Latest Referral Criteria for Cataract in Bedfordshire
- Please find below the revised thresholds for cataract surgery in Bedfordshire. Essentially these revisions mean that BCVA must be 6/12 or worse in the worse eye. If this is not the case then please document in detail any symptoms impacting on the patient’s quality of life.
- · Referral of patients with cataracts to ophthalmologists should be based on the following indications;
- · The patient has sufficient cataract to account for the visual symptoms.
- · AND
- · The patient has best corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or worse in the worst eye and the reduced visual acuity is impairing their lifestyle:
- · the patient is at significant risk of falls
- · the patient’s vision is affecting their ability to drive
- · the patient’s vision is substantially affecting their ability to work
- · the patient’s vision is substantially affecting their ability to undertake leisure activities such as reading, watching television or recognising faces.
- · OR
- · The patient has best corrected visual acuity of better than 6/12 in the worst eye but they are working in an occupation in which good visual acuity is essential to their ability to continue to work e.g. watchmaker, microsurgeon.
- · OR
- · The patient has bilateral cataracts, neither of which fulfils the threshold for surgery, but which together reduce binocular vision below the DVLA standard for driving.
- · OR
- · The patient has best corrected visual acuity of better than 6/12 in the worst eye but they are experiencing some other significant impact on their quality of life, as a result of their visual symptoms. A description of this impact must accompany the referral information.
- · AND
- · The patient is willing to have cataract surgery:
- · The referring optometrist or GP has discussed the risks and benefits using an approved information leaflet (national or locally agreed) and ensured the patient understands and is willing to undergo surgery before referring .
- · Second eye surgery in patients with bilateral cataracts
- · Second eye surgery will be funded if the criteria above are met again. This should be assessed not earlier than the post-operative review following surgery on the first eye.
·
This policy does not extend to cataract removal incidental to the management of other eye conditions.