A new ophthalmology screening service will be offered in residential homes for the elderly. This service will be available in Government residential homes, as well as those run by a partnership between the Government and private sector, and homes where the Government buys the beds.

The Government said that the screening tests will cover three main aspects: Visual Acuity, the level of pressure in the eyes (Intra Ocular Pressure), and photos behind the eye (Screening with Retinal Camera).

These tests are intended to identify conditions such as diabetes, macular degeneration, and glaucoma, even before overt symptoms appear. The service aims to prevent the loss of vision before it is too late.

Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, said, “the aim of this initiative is to ensure that our elderly remain in excellent health. Through this screening service, we are working to identify eye problems from the beginning, which will help us prevent more serious conditions in the future.”

Renzo Degabriele, CEO of Active Ageing and Care in the Community said that through this initiative they will be addressing around 4,000 seniors who will go through this screening in the coming weeks.

Jane Micallef, a nurse specialised in ophthalmology, explained how the results of the tests will be accessible online to geriatrics consultants, so that, where necessary, the test can be examined in a short time. Where necessary, residents are referred for further care to eye specialists at Mater Dei Hospital.

This screening programme started as a pilot project and after a positive response Active Ageing and Care in the Community financed the training of nurses and the acquisition of advanced medical equipment. This investment paved the way for the official launch of this project, it said.

Photo: DOI/Clodagh O’Neill

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