Leading sight loss charity the Macular Society has announced a new partnership with OcuPlan, a service designed to give patients with long-term eye conditions such as macular disease affordable access to specialist care to prevent unnecessary sight loss.
OcuPlan, now part of Simplyhealth, was set up in 2019 by consultant ophthalmologist Dan Calladine to ensure everyone had the eye care they needed, when they needed it.
Both organisations will collaborate to continue OcuPlan’s mission and help prevent unnecessary sight loss caused by lack of access to vital eye care services. The partnership aims to improve the lives of people with macular disease, by enabling them to maintain their independence for longer.
Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, affecting at least 1.5 million people. The most common type of the condition is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), mostly affecting people over the age of 50. Due to our ageing population, the number of people with AMD is estimated to double by 2050.
The disease can have a devastating effect on people’s lives, leaving them unable to drive, read or see faces. Many people affected describe losing their sight as being similar to bereavement.
Whilst optometrists can see the early signs of AMD by examining the patient’s retina, they are often unable to refer patients to NHS consultants unless they see signs of wet AMD. This can result in many patients receiving late diagnoses, and being unaware of the steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of sight loss.
Ocuplan now offers patients the choice of the best quality care at affordable prices through a nationwide network of consultant ophthalmologists and opticians across the UK. And for optometrists, it offers an affordable, fast, reliable referral pathway to support patients with AMD. Cathy Yelf, chief executive of the Macular Society, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with OcuPlan and Simplyhealth. Making good quality, clinical care affordable will make a huge difference to people living with macular disease and go a long way in helping prevent unnecessary sight loss.”
OcuPlan is also donating £50,000 to the Macular Society to help in its mission to beat macular disease with groundbreaking research and vital support services. Throughout the partnership the organisations will work together to ensure eye care services are delivered to all communities across the UK.
Richard Guest, general manager of OcuPlan, added: “Macular disease already affects millions of people and the problem is set to get worse as people struggle to get the care they need to prevent sight loss. The Macular Society receives no public funding, so we are honoured to be able to work together to support people affected by the disease and help fund the vital research to find a cure.”
If you’d like to find out more about OcuPlan, visit https://ocuplan.co.uk/
