Older adult's eyesight threatened as NHS denies cataract surgery

Many older adults could be left with bad eyesight, as it has been revealed that the NHS is restricting cataract surgery.

Research from Imperial College London revealed that 71 out of 151 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) currently have policies in place to limit the number of cataract surgeries that are taking place.

The implication of this is that thousands of older adults are being denied a simple procedure that could dramatically improve their eyesight.

In many local NHS trusts, cataract surgery is now only offered to those that have already experienced a fall because of their eyesight or can no longer read, recognise people or drive.

Steve Winyard, of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, told Age UK: "It's indefensible and is leaving a lot of older people struggling to lead independent lives.

"People should not have to live with a reduced quality of life because PCTs are using arbitrary criteria to determine whether they get to keep their sight."

This follows the release of studies showing that cataract problems may be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease.

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