WA: Children with eye disease in WA need not cross continent

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2005
WA: Children with eye disease in WA need not cross continent

PERTH, Dec 23 AAP - Children in Western Australia suffering eye conditions can now
be assessed in Perth instead of travelling to Sydney or Melbourne.

Health minister Jim McGinty today unveiled a new eye scanning camera at the Princess
Margaret Hospital for children.

The camera was funded by Bluey Day Foundation which raised $130,000 for the camera
and the state government, which contributed the additional $30,000 needed.

The camera will be used for the immediate detection of eye cancers and other serious
optical conditions such as retinopathy of prematurity, juvenile glaucoma and shaken baby
syndrome.

"Until now children have had to travel to Sydney or Melbourne for eye scans, which
was often tiring and disruptive for young patients and their families," Mr McGinty said.

"Now children can be screened and monitored here in WA, leading to quicker and better
diagnosis and treatment."

The camera works by taking a photo of the retina inside of the eye.

Last month the hospital also received a new $1.2 million 64 slice computer tomography
scanner, used to assess young cancer patients, trauma victims and children with brain
and heart disease.

AAP rk/cjh/

KEYWORD: CAMERA REPEATING

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