Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

Sickened wrote: Can I ask how much all this has cost you Robin?

The highest cost of all was the emotional and psychological strain and worry caused by three and a half years of mostly blurry vision with neither eye successful for long despite bilateral RLE and lasek.

Optical Express appeared to be unable to assess me properly. Maybe I was a particularly difficult patient. I think I demonstrate perfectly how the Optometrist led model of care can let a patient down.

Also to deny that the treatments carried out had any connection with the need for a vitrectomy was the final insult to a very long suffering patient. It states clearly in their own notes “yag debris and floaters RE ++”. ...the yag debris was absolutely categorically there due to my having had lens replacement.

Assessment and further laser treatment elsewhere cost £2395
Vitrectomy and two follow up appointments £3300.
I found out late on that my BUPA private health insurance would cover this for me which was a huge relief.
I have worked out that I travelled 7,000 miles up and down the country. Plus of course accommodation costs.

Prior to Stephen Hannan, who was the Clinical Director of Optical Express?
Is it perhaps time for someone else, preferably a Surgeon, to take over this role?

Treatments are regularly given away by OE for marketing purposes, so why oh why could they not respond to Ruth B with kindness and “write off” the cost of her surgery given her circumstances? Do legalities prevent them from being able to respond with humanity?

I was afforded a treatment to my second eye free of charge, though I certainly did not ask for this and was HAPPY TO PAY!

It was all very strange at the time and not clearly communicated. My first eye had not been the greatest of successes. This has been a very conflicting emotion for me as I am a grateful person.

This is absolutely tragic, not just for Ruth B, but for Stephen Hannan and Optical Express.

I had lens replacement (RLE) in Sept 2013. Prior to my treatment I had a check up at my local Optical Express clinic and was told they'd seen something in my eye and advised I went to NHS hospital to get it checked.

I went to Winchester Hospital where the doctor told me they couldn't see anything. I went back to Optical Express in Harley Street for further tests and 2 months later booked treatment.

After RLE on my second eye, which did not go smoothly (they left plastic in my eye) they said they were not happy with first eye and at their expense sent me to another hospital, where surgeon Riaz Asaria told me that I had eye cancer, a tumour about 10mm in size.

Shocked does not cover it!!

After Proton Beam therapy in Liverpool I contacted Optical Express asking for refund of my payment for just one eye, as I believe they should not have carried out the treatment.

Surely a 10mm tumour should have shown up somewhere amongst Optical Express' widely advertised "advanced technology" tests I underwent at Harley Street?!

Stephen Hannan's reply:



My interpretation understands that Stephen Hannan is saying that if I lose my eye they'll give me a refund!
____________________
admin: Riaz Asaria is an Optical Express listed surgeon!
www.opticalexpress.co.uk/lens-surgery/su.../mr-riaz-asaria.html

It should actually be against the law to replace the natural lens in any eyes at all unless visually impairing cataracts are present or there is some other compelling clinical reason for doing so.
It is also morally questionable to say the least for 'celebrities' to promote any type of refractive eye surgery, especially as they will almost certainly have been operated on by what could be termed 'top level surgeons' and said ops will, in many cases, have been performed as part of a commercial arrangement where the 'celebrity' promotes the clinic who performed their surgery.

Thank you for that link Mr Starburst which makes very interesting reading.

There is currently a lot of research going on into new lens designs and materials as well as techniques to avoid capsular opacifiation. In fact, this must be the "holy grail" of refractive lens exchange! But until it is found I firmly believe that lens replacement surgery should ONLY be undertaken for visually significant cataracts. Too many patients are experiencing problems for which they were not prepared!
Informed consent? I think not

How many people who have undergone or are considering RLE are aware of what's in the link below?

Probably no-one at all I'll bet!

The refractive eye surgery industry sell these types of operations as being simple and safe, when in reality they are neither!

www.about-eyes.com/14-reasons-why-you-wa...er-cataract-removal/

Robin wrote: Stephen Hannan recommended I undergo this procedure and said OE would pay for it, but only if I signed a non disclosure agreement• . I felt "kicked when I was down" having been through the most stressful and miserable experience of my life and was not inclined to sign a "gagging order" so went through this without their help.

Can I ask how much all this has cost you Robin?

Last month the NHS logo was displayed on the Optical Express website! This made me VERY VERY angry

OE 'live chat advisor' James said "We have a relationship with the NHS where they would be able to refer patients to Optical Express."

Have cataract patients on the NHS waiting list been referred to Optical Express?
________________________________
admin: I mentioned the NHS logo to John McDonnell in early July. He asked the government if OE were paying to advertise on NHS Choices. I'm waiting for updates from John as parliament is currently in summer recess.

Hi Robin
I now know that floaters are very common after this surgery but was never told this by OE until post op advice. I have two big ones, one in each eye and lots of smaller ones also I suffer from halos and starbursts I have not had any laser work as I discovered this sight. My long distance sight is worse than before and I also think my near vision is starting to get worse. I think the only reason Alex George contacted me is because of the legal action I am taking and not in the interest of my health as we both know they have no real interest in that