Eye care centre offering free appointments opens

A new £7.7m eye care treatment centre offering free appointments has opened.

The Centre for Eyecare Excellence, based at Hepworth House on the University of Plymouth's campus, is an expanded version of a previous clinic on Gibbon Street in Devon.

It includes 34 treatment rooms, teaching areas and research laboratories, allowing optometry students to treat patients under supervision using industry standard equipment, said clinicians.

Clinical lead optometrist Jodie Burke said the centre would benefit both patients and students, with treatments offered including glaucoma, contact lens appointments and general appointments.

Anna Jordan, one of the first patients to attend an appointment at the centre, said: "I was here to get a prescription for screen work.

"It's very well-organised and I felt very taken care of. My appointment was very good and thorough, so I felt really happy with my experience."

Bipasha Parmar, a third-year optometry student, said the facility had "so much great equipment".

"Everyone is so kind and I feel like we have great students and supervisors that really add more to the facility, and it's going to be a great year ahead," Parmar said.

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