A DONATION has helped the James Paget University Hospital lead the way when it comes to eye treatment. A new digital camera at the hospital will help treat Macular degeneration, which is a debilitating painless disease, causing a loss of central vision.

A DONATION has helped the James Paget University Hospital lead the way when it comes to eye treatment.

A new digital camera at the hospital will help treat Macular degeneration, which is a debilitating painless disease, causing a loss of central vision.

The �100,000 worth of equipment was funded by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) raised from proceeds from the hospital shop they run and from their daily newspaper and confectionary rounds on the wards.

The new camera system, one of the first in East Anglia, helps with the early detection of macular degeneration using auto fluorescence imaging and allows its progression to be monitored.

Previously, patients from the hospital would have needed to travel to London to get this type of imaging done.

Ben Burton, a consultant ophthalmologist at the Trust, said: “The camera provides the most amazingly detailed views of the circulation at the back of the eye, even in patients with quite dense cataracts which would blur the view with older camera systems.

“We are immensely grateful for the hard work of the WRVS which has allowed us to bring our eye unit well and truly into the 21st century.”

There are 60 WRVS volunteers at the hospital who, between them, give up over 200 hours a week to support the Trust.

Most of this time is spent dealing with the 1,000 patients, visitors and staff who pass through the hospital shop every day to buy items.

To become a volunteer, register your interest to Mrs Allen on 01493 452452. Full training will be given and there is a mileage allowance.