A Thank you letter to community Optometrists for World Optometry Day

Thank you, community optometrists

Newmedica, the NHS and private ophthalmology provider, is marking World Optometry Day (March 23) to pay tribute to the difference that optometrists make every day for patients.

Glaucoma expert Sundeep Deol, a consultant ophthalmologist at Newmedica Barlborough, says: ‘I’d like to thank all the community optometrists within the UK who are providing such a great service.

‘They are essentially the first point of contact for a glaucoma patient. As the population ages, this is going to be an exponential disease. Optometrists play an extremely vital role from prompt detection of the condition, to supporting patient choice and then referring as required so treatment can be started as soon as we can.’

He notes that Newmedica holds continuing professional development events for local community optometrists across its network of consultant-led surgical and eye clinic centres across England. The centres deliver a wide breadth of services including glaucoma, cataracts and AMD, for NHS and private patients with excellent outcomes.

‘Newmedica also has in-house optometrists who sit alongside glaucoma surgeons as well as medical retina and corneal experts daily. We benefit from each other’s support,’ says Mr Deol.

Consultant ophthalmologist Qasim Mansoor, a cataract specialist, says: ‘Community optometrists are key for patients’ eye health care. They are the first portal where the patient usually comes to, whether there is an acute problem or if there is a recurring eye issue or if there is progressive ocular disease.’

Mr Mansoor, who is based at Newmedica Teesside, adds: ‘Comprehensive eye health care is only possible when there is a close collaboration between optometry and ophthalmology.’

Newmedica is committed to continuing collaboration with community optometrists, he continues, supporting professional development in terms of ocular health and disease processes as well as referrals.

‘Community optometrists are a cornerstone for any ocular pathology to be diagnosed at early stage. It is a collaborative approach for the patient care and it’s very important from my point of view. We have a shared goal that is patient-centred and improving patient eye care,’ says Mr Mansoor.

Optometrist Karan Vyas, advanced clinical practitioner at Newmedica, says: ‘What community optometrists do really does matter. They’re at the coalface, at that front door to healthcare in many cases. Newmedica values and recognises their role in delivering that care.

‘Part of that is such as some of our community schemes where our post-op cataract patients go back to community optometrists essentially, to receive that final bit of care, that final check-off. And we’re looking at different ways where optometrists in the community can work with Newmedica to deliver that holistic and total care that’s required for every patient.’

Mr Vyas, a qualified independent prescriber, also praises his optometrist colleagues within Newmedica. ‘They’re a key part of our workforce involved in delivering care form the start in a range of clinics.

‘Optometrists in Newmedica deliver everything from cataract and glaucoma clinics to delivering treatments such as YAG Capsulotomy, SLT and performing intravitreal injections. Thank you to all my optometrist colleagues for their expertise and dedication, changing lives of patients.’

Read Opchats story on World Optometry Day 

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