The eye is second only to the liver as the most common site to be affected by drug toxicity.
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are the negative effects of medication extraneous to intended therapy (Santaella and Fraunfelder, 2007). Around 6.5 per cent of hospital admissions have been attributed to various ADRs – most commonly, gastrointestinal bleeding caused by aspirin (Nickless and Davies, 2016).
John Lawrenson FCOptom, Professor of Clinical Visual Science at City, University of London, says: “Given its complexity and rich blood supply, the eye is particularly susceptible to ADRs. Optometrists are well placed to detect such drug-induced changes in ocular structure and function. This includes the side effects of established drugs as well as those associated with newly licensed drugs.”
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The UK Eye Care Data Hub, the most up-to-date and comprehensive model of the UK’s eye care workforce and eye diseases in one place, has been expanded to almost double the number of eye conditions and update aspects of the sector workforce data.
The College of Optometrists has teamed up with road safety charity IAM RoadSmart to encourage drivers of all ages to see clearly when it comes to vision and driving standards.