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 Two years on, Centre for Eye Health is making huge strides towards achieving its ultimate goal of preventing vision loss through the provision of advanced imaging and assessment at no charge to the general community.
Close to 7,500 people have been assessed at the Centre, with more than 44,000 individual tests performed to-date. Currently each day the Centre assesses an average of 25 people at-risk of losing vision unnecessarily, with approximately 15% of these people being recommended for on-referral to an ophthalmologist.
Although the initial demand was largely from the optometric profession, over the past 12 months ophthalmologists have not only increased their registrations with the Centre, but they have also been responsible for the largest relative increase in referrals. Currently 11% of referrals come from ophthalmologists who represent just 6% of registered practitioners.
According to Professor Michael Kalloniatis, Centre Director, “CFEH is having impact on more than one level. Not only are we making a difference to the quality of life for people who are at-risk of losing sight unnecessarily to eye disease, but we are leveraging the substantial data collected over the past two years to identify better ways of managing glaucoma. We are also working solidly to develop the profession of optometry through our ongoing education events and newsletters as well as by giving fifth year optometry students the opportunity to be involved in our clinical rotation program.”
Client feedback reflects the high calibre of service provided by the team at CFEH. In the words of one recent visitor to the Centre: “I was pleased to be referred to such a professional place... Guide Dogs and UNSW working hand in hand for this great patient-focused centre.”
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