Specsavers stores in Northern Ireland are rolling out a £1 million investment in OCT (optical coherence tomography) scanning equipment which can help detect treatable eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration sooner.   OCT machines have been installed and are operational in 14 stores with the remaining nine Specsavers stores expected to have the machinery in-store by the end of the year.


  

An OCT scan allows an optician to look deeper into the eyes than ever before, and it can help to detect glaucoma up to four years in advance. Given that nearly half of all sight loss is preventable[1], an OCT scan means conditions can be managed before they get worse and can help prevent potential sight loss.

 

Jill Campbell, Head of Enhanced Optical Services and Ophthalmic Director at Specsavers in Lisburn, says:

‘This investment gives our store teams the ability to enhance services to our local communities by helping to detect and manage conditions, with a level of diagnostic capability which previously would have needed a hospital visit.

 

‘This week is National Eye Health Week which focusses on the importance of getting regular eye tests as an eye examination can detect general health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension as well as conditions such as glaucoma which impact on eyesight.

 

‘Our OCT scans are in addition to a normal eye test, and a customer’s OCT images will be stored so that changes over time can be noted which is an important benefit to the monitoring of someone’s overall eye health.’    

        

Derry~Londonderry store directors Sean McCauley and Maeve Walsh opened a new store at Derry’s Crescent Link retail park in June 2019 bringing the total number of stores in Northern Ireland to 23.

 

Specsavers stores provide both optical and audiology services.

 

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Specsavers Co-founder Dame Mary Perkins (left) checks out the OCT machine at Specsavers in Strabane with Jill Campbell, Head of Enhanced Optical Services and Ophthalmic Director at Specsavers in Lisburn.

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