As a help to Trust waiting lists, the eye care specialist can treat patients in Manchester within weeks of referral from the local optometrist.
Eye care specialist Optegra has launched a new service for NHS glaucoma patients in Greater Manchester.
The new, free service launched at Optegra Eye Hospital Manchester means that glaucoma patients whose condition has changed can be monitored and reviewed by expert surgeons and offered treatment as necessary. These are patients who need a specialist, which cannot be provided by their local optician practice, and to date have had no option but to be put on waiting lists for their Trust hospital.
“The treatment pathway can vary for glaucoma patients, from those whose condition is stable and low-risk and who are regularly monitored at their community optometrist, to those with more complex, high-risk cases who need surgical intervention or treatment at a Trust hospital,” said Robert Petrarca, consultant ophthalmic surgeon and glaucoma lead at Optegra.
“However, there is a large cohort of patients in the middle who need to be monitored by glaucoma specialists… With the new monitoring, review and treatment service, we will only need to refer those who need complex trabeculectomy surgery on to Trusts – which means speedier access to treatment, as well as helping relieve Trust waiting lists for glaucoma,” he continued.
Optegra, based in Didsbury, can treat patients within just weeks of referral from the local optometrist. Specialist interventions include adjustments to medication (a drop regime to manage eye pressure), laser surgery or a stent procedure to drain fluid to relieve pressure.
Patients will then either continue to be monitored at Optegra, be referred back to their community optometrist or on to a Trust hospital dependent on the severity of their condition.
