"Poorer older people are less likely to access eye care services. They are also more likely to present too late with advanced glaucoma, to have treatment for cataract at a more advanced stage of sight loss, and to have severe diabetic retinopathy. They are perhaps less likely to access new treatment for AMD. There is good evidence of substantial unmet need (not always perceived) of avoidable sight loss among elderly people in Britain".

Extract from speech by Richard Wormald, consultant ophthalmologist, Moorfields Eye Hospital and London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, at the Eye Health Alliance's "Dignity and Independence - transforming eye care for older people" conference, June 26 2007, London.

                                                    SHOCKED? WE WERE!

The Outside Clinic is pleased to announce that it has joined forces with Lloyds Pharmacy to tackle the chronic under provision of Optometry services to the over 60's.

Lloyds Pharmacy, the national community based pharmacist with a network of over 1700 stores, will now be offering its customers optometry services in association with and through The Outside Clinic. The service will be for those individuals who are unable to attend a High Street Optician.

The RNIB has over recent years continually highlighted the grave issue of under provision of sight testing for the elderly housebound, however recent Government statistics demonstrate that despite these constant reports there has been no significant increase in annual eye examinations in this high risk group. In its most recent report (Older People and Eye Tests) the RNIB drew attention to the lack of awareness within this group. Lloyds Pharmacy, which has a high percentage of elderly customers, is perfectly placed to increase the awareness of this sight saving service. The Outside Clinic with over 20 years experience in delivering home optometry is equally well placed to take the raised awareness through Lloyds Pharmacy to fulfilment and considerable cost savings in terms of reduced falls and ongoing cost to support the partially sighted and blind.

Working together Lloyds Pharmacy Outside Clinic Community Opticians will be able to make a substantial contribution to improving the sight and reducing avoidable sight loss for many of the country's elderly citizens and moving Lloyds Pharmacy from a good pharmacy business to a great healthcare brand.

See also: www.lloydspharmacy.com/wps/portal/services/homeeyetests