We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Cataract treatment

12467

Comments

  • Pennywise2012
    Pennywise2012 Posts: 335 Forumite
    That's terrible, I thought it was bad enough in my area! The whole thing is a proper bug-bear for me. I'm not normally a big soap box person, but I really feel that the whole thing is ageist. Cataracts mostly affect the elderly, and most elderly people end up with them. The attitude seems to be, "They don't need to see, because they no longer work, and they're far less likely to complain, because their generation was brought up to respect authority figures, and they don't pay tax any more, so stuff 'em". It makes me seethe! Look at the money spent and wasted by central and local government, both inside and outside of healthcare (yes, gastric band people, I'm looking at you), and yet we as a society are happy to leave an entire segment of the population half blind and housebound to save a few quid.
    *goes to stamp around house glaring at inanimate objects*
    "Most of the people ... were unhappy... Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were largely concerned with the movements of small green pieces of paper, which is odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of paper that were unhappy." -- Douglas Adams
  • coster
    coster Posts: 6 Forumite
    Hallo again.

    I had the examination this morning. The consultant told me I had two moderate cataracts and they would book me in to have them removed.

    Apparently one eye gets done first and then the second two months later. This is because there is a very slight risk (1 in a !000) that the first eye may go wrong and they want to ensure the second eye is not put at risk until they know the first operation has been a success..

    I will give a little more detail later but just to let you know that there were no moral or ageist judgements whatsoever. I was not even asked how my failing eyesight affected my quality of life or functioning. Just a straight clinical examination conducted by an extremely friendly and efficient hospital staff.

    So! Great result for me. Many thanks to all who contributed to the debate.
  • slopemaster
    slopemaster Posts: 1,581 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Just to update, I wasn't so lucky as coster.
    Altho' the opthalmologist at the opticians (in a different area*) considered i met the referral criteria, when i got an appointment at the hospital they point-blank refused to put me on the waiting list; said the cataract wasn't bad enough yet. I argued that I can no longer drive and am haing great trouble reading etc, and also that the cataract apparently was bad enough 2years ago that i was offered surgery then - but got nowhere at all.

    So now i have a choice of making a complaint to the PCT, or paying £2500 to have it done privately. I don't approve of 'jumping the Q' by paying, but i probably will, all the same. There's probably not much mileage in complaining, as they just said 'you don't meet our criteria which are very clear'.

    *unless maybe i could get a referral to that area - but it's probably too late now
  • Just to let you know you can get multifocal and other lenses which mean you can read as well as see distances. Unfortunately these are only fitted privately. I believe it is possible just to have one eye fitted with a standard lens and the other with one which enables you to read. At present I have one of these lenses and use this eye for reading as well as distance with no problems. I am getting the cataract in the other eye removed in a couple of weeks.If you can afford it is well worth the money as it's fantastic not to have to use reading glasses!!
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 46,902 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just to update, I wasn't so lucky as coster.
    Altho' the opthalmologist at the opticians (in a different area*)

    <snip>

    *unless maybe i could get a referral to that area - but it's probably too late now
    Always worth asking, IMO. We're supposed to have more choice about where we go, these days.
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • slopemaster
    slopemaster Posts: 1,581 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    malinjo wrote: »
    I believe it is possible just to have one eye fitted with a standard lens and the other with one which enables you to read. At present I have one of these lenses and use this eye for reading as well as distance with no problems. !

    That's very interesting.
    As I've already had the one eye done on NHS with a standard lens.
    Then I saw that you can get a multifocal one for an extra couple of hundred quid if having it done privately, and thought what a pity - but I assumed it would not work to have only one multifocal.
    I will speak to the surgeon about that if I decide to go private.
    thanks!
  • James_N
    James_N Posts: 1,090 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    coster wrote: »
    Hallo all,

    After several months on the waiting list I finally got a letter asking me to arrange an appointment at the Opthalmology department of my local hospital.

    Over the past few years when getting my eyes tested for reading glasses I have been told by the optician that I have developing cataracts. I dont know what the severity is; or what treatment I will be offered (if any) until after my initial appointment and examination.

    However, I feel sure some others on this forum may have had some experience of "corrective eye treatment" (as it were) and I was wondering if they could offer any insights of the treatment process as I have no idea what to expect.

    I have heard that cataracts are best treated at early onset but on the other hand I understand that treatment is now being rationed by the hospital Trusts and so I wonder whether they will only offer surgery in severe cases.

    I do feel that eye treatment would be a great help and would consider going private if the NHS decline treatment, providing it is not too expensive as my savings are somewhat modest.

    Would be grateful for any insights gained from personal experience.

    See your PM
    Under no circumstances may any part of my postings be used, quoted, repeated, transferred or published by any third party in ANY medium outside of this website without express written permission. Thank you.
  • slopemaster
    slopemaster Posts: 1,581 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Altho' the opthalmologist at the opticians (in a different area) considered i met the referral criteria, when i got an appointment at the hospital they point-blank refused to put me on the waiting list; said the cataract wasn't bad enough yet. ... they just said 'you don't meet our criteria which are very clear'.

    Thinking about this some more.
    Although I was given a 'choice' of only one hospital, I believe that in theory I can request to go anywhere in england.
    So if I got a new referral letter, I could ask to be referred to a different area with 'better' criteria.
    I wondered whether anyone knows whether (and how) it is possible to find out the criteria in different PCT areas???
    V grateful if anyone knows.
  • nedmundo
    nedmundo Posts: 1,160 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thinking about this some more.
    Although I was given a 'choice' of only one hospital, I believe that in theory I can request to go anywhere in england.
    So if I got a new referral letter, I could ask to be referred to a different area with 'better' criteria.
    I wondered whether anyone knows whether (and how) it is possible to find out the criteria in different PCT areas???
    V grateful if anyone knows.

    That's a nice idea, but it's the criteria of your local PCT (the pursestring holders), which apply. This is defined by where your GP practice is.

    That's means you can go to any hospital in the land, but they will be bound by your PCTs criteria and won't operate if they won't be paid.
    Beware the character seeking personal gain masquerading as a moral crusader.
    :beer:
  • slopemaster
    slopemaster Posts: 1,581 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Ah. Damn.
    But thanks v much for saving me a lot of research!
    (I did wonder if this might be the case.)
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.6K Life & Family
  • 254K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.