A new £1m eye clinic is to open at the York Community Stadium later this month.
Aimed at patients who require regular follow-up and treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as well as intravitreal therapy, the clinic will open on Monday, 17 May.
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the service, has invested £1.1million in equipment for the eye service at the stadium.
This includes £800K on specialist optical equipment and £300K on fitting out the vision alleys, as well as treatment, injection and waiting rooms.
An additional 7,000 patients a year will be treated through the service. It will be delivered by a team of specialist nurses, clinical staff, doctors and consultants.
Professor Richard Gale, clinical director and consultant ophthalmologist at the York NHS Trust, said: “The benefit of this new location is that it allows us to significantly increase the capacity to run our intravitreal therapy (IVT) service.
Biggest cause of sight loss
“IVT service provides treatment for patients with conditions such as wet AMD, diabetic macular oedema and retinal vein occlusion – usually in the form of injections which patients usually require every four weeks.”
AMD is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, affecting more than 600,000 people. Wet age-related macular degeneration develops when abnormal blood vessels grow into the macula.
These leak blood or fluid which leads to scarring of the macula and rapid loss of central vision.
Patients with wet AMD need regular eye injections and, very occasionally, a light treatment called photodynamic therapy to stop their vision getting worse.
Professor Gale added: “The new facilities and equipment mean we are able to offer this invaluable service in high quality, modern, accessible premises which will improve and enhance the experience for many of our patients.”
The service is relocating from York Hospital. Parking at the stadium is ample and free for two hours and the stadium can be reached by public transport too.