Dear all
Please note below clarification on listing for 2nd eye:
If a patient attends for their 1st eye post-op assessment and they are either not symptomatic of their 2nd eye cataract OR they don't meet listing criteria, you will all most likely put them on either a 6-month or 12-month review at your practice. If the patient presents back to your practice at a later date and either is now having trouble with their 2nd eye OR feels the vision has deteriorated OR is unable to tolerate the imbalance and this is having an impact in their quality of life, they will likely request you to list them for the 2nd eye. At this stage, good practice would be to see them (via GOS or privately if they are not eligible for GOS) and carry out an updated refraction listing their acuities. If you then decide to list them for 2nd eye, please follow the below guidelines:
1. If it has been less than 12 months from the date of the original 1st eye referral, you do NOT need to carry out another pre-assessment. Please fill out the post-op recording form with updated information and send this to us so we can screen and list for 2nd eye. NB: You will NOT be able to invoice for this as there is no extra work required on your part except filling out the post-op form with updated information.
2. If it has been more than 12 months from the date of the original 1st eye referral, please carry out a new pre-assessment (including dilation) and invoice us for £50
In summary, you cannot carry out 2 pre- assessments within a 12 month window. After the 2nd eye surgery, the patient will come back to you for their 2nd eye post-op and you can invoice us for this once completed.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards
Akil
M. Akil Kanani BSc (Hons) MCOptom Prof Cert Glauc
Optometrist
Eye Department
Luton & Dunstable University Hospital NHS FT