A warning has been raised regarding the potential for thousands of women in Oxfordshire to be experiencing preventable vision impairment.
As part of Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month this April, women are being encouraged to make their ocular wellbeing a priority, with concerns voiced about the number of individuals in Oxfordshire who could be affected by avoidable sight loss.
Data from the London Cataract Centre indicates that 3.5 million individuals in the UK are currently living with cataracts.
Women face heightened risk due to increased life expectancy and hormonal fluctuations.
Melanie Chak, consultant ophthalmologist at Newmedica Oxfordshire, stated: “Within Oxfordshire, we are witnessing directly the impact that prompt access to treatment can have.
Cataract surgery is a rapid, secure and highly successful procedure, though numerous individuals are enduring diminished vision for longer than necessary.
At Newmedica Oxfordshire, we dedicate time to accompany each patient throughout their entire experience, from initial consultation through to recovery, ensuring they remain informed, at ease and supported throughout.
During this Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month, we advocate for women to prioritize their eye health.
Should you observe any alterations in your vision, do not delay—seeking an assessment could substantially enhance your daily life.”
Cataracts frequently develop in individuals aged 65 and older, causing clouding of the eye’s lens which results in vision that appears blurred or dimmed.
Approximately 29 percent of Oxfordshire’s population falls within this age bracket.
Newmedica Oxfordshire is advising women over 60 to pursue early intervention for cataracts, a condition that can be addressed swiftly and effectively through surgical means.
Cataract surgery represents the sole effective treatment for this condition.
The procedure entails extracting the clouded lens and substituting it with a clear artificial alternative.
Surgery is performed using local anaesthetic, generally requiring just 10 to 20 minutes, with patients typically discharged on the same day.
Outcomes can prove transformative, with patients frequently reporting enhanced colour perception and the capacity to resume normal activities.
Newmedica Oxfordshire provides both NHS-funded and private ophthalmology services, delivered by consultant ophthalmologists and an experienced clinical team.
The facility additionally offers YAG laser therapy, glaucoma care and oculoplastic procedures.
The practice is owned and directed by consultant ophthalmologists Melanie Chak, Mandeep Singh Bindra, Markus Groppe, Moustafa Issa alongside operations director Durgesh Patel.
Further details can be found at newmedica.co.uk/clinics/oxfordshire.