Business

Specsavers invests £1min hospital-quality optical technology

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
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 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

SPECSAVERS stores in the north are rolling out a £1 million investment in optical coherence tomography (OCT) 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 new equipment by the end of the year.

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 required a hospital visit.

"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, an OCT scan means conditions can be managed before they get worse and can help prevent potential sight loss."

Derry store directors Sean McCauley and Maeve Walsh opened a new store at Crescent Link retail park in June, bringing the total number of stores in the north (which all provide both optical and audiology services) to 23.