The 250 people who will start to lose their sight today (Specsavers/RNIB figures) may never know that half of all sight loss is avoidable. National Eye Health Week (18-24 September) aims to address this by promoting regular eye tests for everyone, including those with good vision.
Recent research by the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit found that patients are suffering permanent and severe visual loss due to health service delays. Accordingly, until 29 September, an all-party parliamentary group on eye health and visual impairment has asked for evidence from interested parties including patients and families about how best to address the issue of overstretched NHS eye clinics.
The most common cause of blindness in the UK is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which isolates and handicaps many thousands of sufferers. Yet I, and many others, have had very successful treatment for dry AMD, contrary to recent media reports discrediting the Hubble or EyeMax implants, currently being submitted to Nice for approval. If adopted, this would be the first NHS operation capable of helping all stages of AMD through a fast, painless procedure similar to a normal cataract operation.
Elizabeth Lenton (retired GP)
Plymouth
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