A new cataract guideline has been published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) this month.
Investigations found that patients can wait up to 15 months before having surgery, with some not receiving treatment until they are almost blind.
In the updated guideline, NICE asks NHS trusts to consider a variety of different variables before referring a patient with a cataract for surgery.
Trusts are advised to ‘not restrict access to cataract surgery on the basis of visual acuity.’ NICE also asks trusts to take into account patients' lifestyles, requesting that trusts examine how the cataract affects their quality of life in addition to their vision.
Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, said: ‘Cataract surgery is one of the ways in which the NHS can transform our lives. Our guideline will help patients with cataracts and those treating them to make choices about the treatment they should have.’
Cataract surgery is the most common procedure carried out by the NHS, with almost 400,000 operations performed every year.