hospital.

Funds will be used to purchase technology to facilitate virtual clinics for patients via video conferencing, for those who wish to use this option.

Cake sales, dress down days, coffee mornings and fun days in store where just some of the many fundraising days organised by the Specsavers staff team.

Colleagues visited the Harlow-based hospital to present the cheque to the Eye Unit team on Thursday, February 13.

The Eye Unit offers expert care and advice on a wide range of eye conditions from a team of ophthalmologists, nurses and eye health professionals, including orthoptists, optometrists and ophthalmic technicians.

Sonia Edmon, clinical manager for ophthalmology, said: “We are delighted to be able to use these funds to purchase technology to enable the implementation of virtual clinics for our patients.

“We are very grateful to the staff and customers of Specsavers Harlow for their support.”

Sarah Flowers, store director for Specsavers Harlow, says: "Thank you so much to everyone for contributing to our fundraising efforts in 2019. We are very proud to donate this incredible amount to the Eye Unit.

"We hope that beyond fundraising we have also been able to raise awareness of the vital importance of eye health in preventing avoidable sight loss.”