I returned to the local NHS Opthalmology dept at QMH in Jan 2026 for a review of my left eye problem. I had a lengthy discussion with an ophthalmologist who diagnosed:
As my eyesight was still above the cataracts vision threshold, he wrote back to my optician with an update and advised them to proceed with a prescription.
In May, I felt my left eye was becoming more blurry. In true DIY fashion, I googled more about the cataract threshold. “In the NHS, cataract surgery is generally considered when your visual acuity drops to 6/12 or worse in your affected eye.”
Further research (googling) informed me that 6/12 vision means your eyesight is about half as sharp as normal 6/6 vision. If you have 6/12 vision, you need to be 6 meters away to see something clearly that a person with normal vision can see from 12 meters away.
I decided I could set up a test, as I had a 6m run in my house! The letter boards opticians use, are called Snellen charts, and print-at-home on A4 are available online. By my DIY analysis, I thought my left eye was now in the cataracts scope. I therefore felt justified in going back to the optician for a further discussion.
I was mortified to discover that the loveliest optician I had ever met, no longer worked there. Continuity I felt was important here, so I made an appointment with another optician, and I did see him during the last episode.
On 8th May I had a lengthy consultation. He explained the four issues in my eye and suggested it was so complex a cataracts surgery may not help, due to the other issues. The waiting list for cataracts on the NHS is 18 months. Or a few weeks with a private consultation. My optician advised he would refer me to NHS ophthalmology. In the meantime, I’d pursue the private health insurance I had with work.
The private health insurance progressed and I had a cataracts appointment booked in for 20/07/2026.
But out of the blue, I got a phone call and the offer of a cancellation at NHS Opthalmology for 01/07/2026. It was suggested that it was worth my while attending for a second opinion. This appointment revealed a flare-up of my uveitis and I was advised the cataracts was not currently advisable, and not for 20th July. Instead I spent the next few weeks on steroid eye drops, and another couple of follow-on appointments.
This all took its course and I was able to reschedule the cataracts at Nuffield Health for 05/10/2026. I was really not keen on the idea of eye surgery, but it was exactly like the ophthalmic consultant advised. I felt nothing and I saw nothing. But I was aware of movement and the bright light above. I recovered the next day, sufficiently, to attend my local pub quiz.
Right now, the eye is still really blurry and I can’t read using it, either with my glasses on or off. I’m not sure it’s any better. But all the advice is to wait 4-6 weeks. I’m hoping for a new pair of glasses at the end of it. I usually buy them online, but Vision Express have been so good with all my eye problems. They haven’t charged me for all the extra appointments I’ve had so I may have to reward them with an on-site glasses purchase!
Check-up at the Nuffield scheduled for 23/10/2026.
