Manchester Royal Eye Hospital announces it is the first in the UK to utilise the ultra-wide field OCT angiography machine, the Xephilio OCT-S1 from Canon, in a patient-facing setting.
The Widefield OCT A machine from Canon was purchased through charitable funds provided by Manchester Foundation Trust Charity (MFT Charity, registered charity number 1049274), which raises funds to support Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s ten hospitals, including Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, has provided world-class ophthalmic care to the people of Manchester, the surrounding region, and the wider United Kingdom since its inception in 1814. Manchester Royal Eye Hospital serves a large population of patients, with treatments that often prevent or cure blindness.
The biggest cause of blindness in both young and older patients is disease of the retina, the light receptive layer on the inside of the eye. Disease here causes blindness in conditions such as diabetes and macular degeneration. In order to treat these diseases, it is essential to be able to visualise and image this part of the eye. Previously, to do this the hospital has undertaken a more invasive procedure called fluorescein angiography, which requires dye to be injected into the vein for the scan. With the Widefield OCTA from Canon, they can offer a more immediate, non-invasive wide scan and improve the patient experience.
Professor of Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmologist, Tariq Aslam, commented: “We are delighted to be the first in the UK to utilise this ultra-wide field OCT Angiography machine in a patient facing setting. With this new equipment we can improve patient care by offering immediate scans as simple as taking a picture to look for potentially blinding disease where we would otherwise need to book patients for invasive procedures involving intravenous needles and dyes. This technology will help our clinicians to make rapid diagnoses of many conditions and prevent and treat the most common forms of sight loss."
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital patient with Tariq Aslam, Yvonne D'Souza and Jane Gray.
Abdul Jahangir, Sales Director at Sense Medical, the official distributor of Canon Eyecare in the UK and Ireland, said: "We are delighted to offer Manchester Royal Eye Hospital access to the cutting-edge Xephilio OCT-S1 through charitable funds. As a technology provider, our state-of-the-art device is a game-changer in the field of ophthalmic diagnostics. The Xephilio OCT-S1 enables the clinic to capture wide-field images of up to an impressive 110 degrees by montaging several OCTA images together, revolutionizing the way eye conditions are diagnosed and treated. With its groundbreaking Swept Source technology, this device achieves scanning speeds of 100,000 A-scans per second, setting new industry standards for precision and efficiency. It opens up a world of new possibilities, revealing a wealth of information previously unattainable with conventional OCT devices. Our commitment to innovation and advancing patient care drives us to provide technologies like the Xephilio OCT-S1, which empower clinics like Manchester Royal Eye Hospital to deliver exceptional healthcare."
Patient Janet Kelly from Ashton-under-Lyne has been diagnosed with a proliferative retinopathy, which is caused by abnormal new blood vessels that grow on the surface of her eye. She previously had an FFA scan and although the scan went fine, the dye made her feel sick. After having a scan with the hospital’s new OCT A, she said: “Having the dye via a cannular made me anxious as it’s never easy getting cannulas in me, so that just made the FFA scan more of a stressful thing.
“Being able to have the OCT A scan on the same day as my appointment was great as it meant not having to arrange my daughter to bring me another time. It was also much more comfortable and quicker.”
John Breheny from Wythenshawe has type 2 diabetes and 20 months ago he started losing his sight. John has had an FFA scan before and understands how the OCT A scan is much better for those who might find the FFA uncomfortable or stressful. He said: “If you are nervous or scared about needles then this equipment is a Godsend.”
To find out more about the Xephilio OCT-S1 device from Canon, please get in touch with Sense Medical at 01276 479068 or email info@sensemedical.co.uk
To find out more about Manchester Foundation Trust Charity and the hospitals it supports, visit www.mftcharity.org.uk
