More than 500 patients ‘have lost their sight because of huge NHS backlogs’

Hundreds of patients have suffered life-changing and irreversible vision loss as a result of a massive backlog in NHS care, a damning study reveals.

Since 2019, clinicians have submitted 551 reports of patient vision loss due to delayed appointments, 219 of which resulted in “moderate” or “severe” damage.

The Association of Optometrists described the figures as “incomprehensible” and “absolutely tragic” and warned that hundreds of other cases are likely to go unreported.

It calls on ministers to commit to a national eye health strategy and move up to half of appointments from hospitals to High Street clinics so people can be treated more quickly.

The latest figures show 628,502 people waiting for ophthalmologist appointments – the second largest NHS backlog and equivalent to one in 11 patients on an NHS waiting list.

In addition, 27,260 of them have been waiting a year or more, against an 18-week target.

Patients report feeling ‘let down’ by the NHS and many are terrified of going blind because of the robberies. Some are forced into debt to go private.

In a survey of 876 optometrists in the UK, 72 per cent said they had seen a patient in the past six months who experienced a delay in treatment of a year or more.

And 43 per cent expressed serious concerns about the number of patients they see who could lose track unnecessarily due to long waiting lists on the NHS and canceled appointments.

Optometry Today, the magazine of the Association of Optometrists, obtained NHS England’s figures under Freedom of Information laws.

This shows that since 2019 there have been 551 reports to the National Reporting and Incident System in connection with loss of sight as a result of postponed appointments.

Of these reports, 99 incidents concerned ‘serious damage’ and 120 incidents concerned ‘moderate damage’.

One report describes a patient with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who lost vision in their left eye after their injection treatment was delayed.

The patient was supposed to receive monthly injections, but after three months had passed without an appointment, he came to the clinic.

Another patient reported that their four-month follow-up appointment was canceled multiple times.

When they presented one year and four months later, a total retinal detachment was diagnosed.

Adam Sampson, chief executive of the AoP, said: ‘We are facing a health emergency.

‘Hospitals are overrun and the NHS is collapsing under the need of patients.

“Good treatments are available for common age-related eye conditions such as macular degeneration, but many hospitals simply do not have the capacity to provide services.

“Optometry is ideally placed to take some of that burden off – optometrists are already qualified to provide many of the comprehensive services needed and are available on every high street, allowing patients to receive treatment closer to home.

“It is incomprehensible and absolutely tragic that patients in many parts of the country are waiting and losing their sight because of the way eye care is being conducted.

“With a national eye care strategy, we can take a critical step toward improving patient care and outcomes.”

A separate poll by the AoP of 498 members of the public with macular eye disease who required medical treatment in the past two years shows that 57 per cent have been delayed while waiting for an NHS appointment and/or treatment.

Nearly half (47 percent) experienced a loss or deterioration of vision during this time.

Around 41 per cent of patients report fear of losing their sight completely and 30 per cent feel let down by the NHS or authorities.

One respondent says: ‘My sight deteriorated so much that I walked around armed with three different magnifying glasses.

“I was really afraid that the achievements of the past few years in preserving my eyesight would be lost forever.”

Another said: “I haven’t had a word from the NHS since my optician found the hole and referred me four months ago. The success window is 6 months.

“I now stand to pay £7,500 privately, which means going into debt.”

And a third added, “I’m so concerned that I have to constantly call to get an appointment, aka a cancellation, as no appointments have been sent for over two years.

“It’s so scary when you know that prompt treatment is essential to prevent scarring and permanent vision loss, but when you call for an appointment, you’re told the next available date is months in the future.”

“You feel totally helpless.”

Every day around 300 people are diagnosed with macular disease – the biggest cause of vision loss in the UK.

Cathy Yelf, director of the charity Macular Society, said they get dozens of calls each month from people who fear delays will cause them to lose their sight.

Miss Self said: ‘People are terrified at the prospect of losing their sight. Those who contact us are those who are actively trying to resolve the issue.

“We have no idea how many people are sitting at home, quietly losing their sight and not giving a damn about it.

“It is tragic that people lose their sight when there is a treatment that helps to keep their eyesight longer, but it is not given in time.

‘If the NHS can’t handle the number of patients, they need to assess each patient’s risk and find an alternative venue for their treatment.

“This can’t wait, this is an urgent situation and people will lose their sight if not treated properly.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “No one should suffer unnecessary vision loss and we are taking action to improve access to services, including the appointment of a national clinical director for eye care to oversee recovery and transformation of services so patients get the care they need.

“We are also investing in the ophthalmology workforce with more training places in 2022 – and more planned for 2023 – alongside better training of incumbent staff.

“We have made great strides in clearing the Covid backlogs – including those waiting for eye care – with a record 2.1 million diagnostic tests completed in January.

“Thousands more patients are now being seen more quickly and 18-month waiting times have fallen by nearly two-thirds since September 2021.”