Published on 25/07/2022
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Perry Commonwealth Games mascot having eye test
  • Aston University optometrists and dispensing opticians start work at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games polyclinics
  • Role of the polyclinics presented by Canon Medical is to provide emergency eye care for athletes and the wider Games family
  • Usage of the polyclinics could be up to 500 appointments over the duration of the Games.

Volunteers from the School of Optometry at Aston University have started work at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as part of a wider team running health polyclinics presented by Canon Medical which opened on Friday 22 July across three sites at the University of Warwick, University of Birmingham and the National Exhibition Centre.  

The volunteers, who are academic and clinical optometry staff at Aston University, will be part of a team running the clinics throughout the duration of the Games - seeing patients on a needs basis. 

Volunteers from the School of Optometry include Ashok Chowdhury, Professor Leon Davies, Professor Nicola Logan, Professor James Wolffsohn, Dr Maana Aujla, Parmjit Bahia and Peter Williamson. 

The role of the eye clinics is to provide emergency eye care for athletes and the wider Games community, serving nearly 9,000 people across the three sites. 

Based on data from Glasgow 2014, it is estimated that demand for the clinics could reach over 500 eye health encounters, while data from previous multi-sport games also found that eye clinic services account for 10% of all medical interactions. 

Aston University is also loaning various pieces of ophthalmic equipment needed to furnish the eye health polyclinics presented by Canon Medical. The equipment includes slit lamps, ophthalmoscopes, visual field screeners and tonometers.

Leon Davies, professor of optometry & physiological optics at Aston University, has led the clinic set up and is also a polyclinic volunteer. He said: 

“After two years of planning and preparation, I am pleased we are in the position to support the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games by providing eye care services to athletes and the wider Games family”

Professor James Wolffsohn, head of the School of Optometry and Games volunteer, said: 
“I am delighted that our expertise and equipment are being used to set up and run the eye health polyclinics. 

“Having had a similar role at the 2012 London ParaOlympics, I know this service is vital for our athletes and the wider Games family, who often don’t have access to this level of health care back in their own countries. We are proud to be a part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

The polyclinics presented by Canon Medical will be open every day from 7am – 11pm from 22 July to the end of the Games on 8 August.

For more information about the School of Optometry including our research and courses, please visit our website. 

Notes to editors

About Aston University

Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established university led by its three main beneficiaries – students, business and the professions, and our region and society. Aston University is located in Birmingham and at the heart of a vibrant city and the campus houses all the university’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Saskia Loer Hansen is the interim Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive.

Aston University was named University of the Year 2020 by The Guardian and the University’s full time MBA programme has been ranked in the top 100 in the world in the Economist MBA 2021 ranking. The Aston MBA has been ranked 12th in the UK and 85th in the world. 

About the School of Optometry

The School of Optometry, based in the College of Health and Life Sciences, is dedicated to providing a relevant, challenging and supportive learning environment that integrates scientific, clinical and professional aspects to enable our students to become skilled healthcare professionals.

Benefitting from over 80 years of innovation, its portfolio of courses range from undergraduate, to masters taught and doctoral level research. In addition, the school offers a wide range of optometry continuing professional development options, designed to complement existing skills and develop new knowledge. 

All programmes are informed by professional practice. Led by an inter-disciplinary teaching team of optometrists, dispensing opticians, ophthalmologists, and vision scientists. Reflecting this highly practical ethos, students on undergraduate programmes benefit from substantial hands-on experience in the onsite Aston Eye Clinic, one of the largest at any UK university, with over 6,000 patient episodes completed every year.  

For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Rebecca Hume, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44)7557 745416 or email: r.hume@aston.ac.uk 

For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Rebecca Hume, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44)7557 745416 or email: r.hume@aston.ac.uk

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