Trust admits cataract errors

The operations were carried out at Bupa Gatwick Park Hospital last month in an effort to cut waiting lists for NHS treatment. Brighton Health Care NHS Trust made the apology after eye drop solution methyl cellulose was wrongly injected into the patients' eyes, despite being marked 'for external use only'. It is thought that a Bupa nurse wrongly put the solution into a syringe. The preservative in the eye drop solution can damage corneal cells, causing reduced visual acuity. It has been reported that the patients could need corneal grafts as a result of the mistake, but the extent of the damage will not be known for several months. An inquiry into the incident has been established by East Sussex, Brighton & Hove Health Authority, and Brighton Health Care NHS Trust has suspended all cataract operations at the hospital.