Urgent call for new cataract stance

Determining access to cataract surgery on the basis of visual acuity alone has been deemed clinically unsound by a union of optical bodies.

Patients should be treated if cataract is adversely affecting their daily living, according to a joint statement by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, College of Optometrists, Optical Confederation and Local Optical Committee Support Unit.

Treatment should also depend on patients fully understanding the risks and benefits of surgery and being fit enough for surgery.

The alarm was raised after recent findings that patients in more than half of primary care trusts were being denied access to cataract surgery on the basis of visual acuity (News 01.06.12).