Sight saver appeal
Current aims:
The sight saver appeal is currently raising money for an anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT), multifunctional angiography unit to be placed in the London Road hospital when it has been refurbished, ready for the desperately needed expansion of the ophthalmology department which is full to bursting at the Royal Derby hospital.
(OCTA) is a non invasive imaging modality which can be applied in ophthalmology to provide detailed visualization of the perfusion of vascular networks in the eye and the structure of the anterior eye. The team are trialling a new anterior segment type of OCT machine which would boost the diagnostic accuracy and capacity greatly in the service.
For example: this would allow a more efficient way of working for the assessment and treatment of patients with cataracts. Currently a new patient has eye tests/biometry and then sees an Ophthalmic surgeon for detailed clinical examination , they assesses their cataract, and discuss possible lens replacements and surgery. With an anterior OCT machine, the equipment can conduct the biometry and complete assessment and grading of the cataract with artificial intelligence (A.I.) , meaning detailed surgical assessment by an expert Consultant is not required. A specialist nurse can instead see the patient following the tests, explain their options and book their surgery date. This then frees up more time for the specialist ophthalmic surgeons to operate and will help reduce waiting lists for cataract (and other) surgery. It also permits more accurate for other post operative patients in addition to allowing the team initiate some complex ocular surface therapies such as stem cell transplantation.
Ideally a multifunctional unit would be purchased as it has many other valuable uses as well as those detailed above, and is a much more cost effective purchase for the service.
The system is affixed to a moveable stand with a flexible arm. Images courtesy of Dr Xiaoxuan Liu and Dr Aditya Kale, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
Recent purchases:
Cross linking machine
The Sight saver appeal has just installed a Cross linking machine at the Royal Derby hospital in November 2022. NICE approved this UV light treatment called cross-linking CXL about 6 years ago. CXL halts the progression of keratoconus by cross linking the collagen fibres through a very simple procedure and reduces the need for corneal transplant by 20 fold.
The Incidence of keratoconus is 1-3% depending on ethnicity and around 20% of those need CXL treatment. The demographics of patient involved is in the young spectrum with life long consequences on working ability and they type of jobs they can do.
Before this purchase , in Derby and Burton, any patient who needed CXL had to go to Sheffield . This caused great inconvenience and expense for patients over the years in terms of traveling and logistics. It is really marvellous to now be able to offer this treatment to stop potential future sight loss in this group of patients . At least 30 patients have been treated already.
Thank you to everyone who has so kindly donated to the Sight saver appeal!
DOnate
The aim of the Derby and Burton Breast and Eye charity is to raise funds for the purchase of new and state of the art equipment for the NHS locally. Every donation however small or large helps to make a real difference