Cataract: A quality of life issue

A cataract scheme in the north-west of Ireland could cut surgery waiting times from four years to around six to nine months.

Launched in Sligo in 2012, waiting times in the area are a stark contrast to the rest of Ireland, which makes the delay to a national rollout even more flummoxing for John Weldon, president of the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI).

‘It’s one of reasons we can’t understand why it has not been implemented nationally, even though it has been published in the programme for government,’ he tells Optician. ‘The year after the scheme was launched it was awarded a Healthcare and Innovation Award. We’re at a bit of a loss as to why it hasn’t happened.’