Residents of retirement villages across the North West were visited by eye experts from a Bolton healthcare group recently The initiative by SpaMedica dubbed 'Life Through the Lens' was aimed at addressing the early symptoms of cataracts and their impact on vision and quality of life. Cataracts, which cause impaired vision and sometimes blindness, affect about 30 per cent of the 65 plus-year-olds, with more than 25,000 in Greater Manchester living with the condition. It is expected that the total number of people living with cataracts will surge by 20 per cent from the current 80,600 people by 2032.
Professor Christine Purslow, SpaMedica’s clinical director of outpatients, and Sarah Hardy, national lead optometrist, spearheaded the tour. During the sessions, they interacted with residents, shedding light on the condition. Prof Purslow said: "We wanted to get out into the local community and speak to those individuals who are most affected by this condition.
"We had a wonderful time speaking to residents and raising awareness of cataracts." The presentation involved sharing experiences from those who had undergone the surgery, the benefits, what to look out for, and the importance of regular visits to the optometrist. According to Bolton’s Lawn Court manager Samantha Lever, her residents "really enjoyed the morning".
"They said the information was accurate and the speaker was very knowledgeable," she added. The average age for the first cataract surgery is 76. Apart from s.