NHS eye care delays put complex cases at risk

Patients with complex eye conditions risk losing their sight due to delays in NHS treatment, medical experts and campaigners have warned. They say the system is under strain as independent providers prioritise simpler and more lucrative procedures.

Dr Ben Burton, the president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said NHS ophthalmology services are "on the brink of collapse".

Labour MP and former surgeon Dr Peter Prinsley warned that some regions could become "ophthalmic deserts" due to inadequate coverage.

The crisis is partly driven by a rise in fees paid by the NHS to independent providers for cataract surgery in recent years, according to Prinsley. The speed of basic cataract procedures means several can be carried out in a day by consultants, which has proven lucrative, he added.

This has led to increasing numbers of NHS consultants taking on more private work, including setting up clinics near hospitals which can carry out work for the NHS, he told the Press Association (PA). It means fewer NHS appointments are available for patients with more complex conditions, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration.

Burton said the problem was reaching a crisis point, telling PA: "We're heading off a cliff, it's not sustainable, and it's not safe. It's been something I think somebody needs to take a step back on and see the bigger picture of."

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Source: Medscape UK, 3 March 2025