Aston University: Aston University optometrists start work at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games polyclinics presented by Canon Medical

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.