A Stafford opticians is to be the first in the Midlands to use new technology which could help save clients’ eyesight by spotting the early signs of the most common cause of blindness.
Mincher-Lockett Opticians in Stafford Street is pioneering a form of eye screening for patients using a machine called the Mpod. Optometrist and co-owner at Mincher-Lockett Jan Goodwin is pictured, right, with the Mpod machine.
The service will help to spot the onset of failing sight in patients earlier than is possible at the moment, meaning the condition can be controlled more effectively.
The independent opticians has invested more than £7,000 in the new machinery to provide the screening for patients.
It is the latest stage in a comprehensive programme of investment at the practice which has involved buying a range of new equipment over the last two years.
Practice owners Jan Goodwin and Sarah Edge began the investment after taking over the opticians two years ago from the Mincher-Lockett family, who started the business. The independent opticians is due to celebrate 40 years of business in Stafford next year.
“It’s great to be the first opticians in Staffordshire to provide this screening using the Mpod because it could potentially save the sight of some of our patients,” said Jan Goodwin, who is also an optometrist at the practice.
“This is part of our commitment to update the service we provide with the latest advances in technology, so that we’re able to offer our patients the best possible treatment.
“It’s an important part of our expanding service,” said Jan.
“It gives us more knowledge about the state of a patient’s eyes than was previously possible, meaning we can take more effective action sooner.”
The Mpod will test for a loss of pigment in cells in the macular area of the eye at the centre of the retina, which is used to see virtually all objects in detail.
The test involves patients detecting when a light begins to flicker, which indicates the level of sensitivity and effectiveness of the macular.
People with low levels of macular pigment are more at risk of developing macular degeneration, which is the most common cause of failing eyesight and blindness in the UK.
Macular degeneration, usually the result of ageing, can cause blurring of vision and ultimately leads to blindness. Currently the condition can only be detected when eyesight begins to fail, but by this stage the damage is often irreparable and there is no effective treatment.
“The great bonus of the screening is that we will be able to identify people who are more at risk of this condition before it effects their vision, allowing us to treat it earlier and therefore more effectively,” said Jan.
“Macular pigment levels can be improved simply by taking a specific vitamin and mineral supplement. Stopping smoking and increasing the level of anti-oxidants in your diet, like oranges or other fruit high in vitamin C, can also help,” she said.
“We will be recommending to clients to have this screening as part of their regular eye check, particularly for patients who have a family history of macular degeneration,” added Sarah Edge, dispensing optician at the practice.
“But clients can also have the test done on its own if they want to, without having to wait for their regular eye test,” she added.
Numerous peer review research studies continue to show macular degeneration to be an nutritionally eye responsive eye disease. Below is a recent example of one of the 2008 studies.
The Centre for Vision Research at the University of Sydney, Australia, studied the dietary and supplement intakes of antioxidants and the long-term risk of incident age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Over 10 years, 2454 participants were examined and reexamined. Those participants that had higher amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin intake had a reduced risk of incident neovascular AMD and those with above median intake had a reduced risk of soft or reticular drusen. The study concluded that the higher dietary lutein and zeaxanthin intake reduced the risk of long-term incident AMD. It also confirmed finding protective influences from zinc and beta-carotene to help lower the risk of AMD, as did the 10 year study by the US National Institute of Health’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS).
Ref: J.S.L. Tan, J.J. Wang, V. Flood, E. Rochtchina, W. Smith, P. Mitchell. "Dietary Antioxidants and the Long-term Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Blue Mountains Eye Study." Ophthalmology (Elsevier). February 2008, Volume 115, Issue 2, Pages 334-341.
More related research, see the “Research” section at www.naturaleyecare.com
Posted by: Michael Edson, MS, L.Ac. | October 29, 2008 at 09:45 PM