Glaucoma, cataracts and DVLA Test

[hosbay]

Hi does anyone know if having Glaucoma gives prioritisation on the NHS waiting list for cataract replacement and does anyone know if cataracts can affect the field of vision and distance tests.

[mrswaffle]

I can tell you about my own experience; hope this helps! I see my surgeon every year for a routine checkup of my glaucoma; he put me on the list for cataract procedures last May. I had the left eye done on the NHS last week. The reason for the long delay was because my surgeon also does emergency operations, so he has a very limited cataract list. He says my glaucoma is ‘well-controlled’. When I knew I was getting the first one done, I decided to see my surgeon privately for the other one, as he said I may have a few months’ wait on the NHS (bearing in mind my cataracts were not making my glaucoma worse). So yes, there may be priority, depending on the individual. Cataracts can definitely affect your performance with the Snellen chart & the visual field test. The sight in my left eye was really poor, before I had the cataract procedure, to change the lens. I can already see a difference! Please feel free to ask me any questions, if this isn’t clear, otherwise the best of luck to you!

[hosbay in reply to mrswaffle]

Thank you for your helpful reply

[Cobblers12]

Hi Hosbay,

Not sure re cataracts affecting those tests mentioned, but I'm a driving instructor with Glaucoma and it certainly didn't bother them to speed things up a bit for myself ! ( at least 15 months wait, unfortunately, just for the First eye). Hoping you have better success

[Crafty-gran]

I was adviced last august I needed I stent and cataract

I had a phone call a few later . However my optican wouldn’t or couldn’t change my eye test appointment I didn’t have the cataract and stent done until begyif November. My left eye was done 8 weeks later

All in NHS

Must say the eye team at my local hospital are amazing and always see consultant

[Shinal_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hello, having glaucoma does not usually give you priority on the cataract waiting list unless the cataract is affecting your glaucoma. Cataracts can affect your distance and near vision. Cataracts mainly affect your central vision, although they can sometimes affect your peripheral vision. The extent to which your peripheral vision is affected by cataracts depends on the severity and location of the cataract within the lens.

[hosbay in reply to Shinal_GlaucomaUK]

Thaks for the information.