Christopher Blyth, clinical director at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Craig MacKenzie, optometrist director at Specsavers Newport
A SPECIALIST eye treatment centre in the heart of Newport has bucked the trend and saw its patient numbers increase during 2020 – as it continues to take the strain off primary healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Austin Friars Eye Treatment Centre, which provides initial screening and referrals for people with symptoms of wet age-related macular degeneration (Wet AMD), a common sight loss condition, has seen almost a 15 per cent increase in activity during 2020, while numbers at many similar hospital-based services have dwindled because of COVID-19.