MANCHESTER EXPERTS LAUNCH ATTACK ON THE ‘SILENT THIEF OF SIGHT’
5 March 2015… Glaucoma is a common eye condition often called "the silent thief of sight"; it has no symptoms in its early stages but is a potentially blinding eye condition.
An estimated 500,000 British adults suffer from the disease1 and yet a further 50 per cent of glaucoma cases are currently undetected2. Local eye health specialist, Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital, is launching a bespoke new monitoring service to help detect and treat the disease.
This comes at a time where research reveals that 41 per cent of Britons are putting their eye health at risk by not even having an annual eye test3.
The new monitoring service will launch in a new Optegra outreach clinic in Macclesfield in March – to coincide with World Glaucoma Week (8 – 14 March 2015). The service is also available at Didsbury-based Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital.
Caroline McHugh, Hospital Director at Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital, explains: “This is a completely new service for the region, as we aim to bring our expertise to more and more people. The new clinic will mean the people of Macclesfield and surrounding areas can access the monitoring service at their convenience.
“Patients can attend the clinic with a referral from their GP or optometrist. We truly believe this is a way of reassuring local people and also helping to treat this terrible condition before it has progressed to a late stage.”
Designed to support patients who are at risk of, or concerned about glaucoma, the service offers regular in-depth assessments with a leading glaucoma specialist, Optegra ophthalmic consultant Mr. Dan Nguyen. The new service includes:
- A 12 month diagnosis and monitoring service to identify and capture conditions early enough to treat
- Continued care with direct access to a leading glaucoma ophthalmic specialist
- Expert examination with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment including optic nerve imaging and detailed visual field assessments
- Two to three assessments during the year which will check:
- Visual acuity
- Intra-ocular pressure
- Visual field examination
- Detailed clinical examination including gonioscopy and, where appropriate, dilated fundoscopy
- Imaging of the optic nerve with OCT
- Peace of mind, comfort and support for patients and their families
- Advice on any necessary treatment
At the end of the 12 months there will be a final review by the consultant and a summary report will be provided. Recommendation will be made as to whether further monitoring is required; if so there will be the opportunity to continue with the monitoring service on a yearly basis.
Optegra offers a range of treatments for the condition, from eye drops or laser, to glaucoma surgery ranging from microstents to trabeculectomy. This is the second glaucoma monitoring service to be offered by the specialist eye hospital group – the first was successfully launched in June 2014 at Optegra Eye Hospital, London.
Mr. Dan Nguyen, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital, says:
“Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerves, which connects the eye to the brain. There are different types of glaucoma and usually most of them in the early stages do not cause any symptoms. This is why many people may be unaware that they have it until it is quite advanced. Glaucoma, if left untreated can cause vision loss and blindness, so if we can identify, help and support patients who are at risk of, or concerned about glaucoma, we can then offer treatment to prevent it affecting the vision.”
Optegra’s Glaucoma Monitoring Service will run in Oldbury & Cruikshank, Macclesfield, and also at Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital.
Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital is one of six UK Optegra hospitals. For further information on the Glaucoma Monitoring Service, please visit www.optegra.com or call 0808 231 4225.
ENDS
References:
1 http://www.glaucoma-association.com/what-is-glaucoma-/prevalence-.html
2 http://www.glaucoma-association.com/blog/3m-brits-at-risk-of-preventable-sight-loss.html
3 Research conducted for Optegra by Online Options, with 1,000 adults aged 18 to 60+ in April 2012
For more information please contact:
Charlotte Sutton
CSPR
Tel: 01372 270 938
Mob: 07958 279 240
Email: charlotte@charlottesuttonpr.com
Note to editors:
1 Dan Nguyen, By Jemma | Published: April 8, 2013
MBChB, FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmologist Surgeon, Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital
Dan Nguyen is also an NHS Consultant Ophthalmologist and the Lead Clinician for Glaucoma at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
After graduating from the University of Bristol Medical School, he gained considerable experience at St. Paul’s Eye Unit at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, and the Bristol Eye Hospital. He has since completed advanced specialist Glaucoma fellowships at the Bristol Eye Hospital, and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
As well as dealing with the full range of general ophthalmic conditions, he has special interests in customised cataract surgery, and the assessment, diagnosis, medical and surgical management of all forms of glaucoma.
He publishes his research regularly in peer-reviewed medical journals, and lectures in the field of Ophthalmology. He is a reviewer for several ophthalmic journals, and maintains research interests in neuroprotection and translational research. He holds an Honorary research position at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), the University of Melbourne, is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Keele, and is an examiner for the College of Optometrists.
Dan Nguyen combines his clinical and research experience and specialist expertise, to deliver dedicated, patient-centred, care.
Memberships:
Fellow of the Royal College OphthalmologistsBritish Medical AssociationMember of the UK and Eire Glaucoma SocietyMember of the UK and European Society of Cataract and Refractive SurgeryMember of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
2 Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve which connect the eye to the brain. There are many types of glaucoma and usually most of them in the early stages do not cause any symptoms. This is why many people are unaware that they have it until their vision is significantly impaired. If left untreated it can cause vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma is often called "the silent thief of sight"; a common, silent, potentially blinding eye condition.
Glaucoma is treatable in nearly all cases. The aim of treatment is to arrest progressive visual loss because one cannot recover visual loss that has occurred. Visual loss can be prevented or minimised by regular assessments and, if needed, by treatment.
3 Optegra
Optegra is a specialist provider of ophthalmic services in the UK, China, Czech Republic, Poland and Germany. Optegra operates 24 eye hospitals and brings together leading edge research and medical expertise, state-of-the-art surgical equipment and top ophthalmic surgeons renowned for their areas of expertise to offer the best clinical outcomes in Clarivu (refractive lens exchange), laser vision correction, cataract removal, AMD, vitreoretinal and oculoplastics procedures all carried out in 5-star patient facilities.
Optegra is committed to the development of eye sciences and championing the latest innovations in vision correction through its dedicated Eye Sciences Division. Optegra achieves this by partnering with leading UK universities in the research and development of the next generation of ophthalmic services and technologies.
In addition, its Professional Partnership Programme of education and development with optometrists and opticians ensures the very best medical treatments are available to all.
To maintain Optegra’s five star standard of patient care and safety, its specialist eye hospitals draw on the expertise of its Medical Advisory Committees (MAC), headed by consultant level ophthalmic surgeons who all report into the corporate MAC. This is managed by Medical Director Mr Robert Morris, the renowned refractive expert who determines Optegra’s policies and procedures.
Optegra operates six UK eye hospitals: Optegra Eye Hospital, London; Optegra Surrey Eye Hospital (Guildford); Optegra Birmingham Eye Hospital (Aston); Optegra Yorkshire Eye Hospital (Apperley Bridge and Laser Eye Centre in Leeds City Centre); Optegra Solent Eye Hospital (Whiteley) and Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital, (Didsbury).