Commons goal for sight loss

Nine MPs joined group of optical industry figures, ministers, charities and patients for a House of Commons reception last week to raise awareness of the eye health epidemic facing the UK and call for better funding to combat sight loss.

Vision Express joined its charity partner, the Macular Society and Novartis Pharmaceuticals for the Vision for Life event, hosted by Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford and vice chair of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on eye health and visual impairment.

Dan McGhee, director of professional services at Vision Express, told Optician: ‘This kind of event is crucial because it brings together a wide cross section of UK policy-makers, organisations and patients who are united that more needs to be done to prioritise eye health. New technologies, such as OCT scanning, is vital for early detection of eye conditions such as AMD.’