Optegra expands NHS glaucoma service

Optegra has launched NHS glaucoma clinics at its specialist eye hospitals in Bradford and Manchester.

Treatments available at the clinics include adjustments to medication to manage eye pressure, laser surgery, and stent procedures to drain fluid.

As well as surgery, the clinics offer monitoring of glaucoma when this cannot be carried out in community optometry. The aim is for patients to be seen within two weeks of referral.

Optegra hospitals in Nottingham and North London are now also taking NHS glaucoma referrals.

Ophthalmic surgeon at Optegra, Robert Petrarca, set up the glaucoma service.

Petrarca said: “The treatment pathway can vary for glaucoma patients, for those whose condition is stable and low-risk and who can be regularly monitored at their community optometrist, to those with more complex, high-risk cases who need surgical intervention or treatment at a trust hospital.

“However, there is a large cohort of patients in the middle of these – those whose condition has changed and may need adjustments to treatment.”

These patients are often facing too long a waiting list for care, Petrarca said, adding: “We can provide this review and treatment and only 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.”

The glaucoma clinics come alongside Optegra’s established cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) services, and have been designed to serve patients who would otherwise find themselves on NHS trust waiting lists.

Melanie Andrew, NHS commissioning director at Optegra, said: “We are proud to extend beyond cataract surgery and AMD injections, to now support glaucoma patients too.

“There are some patients who will need both cataract and glaucoma support and we are well positioned to provide a joint treatment in those cases – there are many opportunities to explore and we are excited to grow our treatment offering in this way.”