From left to right: Jessica Davidson (NHS Partnership Executive), Pamela (Patient) and Holly (Surgery Manager)
From left to right: Saqlain Sadiq (Ophthalmic Surgeon), Lucio (Patient) and and Holly (Surgery Manager)
Cataract patients in Milton Keynes have spoken of their relief after their vision was saved thanks to surgery at a new specialist cataract treatment centre. Community eye care provider ACES has received approval from Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB to begin treating NHS eye care patients.
Pamela’s poor eyesight meant that she was having trouble watching TV, and she had a negative experience at another provider before finding ACES.
Pamela said: “I enjoyed my experience at ACES and the staff have been brilliant. Before, I couldn’t see the TV without changing glasses, and my vision really affected my enjoyment of other hobbies too. I did not have a positive experience with another provider on my first eye, so I was really pleased when I chose to come to ACES. The clinic is in a great location and easy to find.”
Lucio, who was also treated quickly thanks to ACES, praised the staff for their professionalism.
Lucio said: “My experience at ACES was really positive. Following a quick referral, I felt so welcomed when I arrived and the staff were very accommodating. I had such a positive experience with my first eye that I was happy to come back for the other one. Thank you ACES!”
Cataracts are cloudy patches that form on the natural lens of your eye. Over time these patches usually become bigger, causing blurry vision and if left untreated, can eventually lead to blindness. The condition largely affects older people, and the longer they go without treatment, the greater the risk of associated mental health issues, or of suffering a serious fall, which requires urgent and costly medical care. Statistics show that 1 in 3 adults over the age of 65 suffer a fall every year, rising to 1 in 2 over the age of 80[1].
Until now, NHS cataract patients in Milton Keynes have often suffered severe delays for treatment. The approval of ACES marks a step towards reducing the backlog for cataract surgery, meaning patients in the area won’t have to wait as long to receive care. People who live in Milton Keynes who have any concerns about their eyesight are encouraged to book a consultation with their optometrist or speak to their GP who can then refer them onto ACES for treatment.
ACES typically treats the cataracts of NHS patients four weeks from their pre-assessment[2], with opportunity for patients existing to have surgery withing fourteen days, significantly reducing waiting times in the process. Giving patients the care they need in a timely manner helps to avoid further medical complications caused by poor eyesight, for example by reducing the risk of trips and falls. ACES expert surgeons are delivering the NHS service from Optical Express’s state of the art clinic in Milton Keynes.
Stephen Hannan, Clinical Services Director at Optical Express and ACES, said: “This partnership has been crucial in supporting NHS patients up and down the country to get the visual care they need. Lengthy waiting lists for NHS cataract surgery represent one of the biggest problems facing the eye care sector, and we’re very proud to be helping to reduce it. It’s vital that anyone who is concerned about their vision speaks to an optometrist, or their GP, to be referred to ACES.”
In addition to its new offer in Milton Keynes, ACES has also won permission to begin treating NHS patients in many other Integrated Care Board (ICB) areas in England.
[2] Treatment, appointment and wait time is subject to availability and dependent on patient and clinic location.
