Patients to benefit from million pound investment into eye clinic at York Stadium

From Monday 17 May, eye services will be based at the city’s new York Community Stadium for patients who require regular follow-up and treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as well as intravitreal therapy.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the service, has invested £1.1million in state of the art equipment for the eye service at the stadium, which incorporates £800k on specialist equipment and £300k on fitting out the vision alleys, as well as treatment, injection and waiting rooms.

The service, which will be supported and delivered by a team of specialist nurses, clinical staff, doctors and consultants, will enable the Trust to see an additional 7,000 patients a year.

Professor Richard Gale, Clinical Director and Consultant Ophthalmologist, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust explained: “The benefit of this new location is that it allows us to significantly increase the capacity to run our intravitreal therapy (IVT) service. 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 easily reached by public transport.

05 May 2021