SLT Wating times

[Beechdown]

Could I ask how long anyone has had to wait for SLT. I am on the waiting list at Southampton Eye Unit and speaking with the secretary today the wait is roughly 8 months. Based on experience of others is this normal? I have had reactions ranging from dangerous to just about tolerable with every drop they have prescribed apart from Latanoprost which unfortunately does not control pressure enough in my bad eye. I am weighing up whether to ride it out with latest drops Dorzolomide which make me dozy and reduce blood pressure or pay for SLT privately. Thank you.

[Mrpunch]

Good morning sorry to hear about your experience, I had SLT last July at Prince Charles eye unit, Windsor with a wait of around 8 weeks. I also use Latanoprost but remember my Consultant switching me to the Xalacom version which seems to be effective. Regards.

[SallyTimpson]

I'm in Nottingham. I was put on the SLT list on 17 Dec and had mine done yesterday (7 weeks) I don't know if that is normal for Nottm or everywhere. My NHS app said it would be 17 weeks. I've been on Latanaprost for 12 months. I've not had any issues with it but my pressure hasn't dropped very much either.

[Griffira in reply to SallyTimpson]

I am hoping to have SLT having been recently diagnosed. What was it like?

[SallyTimpson in reply to Griffira]

Absolutely fine. Nothing to worry about.

It is very similar to sitting in front of the usual equipment. They'll add a couple of drops of local anesthetic into your eye. Add the lens which had some sort of gel on it. That doesn't hurt. Then sit in the usual position. And for around 5mins I could see various blurry lights and hear the machine click but all very quick and easy 😀.

[Griffira in reply to SallyTimpson]

Thanks Sally

[Shinal_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hello, I am sorry to hear about the waiting time you are experiencing for SLT. Unfortunately SLT waiting times are different across the country depending on its availability. You could look into having it done privately depending on the cost. Best Wishes

[Crunchielady]

I had SLT at reading and waited 3 months.

[Beechdown in reply to Crunchielady]

Thank you all for your replies. I guessed Southampton would be longer than most as I know they have had staffing issues in the glaucoma clinic which they have been trying to resolve and are now putting on weekend clinics to try and clear the backlog.. My next monitoring appointment is Sunday 25th May which is Bank Holiday weekend! My decision is now whether to sit it out or pay for SLT as it is unlikely it will be done before the middle of the year.

[Crunchielady]

Sometimes when waiting for an NHS op you can choose which hospital to go to depending on the wait times is it worth a call to your consultant to see if you have this option. The first time I had it done I was listed as urgent and that appt came through in a few weeks the 2nd time it was 3 months as not listed as urgent. You could ask them if you are considered an urgent case too.