Huge praise from mum of young Vision Centre patient
Glasgow Caledonian University's Vision Centre staff and students were delighted to receive a heartfelt thank you letter from a mum of a teenage boy with congenital bi-lateral fourth nerve palsy.
Programme Lead Orthoptics Claudine Wallace and her student team have been treating Euan Hedley in their Binocular Vision Clinic.
Congenital fourth nerve palsy is a condition present at birth characterised by a vertical misalignment of the eyes due to a weakness or paralysis of the superior oblique muscle.
Euan, 15, suffered from constant double vision and was struggling to study for his National 5 exams until he was treated at GCU. After diagnosis, technicians made spectacles for him on-site within 10 minutes and he left the clinic able to see clearly in both eyes.
His mum Claire then sent a thank you letter to the Head of Vision Sciences Professor Gunter Loffler saying Claudine and her team "deserve recognition for the excellent service they are offering".
Claire wrote: "My son and I recently had an appointment with Claudine Wallace and her student team in the orthoptic department.
"Following this I wanted to take the time to email you and say how impressed I am with the team, led by Claudine.
"My son has a congenital bi-lateral fourth nerve palsy, and he has had various professionals involved since an early age from various places.
"Recently the team at GCU have become involved, their involvement has been professional and caring, putting my son at ease throughout.
"Claudine and the team listened to my son and really understood what is important to him. He was a person and individual to them, rather than just a number on a list.
"The set up that the clinic has of Peer Assisted Learning is outstanding, and I can really see the benefits of this to your students, staff and ultimately the individuals that are treated."
Claire kindly provided us with a photo of her and her son Euan, and the other photo shows 4th Year Orthoptic student Melissa Duffy testing Euan's eyes in the Vision Centre (above).
Professor Loffler said: "We always strive to provide an excellent experience to our students and an outstanding clinical service to all of our patients who attend our teaching clinic.
"It is hugely encouraging when we receive feedback like this as it shows that we have managed to achieve that goal."
Claudine added: "My ethos is always to treat our patients as if they are members of your family. I try to instil this in my students and highlight patient-centred care from year one.
"The Binocular Vision Clinic is the perfect place to teach this. I use Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) in these clinics, and have one final year Orthoptic student with two to three Optometry students. The benefits of teaching your peers offers a deep learning experience for all students involved.
"This particular patient has a complicated history and he has constant double vision. He doesn't normally wear glasses, but our team of technicians made glasses for us in 10 minutes and I was then able to apply a temporary prism, which allowed our patient to leave with single vision.
"Our Vision Centre is the perfect example of multidisciplinary team work for the highest level of patient care."
Appointments at the Vision Centre are available Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. All student-led appointments are supervised by qualified optometrists, dispensing opticians and orthoptists.
The centre stocks a great range of designer, fashion and specialist frames to suit all ages and budgets – and staff and students are entitled to a 20% discount on the cost of all contact lenses, frames and lenses, including sunglasses.
To make an appointment at the Vision Centre call 0141 331 3377 or visit the Vision Centre on the ground floor of the Govan Mbeki health building.