Holland Opticians take to Everest

Two Malvern-based practitioners have this week travelled to Mount Everest to take part in a significant medical experiment.

Optometrist Derek Styles (left) and Graeme Holland (right), owner of Holland Opticians, will be photographing the retinas of dozens of medical experts and scientists plus other volunteers trekking to the world's highest mountain.

Their patient Roger Smith (centre) is also taking part as a mountain leader and leading 16 people to base camp. Styles and Holland will be investigating why retinal haemorrhages are so common at altitude and how they happen. They will be studying hypoxia, altitude illness and human performance at extreme altitude to try to find new treatments for critically ill patients.

Topcon has supplied the camera for the trip. Styles said: 'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity at my age and I'm very excited about going.'