EYE clinic staff have launched an ambitious fundraising drive to bring the very latest leading-edge technology to The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

The Retinal Development Appeal aims to raise £175,000 to buy additional state-of-the-art equipment to enhance patient care.

Top of the wishlist is an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scanner which produces detailed cross-sectional and 3D images of the eye to help clinicians quickly diagnose sight threatening conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

Clinical director of ophthalmology Chrisjan Dees said: “The new equipment will ensure that we meet future growing demand and continue to provide the high standard of care that our patients have come to expect.

“The detailed images from the scanner will help us to quickly diagnose a range of sight-threatening conditions and will benefit patients right across Teesside and North Yorkshire.

“We are urging all our staff and patients to get behind us and help us reach our £175,000 target.”

One of the first patients to back the appeal was Jennifer Bainbridge, 69, of Stokesley, who held a coffee morning at Stokesley Methodist Church and raised an impressive £1,030 with the help of friends and family.

“So many people that I know have eye problems and everyone was bending over backwards to help,” said Mrs Bainbridge who has been receiving treatment for macular degeneration – an eye condition that affects her central vision.

“They are a wonderful team and when I saw how busy they were I realised how much they needed this new machine,” he added.

People can donate on line at justgiving.com/eyescannerappeal, text SCAN51 and the amount you wish to donate to 70070 (eg SCAN51£5) or send a cheque payable to South Tees Hospital Charity (quoting D125) to the charitable funds office at James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW