Thousands of miles and hundreds of hours in patient travel – as well as significant transport expense – are being saved thanks to a cutting edge ophthalmology service at Westmorland General Hospital.
Since the launch of a £1.2m specialised local ophthalmic service at the hospital, over 100 patients in South Cumbria and North Lancashire are receiving earlier complex eye treatment in Kendal for the arrest of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
AMD causes severe visual loss and is the most common form of blindness in the UK. Two main forms of AMD occur – Neovascular (wet form) and Non-neovascular (dry form).
The wet form of AMD is more serious, with estimates that around 70 per cent of people with the condition will experience rapid deterioration or severe loss of vision within two years of diagnosis.
Since the introduction of the service last year, over 100 patients with wet AMD have been able to receive their treatment at dedicated clinics at Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, instead of having to travel as far afield as Blackpool, Liverpool or Manchester. In that time, the service has put on over 1,000 appointments.
Simon Morgan, Consultant Ophthalmologist, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), who is leading on the AMD service, explained: “It’s a real fillip for our patients to get the prompt local treatment which our new, cutting edge service provides, instead of having to travel many miles further afield for their eye care.
“It’s fantastic that we have been able to treat so many patients in the short period since the establishment of this service.
“There is a range of different treatment available to arrest the progression of wet AMD and, in some cases, restore some of the lost vision, but treatment must be started as soon as possible so we can prevent a rapid decline in vision and ensure that our patients can maintain the same quality of life.
“Our clinics save patients time, distance and expense in patient travel, as well as allowing them an earlier opportunity to be seen instead of having to plan and make significant travel arrangements.”
One course of treatment which is particularly effective is Lucentis, which involves a course of monthly ocular injections. Duration of treatment can vary between patients so regular reviews are carried out to test its effectiveness and determine for how long it needs to be administered.
Mr Gilbert Ozuzu, Consultant Ophthalmologist, UHMBT, said: “Since we commenced the AMD clinics here at Kendal, we have treated over 100 patients, much closer to their homes across the Morecambe Bay area, and undertaken over a thousand individual appointments.
“Our on-site treatment here at Kendal can stop vision deterioration and even improve vision for some of our patients. It’s an example of our continued commitment to developing new and important services for patients at Westmorland General Hospital.”
Macular degeneration leads to the gradual loss of central vision, the ability to see what is directly in front of you, which is crucial for reading, writing and driving. It occurs when the macula, the part of the eye responsible for central vision, is unable to function effectively.
It most commonly affects people who are over 50, and is referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Around 30 per cent of people who are over 75 have early signs of AMD, and about 7 per cent have more advanced AMD.
AMD tends to be more common in women than in men. There are also a number of other factors, such as smoking, that can increase the risk of developing AMD. In young people the condition is rarer and is usually caused by a genetic pre-disposition.
Wet AMD affects approximately 250,000 people in the UK, with estimates by NICE and the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) indicating there may be 26,000 new cases annually.
There is currently no treatment for dry macular degeneration, but techniques such as using magnifying lenses to read can help people to live with the condition. Dry AMD progresses more slowly over several years.
VIEW ALL NEWS
Further information
For further press information please contact Louise Fleming on 01539 716685
or e-mail louise.fleming@mbht.nhs.uk
