By paNOW Staff

Vision loss treatments coming to PA

Oct 22, 2012 | 6:04 AM

Sarah Rolles

paNOW staff

Residents from Prince Albert and area that suffer from vision loss due to diabetes or age related macular degeneration can now seek treatment in Prince Albert.

Aged related macular degeneration is a condition that results in the loss of vision in the centre of the eye due to damage of the retina and is a major cause of blindness in older adults (over 50). Diabetes can also lead to similar vision loss sometimes at a younger age (under 50).

It occurs in two forms either dry, the early stages or wet the more advanced and damaging form of the condition.

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Until now those that were diagnosed with the wet version of the eye condition usually had to travel to Saskatoon, Regina or sometimes even Edmonton to receive treatment.

Treatment for most patients means receiving monthly injections that are applied directly in the eye that can help to improve their vision.

However since the treatment was not accessible in Prince Albert Dr. Shahab Khan, an Ophthalmologist in Prince Albert says many people that were diagnosed with the condition in the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region depending on their circumstances were unable to receive it because they had to travel.

“Up until now the patients that could afford to go to Saskatoon once a month they were going there or Regina and those that could not afford it were just losing their vision,” said Dr. Khan.

“All of the patients obviously cannot afford to go… and if you lose your vision you cannot drive anyway,” he added.

Khan said it was obvious the treatment needed to be made available in Prince Albert. He said it is estimated that out of the 100 or 150 treatments that they perform in Saskatoon or Regina each week at least 50 per cent of them are from northern Saskatchewan.

“There are a few thousand patients in the area that are needing help and treatment,” he said.
Treatment is set to be available at Victoria Hospital in the coming weeks.

Dr. Khan said anyone that suspects they might be suffering from aged related macular degeneration or suffers from vision loss due to diabetes to visit their family physician or optometrist.

“From there they are referred to us in the clinic and then we assess them and decide who will benefit and what sort of treatment they need and they will begin the treatment here,” said Dr. Khan.

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