Category: Uncategorized

Consultation on the new Moorfields site

Consultation update and invitation to further discussions.

Latest news : 7 August 2019

Moorfields and its partners, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity, are proposing to build a new centre bringing together excellent eye care, with ground-breaking research and education. The preferred location is a site that has become available at St Pancras Hospital, just north of King’s Cross and StPancras stations in central London.

The proposal, called Oriel, is the subject of a public consultation from 24 May to 16 September 2019. For more information, please visit oriel-london.org.uk.

Let us know your views by 16 September 2019.  Continue reading 

Continue reading “Consultation on the new Moorfields site”

New study to help with shortage of eye donors

Eye image

Researchers at the University of Southampton and clinical partners across England are leading a new project aimed at helping to tackle a shortfall in the number of people willing to consent to eye donation.

In partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) service – with £720,000 funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), researchers at the University will investigate the viability of approaching patients in specialist palliative care settings or hospices, who may be willing to donate their eyes after they die.

Eye tissue is needed to treat a variety of eye conditions and to aid research into new sight saving therapies. However, currently there is a lack of eye tissue available to combat eye diseases which can lead to sight loss. NHS Blood and Transplant eye banks are around 20 percent below the level needed to supply hospitals. In April 2019 there were 279 corneas available, with a store of 350 needed at any one time to satisfy demand for the treatment of patients.

Lead researcher, Dr Tracy Long-Sutehall comments: “Understandably, people can hold very strong feelings about donating their eyes or those of a loved one – from concerns about disfigurement to cultural or religious considerations.

Continue reading “New study to help with shortage of eye donors”

Love Your Lenses

Lens hygiene and care is crucially important.  To get the message across a new campaign has been launched and you can find out about it here.

In addition Moorfields has issued details of an Outbreak of preventable eye infection in contact lens wearers.  Details can be found here.

The Sight Advice FAQ

The Sight Advice FAQ answers questions about living with sight loss, eye health or being newly diagnosed with a sight condition. This includes those who are supporting people through their sight loss journey, including parents, partners, carers and friends.
It contains a search box and menu to find what you’re looking for.The site has been built by RNIB, Guide Dogs, Visionary, VICTA and Fight for Sight, working together in partnership.  Click here to visit the site

Their most frequently asked questions

Cornea Donation Shortfall Highlighted

Fight for Sight is working to raise awareness of the importance of eye donations after research has found that eyes are the organ that people would be the least likely to donate following their death.
The eye research charity has highlighted that there is currently a shortfall in corneas that can be used for transplant, with statistics released by NHS Blood and Transplant this month reporting that there are currently 279 corneas in eye banks, despite the target being to have around 350 at all times.

Continue Reading on Optometry Today website

AGM Report

Our well attended, AGM was held on 23rd March 2019.

Three new committee members were appointed namely, Batcho Notay, Caroline Condillac and Jacqui Thomas.  Moira O’Brien resigned for health reasons.  The meeting paid tribute to Moira who has been a supporter of the KC group since its inception.  Click here to see a full list of officials.

The Chairmans report is available here

The meeting was followed by a fascinating talk by Alison Hardcastle, Professor of Molecular Genetics at the Institute of Ophthalmology Faculty of Brain Sciences, who spoke about the Moorfields genetic study.

To read the research summary published by UCL INSTITUTE OF OPHTHALMOLOGY- click here

 

How many people have keratoconus?

This is an interesting article published by the National Keratoconus Foundation in America:

For many years, it’s been long stated that keratoconus occurs in one person in every 2,000. In an article published in March 2017, the American Journal of Ophthalmology, Dr. Daniel Godefrooij, from the University of Utrecht, refines our understanding of incidence and prevalence of KC(2).

The analysis that KC occurs in 1 in every 2,000 people was derived from a patient registry that was initiated in part by NKCF, over the span of fifty years from the 1930s to the 1980s. Some early supporters of NKCF likely participated in the voluntary survey.  Read More…

Fight for Sight / Keratoconus Group Small Grant Award

We are pleased to announce that we have entered in to an agreement with Fight for Sight to support an award up to the value of £15,000 to fund research into the condition Keratoconus.

The Award will be funded as to 50% by Keratoconus Group and 50% by Fight for Sight.

Latest Update

We can now announce that the funding has been awarded to a team led by Dr Mouhamed Al-Aqaba at Nottingham University .  The project is titled – “The involvement of corneal nerves in the pathogenesis and progression of keratoconus”.  The research team has already identified that corneal nerves are dramatically altered in KC and will now be looking at whether these changes have a relation to the severity and progression of KC and identifying the types of nerves involved. This promises to increase the understanding of the condition, and may eventually lead to new interventions.

This is an exciting adventure made possible by the generous sponsorship of Barbican Insurance.

For full details are on the the Fight for Sight website – Here

Concert in aid of KC research


What a wonderful evening.  An intimate setting with a glass of wine.  Perfect lighting bringing her sisters paintings to life.
Australian viola player  Michelle Urquhart and her friend Marco van Pagee gave a delightful solo viola and viola duet recital.
Michelle is the NSW representative for Keratoconus Australia and all proceeds from tickets/donations will come to the KC Group to be used for research into KC to benefit those with KC worldwide.
It is worth quoting this from the programme:
“It was whilst studying music at the Sydney Conservatorium that Michelle’s eyesight started to fail.  She underwent her first corneal graft.  It failed, and for four and a half years she was legally blind.  Following serious eye infections and rejection she underwent an emergency graft.
Sight restored, Michelle threw herself back into her music.  ‘Having my sight taken away and then having a second chance at music with my successful transplants has been a miracle and the great gift of my life.  I want to make the most of every moment and share my music with the world, and support others with Keratoconus.’ “