Experts recognised for glaucoma programme
A team of experts from Sheffield have been commended in a prestigious national award ceremony for their delivery of glaucoma services in the city. *
Specialists based at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital received the Allergan Glaucoma Achievement Award for their screening programme, which is designed to pick up early signs of the disease.
Glaucoma is the most common cause of preventable blindness in the UK but often goes unnoticed until it is in its advanced stages, by which time treating the disease is much more difficult. **
One of the award-winning experts, Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Simon Longstaff, said: “Glaucoma, which affects five per cent of over 65s in the UK, is also known as the ‘thief of sight’.
“The nickname reflects the gradual loss of vision, which often goes unrecognised until the disease is in its advanced stages. Screening is really important because early detection of the condition allows us to slow the disease’s progression through medical and surgical means.”
Mary Freeman, Nurse Consultant at the Hallamshire Hospital’s glaucoma unit, said: “A comprehensive eye test for glaucoma including all three glaucoma tests is painless and quick. If more people came forward for screening early, we could avoid many cases of blindness in our region.”
Regular eye tests are vital in the early diagnosis of glaucoma and can be carried out at any high street opticians.
But according to research carried out by Westfield Health in 2008, six per cent of people have never had their eyes tested.
And with The Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) predicting that almost four million people will have sight loss by 2050, *** it’s a problem that needs to be rectified.
Steve Winyard, RNIB’s Head of Campaigns, said: “Failure to invest in early detection and treatment of eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and glaucoma, clearly results in the need for increased, long-term support for people once they have lost their sight.
“In the long-term, eye care services will need investment to meet the growing need. Let’s use more of the resources we have now to reduce the number of people who lose their sight in the first place – with fewer people needing a high level of ongoing support, those who do lose their sight should then have better access to vital services such as emotional support, social care and training.”
Westfield’s research found that cost is the main reason why people choose not to visit the optician.
All of Westfield’s cash plans include an optical benefit, which can help people to budget for their eye care, ensuring eyesight is never compromised because of cost.
The benefit enables policyholders to claim back the cost of eye examinations and glasses, up to set limits.
More information is available on our website.
References
* http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Hospital-eyes-recognition.5363456.jp
** http://news.netdoctor.co.uk/news_detail.php?id=18818900
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