Northampton optometrist says glaucoma care a 'postcode lottery'
Keyur Patel wants High Street optometrist's to take more of a role in detection and treatment to avoid a blindness 'health-crisis'
Over half (54%) of High Street optometrists have seen a patient in the last 12 months who has permanently lost sight due to late detection or delays in treatment for glaucoma, according to new research from the Association of Optometrists (AOP).
The eye experts are calling for an ‘overhaul of health’ in England to prevent further failures and ensure High Street optometrists can protect the public by detecting, monitoring and treating glaucoma, easing the burden on hospital eye services.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible sight loss worldwide, and affects around 700,000 people in the UK. Global studies show that almost half of all cases are undiagnosed, with some patients losing up to 70% of their vision before they realise there’s a problem.
"Ticking timebomb"
With glaucoma and other eye conditions expected to rise by 25% over the next decade – and NHS services already under pressure – experts are warning of a “ticking timebomb”.
Northamptonshire optometrist Keyur Patel from Tompkins Knight & Son explains glaucoma, which can cause blindness can't be spotted without regular eye checks:
"That's the big problem with glaucoma. For the most part, it doesn't have signs until you have quite significant disease. And when you have quite significant disease, you are then going to potentially be bumping into things and unable to gauge distances, things like that. They're really subtle things. Glaucoma for the most part, is considered an invisible disease."
The AOP is calling for a major overhaul of eye health services in England - urging Government to allow High Street optometrists to play a greater role in detecting, monitoring and treating glaucoma, and easing the pressure on hospital eye departments.
"Northampton used to have IOP, eye pressure checking service, before referral, and they've stopped it. So depending where you live, really impacts the kind of care that you get.
"There should be a uniform kind of or at least the basic level of care provided to the patients because ultimately, not just the government, we will all end up paying for patients who are visually disabled if they are unable to, contribute to society because they're they're unable to see. So that impacts everyone."
Often described as the ‘invisible disease’, glaucoma causes gradual but symptomless sight loss that can go unnoticed until it’s too late to reverse.
Research from the AOP shows 61% of optometrists believe most of their patients are unaware of what the condition is or common risk factors. But having a regular sight test can help ensure that signs of the disease are picked up and treated early - slowing or prevent sight loss.
Protecting your sight
• Make sure you are having a regular check up with your optician every two years, or more often if that has been recommended by your optometrist
• Remind family and friends of the importance of having regularly sight tests too – to check the health of the eye, and spot disease including glaucoma
• Check what financial help is available.
If you use a computer for work, your employer should be covering the cost of a routine sight test and may contribute to the cost of your glasses or contact lenses
Many people are also entitled to an NHS sight test if they are, 60 or over, have glaucoma or have a family history of the condition, on a low income or entitled to certain benefits, under 16 or in full time education.