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PRESS RELEASE: 29 June 2005

Community Visual Screening celebrates 25th birthday

Children in Cambridgeshire are celebrating - this summer sees the 25th year of the Community Visual Screening programme providing them routine eye tests at three and a half years of age. For the last quarter of a century, the service has gone out to 20 locations in and around Cambridge, including health centres, GPs' surgeries and community centres checking children's vision.

If a child is found to have a squint, defective vision or reduced co-ordination of the eyes, they are referred to an ophthalmologist (specialist in diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases) at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Newmarket General Hospital or The Princess of Wales Hospital at Ely. There they will undergo a more detailed investigation, including a check for glasses and treatment.

Community Head Orthoptist Julie Clarke tests a child's eyes

"It’s fantastic to reach this milestone," says Julie Clarke, Community Head Orthoptist at Addenbrooke's Hospital. "There are lots of areas of the country that don't provide this type of screening, so it's great for Cambridgeshire that this service exists. If any problems are picked up, the earlier you treat them, the better the prognosis."

The service also sees children aged between six months to six years in the community who may have had eye problems identified. This provides a faster and more cost-effective assessment than referring children directly to the hospital, and can be easier and more convenient for children and their parents and carers. "We will see children who might have a squint or a family history of wearing glasses, or there might be worries about reduced vision," explains Julie. The service will also see children in special schools and those who need a bit of extra help.

Meanwhile, the Orthoptic Service at the hospital sees patients from babyhood all the way up to old age, treating squints and reduced vision. Some of the adults could include patients who have been involved in road accidents or who have had strokes or tumours which might have resulted in a squint. A number of specialist clinics see patients such as glaucoma patients, contact lens patients or patients with neurological conditions.

Special events are being held around Cambridge to celebrate the birthday:
• On Thursday 30 June at 1530 a balloon race and teddy bears' picnic are being held at Addenbrooke's Hospital for some of the children who have used the Community Visual Screening Service.
• On Friday 1 July a professional study day is being held at the hospital to discuss the latest innovations in eye testing.
• On Tuesday 5 July there will be a display in the Grafton Centre.
• On Tuesday 19 July there will be a display in the Central Library in Lion Yard.

Julie Clarke continued saying, "We are looking forward to what the next 25 years will bring as the local population continues to grow and expand. Some of our exciting plans for the future include developing the service to reflect this growth, and getting more involved in research."

PRESS
You are invited to attend the balloon race and teddy bears' picnic on Thursday 30 June 2005 at 1530. Please call Emma Oram on 01223 274433 before 30 June if you would like to attend. You will need to report to the PR & Communications Office at 1515 on 30 June. Photo opportunities will be with children who have used the Community Visual Screening Service.

For further press/media information contact: PR & Communications Department, Box 53, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ; Tel: 01223 274 433; Fax: 01223 257 143; Minicom: 01223 274 604.