You may be aware of problems, through the media, of incidences of raised eye pressure following cataract surgery.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a patient safety alert after becoming aware of cases of increased intraocular pressure in people recently implanted with the following IOLs (intra ocular lens), an IOL is the the lens used in cataract surgery to replace your cloudy lens:

• EyeCee One preloaded
• EyeCee One Crystal preloaded.

There are different brands of lens replacements available to use when a cataract operation is performed, Spa Medica do not use the lens replacements listed above.

All clinics that have used these lenses are in the process of contacting people who may be affected, and will arrange an IOP assessment within the next couple of weeks. The recalled IOLs have been used in around 5% of procedures in the UK in the last four months. Please be reassured that the incidence of people affected is very low and this is a precaution only. All clinics are working to contact everyone effected.

If you have had an operation using the lenses above since October 2022 your cataract clinic will contact you and make arrangements for your eye pressure to be measured and monitored.

Are you an Optometrist looking for a New Challange?

Fed up of 20-minute tests, and frustrated with poor equipment?

Do you want to get off the testing treadmill and spend time really helping clients get the most out of their vision?

If so, then call us on 01302 874433, for a chat.

Maybe you are the new member of our team we have been looking for.

You will be working with a small professional team of staff, all highly trained to support you in your role.

We have 5 practices around Doncaster, and are looking for a new team member to join us.

NHS and Private tests, alongside enhanced services.

Full or Part time employed or Locum considered

At Parkhurst Opticians we understand how important good vision is, we also understand how spreading the cost over a period of time can reduce worry.

We can help with this.

We offer payment plans for glasses and contact lenses of up to 11 months if you pay by Direct Debit

Follow our link or call 01302874433 for more information

The eye-tooth connection

Patients with more dental work are also more likely to have glaucoma

18 January 2017 Olivia Wannan

An unexpected relationship between developing glaucoma and the bacteria in a person’s mouth or the number of natural teeth they have has been found in a US study.

Researchers at the State University of New York looked at the dental history of 119 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 78 people with no history of the disease, in the early stage research.

The researchers used a specimen of mouthwash to analyse the bacteria in each person’s mouth. They also looked at the natural teeth they had and the participants’ reports of their oral health routines.

People who had undergone more dental work had a higher rate of glaucoma, even when factors such as diabetes, hypertension and gender were taken out of the equation.

The research also found that Streptococci bacteria was more commonly found in the mouths of glaucoma patients than people with healthy eyes.

In the Journal of Glaucoma-published paper, the authors wrote that: “Further investigation of the association between dental health and glaucoma is warranted.

Image credit: D Sharon Pruitt