City researchers need our help to tackle sight loss
Patients and members of the public are being asked take part in research which aims to revolutionise the detection and management of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
SCONe – Scottish Collaborative Optometry Ophthalmology Network e-research – is a new collaborative venture looking to build a Scotland-wide retinal image resource for innovation in eye research, healthcare and education.
Funded by Sight Scotland, RS MacDonald Trust and the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh, the project is being run by optometrists, ophthalmologists, and researchers at Edinburgh University.
AMD is the most common vision impairment in the older population and impacts an estimated 60,000 people in Scotland. SCONe research is seeking to find the early signs of AMD, so people can receive support earlier.
The project organisers are inviting anybody with lived experience of AMD to take part in their Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group.
Professor Baljean
Our research represents a step forward in the fight against AMD
Dhillon, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Edinburgh University, said: “The
PPI group offers a unique opportunity for participants to contribute directly to the development of new strategies and technologies aimed at combating AMD. "Our research represents a significant step forward in the fight against AMD. By combining cuttingedge technology with comprehensive data analysis, we aim to transform how we detect and manage this condition."
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland, and Sight Scotland Veterans, added: “"As advocates for the visually impaired, we understand the profound impact that AMD can have on individuals and their families.”