Cataract surgery wait affecting quality of life

Ophthalmic Consultants of London (OCL) Vision highlighted patients were waiting over nine months on average from referral to having NHS cataract surgery in 2021.

Patient waiting times for cataract surgery increased by 35% from 2019 to 2020 and increased by 36% from 2020 to 2021, the ophthalmology clinic noted.

Ali Mearza, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at OCL Vision, said increased waiting times could affect patients’ vision and their lifestyle.

‘Cataracts are progressive over time, so the longer the wait, the worse they get. This translates to further worsening of vision which in turn can affect people’s independence and quality of life,’ he said.