In this blog post, Jane Gray, Clinical Lead for Vision and Ophthalmic Sciences for the Greater
Being able to see is one of the five major senses and is often the one sense we fear losing the most, so maintaining healthy eyes and vision is of utmost importance. In my area of work, Ophthalmology, we help patients who may be experiencing issues with their eyes and vision through the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the eye and visual system. The eye, its surrounding structures and the visual system can be affected by several clinical conditions such as Cataracts or Glaucoma.
As we are facing an aging population, these conditions are becoming more common and eye health services are coming under increased pressure. Some eye diseases can be successfully treated if caught early and can be managed effectively with existing treatments and medicines. Sight can often be treated and preserved, and this means patients being seen regularly in the hospital eye service or in a community setting.
It’s important for patients or anyone who feels their vision needs checking to maintain regular eye tests, as eye tests can detect several health issues that can be treated quickly. There are a broad range of eye health services available, with newly qualified optometrists, orthoptists, ophthalmic nurses, ophthalmic science practitioners and scientists now entering the profession to take on aspects of work that previously only medically qualified ophthalmologists would typically do.
Ophthalmology is the busiest outpatient speciality, carrying out more than 500,000 operations every year, with around 7.5m ophthalmology patient episodes occurring in England in 2021/22, by 2030 this is projected to rise to around 9m.[i]
At the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, we provide core ophthalmology services, dealing with cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic eye conditions and various other specialities for patients across Greater Manchester.
There are around 50,000 Healthcare Scientists working within the NHS and public health services, they comprise around 5% of the workforce, and they are involved in around 80% of all patient diagnoses and pathways, working with and developing leading edge technology.[ii]
Greater Manchester has seen the recent openings of the community diagnostic centres, which provide diagnostic tests for people with vision and eye health issues in the heart of their communities. This has enabled more patients to be seen and treated effectively, with timely screening, more treatment options, and better diagnostic results. This greatly reduces the risk of sight loss and helps protect people’s vision for longer.