Spalding optometrist hold open day in conjunction with Macular Society to increase Macular Degeneration awareness - September 2014
Andy Molsom, of Molsom Optometrists, and Leonard Sharpe from Spalding Macular Society Support Group held a very successful Open day on Tuesday 30th September to increase the awareness locally of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and the help available to the local community.
The Spalding Macular Society Support Group and Molsom Optometrists staff manned the stall outside the practice with a tombola, raising £160 for the Boston and Spalding Macular Society Support Group, and introducing new members to the group. There were lots of advice leaflets and people to talk to about the Support Group.
The Macular Society is the national charity lending support for anyone affected by central vision loss. The local support group meets on the second Tuesday of every month at St Thomas Road Methodist Church in Spalding, and all are welcome to attend.
Inside the practice, Andy Molsom demonstrated the latest 3D OCT Digital Retinal Scanning technology to show very small changes in the retina that can lead to AMD or other retinal disorders. The FREE prize draw for an advanced eye examination was won by Mrs Wetherill of Spalding.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the central vision and is the most common cause of sight loss in the UK. AMD is a condition resulting from genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors, some of which can be modified to help prevent sight loss as we age. It can impede vision for driving, reading, and recognising loved ones, dramatically reducing overall quality of life.
Leonard Sharpe, who is affected by AMD, and recently won the "chairman’s award for volunteering" as part of the Macular Society’s Award for Excellence. "when I first heard Id won it was a shock and disbelief" said Mr Sharpe. "I feel honoured to have been selected when there are so many volunteers doing similar work for the society." Coincidentally Mr Molsom was nominated for the 'Optometrist of the year' award as part of the Macular Society’s Awards for Excellence in 2013.
Mr Molsom added, "It’s our first event of this kind, but it has been a phenomenal success. Not only have we successfully helped the local support group gain new members, but we have educated a lot of people about what AMD is and how optometrists can help. AMD is a particularly frustrating condition because it results in a loss of central vision, which allows us to see detail, such as tiny print and colour. If you suffer from Macular Degeneration then you can lose this fine detail, and it causes varying degrees of difficulty to patients during their daily life.