In Focus: Shining a light on cataracts

Communication with patients about cataracts can reduce negative stigmas about the procedure and create co-management opportunities for optical practices. With cataract awareness month underway, Amir Hamid, medical director and consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Optegra eye hospital, advised the industry to spread awareness by reaching out to the community more regularly: ‘Make people aware that some of the visual problems that they may be having could be due to cataracts, and thus an eye test is the first step in ensuring eye health into the future and being able to prevent detrimental progression.’

Waiting times from referral to cataract surgery in NHS hospitals were at an average of nine months in 2021, after increasing by 61% from pre-pandemic 2019 to 2021, with an 89% rise for London trusts, according to an OCL Vision report. Therefore, it was a logical next step for the independent sector to get more cases commissioned from the NHS to alleviate demand across the healthcare system.