The Northern Health Foundation has embarked on a fundraising drive to support “life-changing ophthalmology equipment”.
The drive comes as demand for ophthalmology procedures continues to grow, Northern Health said.
The “rapid” growth in these procedures has ballooned to 1400 procedures every year, with 11 per cent of people over the age of 40 experiencing cataracts.
Northern Health said the new equipment would also allow it to do more procedures in the future.
“By introducing this new equipment, Northern Health will alleviate the need for patients in our northern community, and some regional areas of Victoria, to be referred to other health services for their care,” a statement said.
Northern Health’s head of ophthalmology, Dr Suheb Ahmed, said the purchasing new equipment would allow for more quality care.
“I am very privileged to do what I do. Having an impact on so many lives, by performing cataract surgery, makes me truly love what I do. Securing the funds needed to purchase both the latest Phacoemulsification Machine and Ophthalmology Microscope will give our patients in the north access to the very best in cataract surgical procedures anywhere in Australia,” he said.
