Cataract Blindness ?

GlasweJen

I practice (not google!) in Lanarkshire health board where there is a 13 week waiting list and they are struggling so much to reach this target that some of my patients return with letters from hospitals in Glasgow as they've been unable to see my patient within 13 weeks in Lanarkshire.

Certainly when I refer a 2nd cataract up 6 weeks post surgery for eye number 1 my patients have been waiting for the full 13 weeks or had their surgery declined due to the improved VA in the corrected eye being deemed "good enough" and so the patient has been told to hold off until their VA drops below 6/18 even though our criteria is 6/15 on paper.

No one has managed to have 2 done in 6 weeks on the NHS though I am aware in the private sector that some are done within 2 weeks.

wildwestfan

I was told the 8 week gap between surgeries was to be sure there was no problem with the 1st eye operated on.

margaretclare

No one has managed to have 2 done in 6 weeks on the NHS though I am aware in the private sector that some are done within 2 weeks.

Mine was done (1) 18th Sept 2007 and (2) 15th October 2007 so, 4 weeks.

Richie-from-the-Boro

GlasweJen wrote: »

I practice (not google!) in Lanarkshire health board where there is a 13 week waiting list and they are struggling so much to reach this target that some of my patients return with letters from hospitals in Glasgow as they've been unable to see my patient within 13 weeks in Lanarkshire.

Certainly when I refer a 2nd cataract up 6 weeks post surgery for eye number 1 my patients have been waiting for the full 13 weeks or had their surgery declined due to the improved VA in the corrected eye being deemed "good enough" and so the patient has been told to hold off until their VA drops below 6/18 even though our criteria is 6/15 on paper.

No one has managed to have 2 done in 6 weeks on the NHS though I am aware in the private sector that some are done within 2 weeks.

HiYa Jen,

I spoke to many as in 3 or 4 dozen treated in the Nuffield in the time I was visiting. All had the same storey of :

- 2nd eye discussed before first eye operated on
- 2nd eye operation notionally agreed / or not before first eye operated on
- 2nd eye balanced / differentiated acuity before first eye operated on
- prescription was filled in America by an American company
- 1st & second op efficiently done within the 6 weeks
- zero pain during and post op
- should have done it 30 years ago

Clearly things are different in your country. Or between consultant & consultant. Or perhaps between NHS in an NHS hospital and a NHS funded private sector, if this is the case its unsurprising to me and entirely to be expected.

My referral was done by my optician who was then entirely out of the picture till the first operated eye was tested by him exactly 10 days post op, his new eye test was then handed in by myself to the same surgeon the following Fri and the second eye op slotted into the pre-existing pencilled in slot made available for me at the earlier consultation. All in all 6 weeks and one day, a very efficient and painless set of procedures leading to no specs where there were previously 3 pairs per year, the return of the subtlety of beautiful colours and the ability to shave again without having to guess where my nose was.

Nice to see your still posting Jen lass !

mumps

margaretclare wrote: »

If it's causing you problems and is getting worse, then go back to them and tell them just that! Ask about the possibility of going to the neighbouring city. 30 miles is nothing much. Don't just accept what you're given. Far too many people do that, I'm not saying you necessarily, but people can be very passive and accept what they're told. Only you can really appreciate the changes and the effects on your normal lifestyle.

I'm not keen on going to the hospital in the city 30 miles away, not due to distance but to reputation. It didn't do very well when CQC inspected either.

At the moment the view is I can enlarge print size on computer and most of my work is on a computer. I like to read alot but again I can adjust print size on my kindle. I can manage other things but I know it isn't going to get any better and waiting lists aren't getting any shorter. My plan is to wait till end of this year or start of next and have another try and if no joy I will bite the bullet and pay for the op. Personally I would like to spend the money on other things but my eyes come first so if I have to pay then so be it.

Just thought of something that I find really hard, sewing! I don't like sewing and only do necessary repairs but it is awful when you just can't see well enough to fix a hem.

GlasweJen

Richie, difference up here is you don't have "choose and book" you have "take it or leave it". Patients don't even have the right to request the same hospital for both surgeries so you could have your left eye done at Hairmyers and the right done at the Golden Jubilee 3 months later and if you dare complain that Clydebank is too far for you to travel from say East Kilbride and request hairmyers for the 2nd op you go back to the bottom of the 13 week wait as it's classed as a non urgent 2nd opinion.
Quite frankly it's a bloody nightmare and I spend half my time explaining to people that I hold no sway with the Health board and I can't change their "take it or leave it" policy though to be fair they are under a lot of pressure to keep to waiting lists and the board is understaffed in ophthalmology.

cattermole

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Hurrah great post Ritchie !


I get fed up of "google experts" as I call them.


Hoping everything goes well for the OP. I have no direct experience of cataract procedures (family have ) and they had fabulous nhs service....but everyone is individual ..just hoping OP gets great outcomes.

My son in law is a consultant eye surgeon so not quite a Google post and I hasten to add that you first mentioned Laser surgery not me (sorry Richie but that part of your post was inaccurate hence my reply to "fed up and stressed")

I too really hope it goes well for the original poster but NHS advice does say to carefully check a surgeon is qualified etc. if using private services which was the point of my post, sorry if it was badly made OP.

It does vary dramatically from area to area what waiting times etc may be and the options available.

Richie-from-the-Boro

1st use of the word laser was #23 cattermole

cattermole

First use of Lasek #22 (which refers to Laser eye surgery) was "fed up and stressed"

fed_up_and_stressed

Oh for goodness sake !!!!! You have completely missed the point Cattermole!!!!!

The point about what surgery i had is irrelevant. Don't go bringing me into this.....

I stated I had a form a surgery which cost had no bearing on quality.

The person next in the waiting room paid four times as much and got the same service. ..... And i highlight this was not cataract surgery

The point you have missed is that surgeons have to be licenced so spending more doesn't necessarily mean better.

Sigh !!!!