General Chat

Enjoyable visit to Aston University on Saturday, when I was impressed by both content and delivery of presentations by specialists discussing dry eye disease
 
Being aware of much of the info (unfortunately thanks to laser eye surgery) I was however reminded of the importance to blink frequently and apply eye drops, especially when staring at a computer screen for hours - as my dry eye specialist scolds me for not doing often enough!*

Acknowledged as world expert in his field members suffering with dry eyes have participated in Professor James Wolffsohn's research studies, and I usually post details of these when appropriate in the private MBEF Facebook group.

* Helpful 'MyDryEye' app free to download from the App store.

Sent to me by an #mbefoundation member damaged by Refractive Lens Exchange surgery (aka Natural Lens Replacement), his online conversation with Pi, a 'personal intelligence’ chatbot

On this occasion at least, Pi appears to be more reliable than the misnomered Trustpilot review site!
heypi.com/talk

However, when the same questions were repeated, Pi then said it hadn’t heard of Optical Express Medical Director Dr David Teenan.
There are no doubt thousands of people who wish they had also never heard of him, as I have spoken with many hundreds of his damaged patients who've contacted me for help over the years!

A new video has been posted by OE online (have copied link) and it’s now looking like that they are saying that having Laser Eye Surgery can now help migraines sufferers!!

Although she doesn’t say this in the video, she says she used to get alot of migraines before having the surgery and since having the surgery she can’t remember the last time she had one!

Has this been proven that surgery helps with migraines, absolutely not!!!! So people please don’t think that if you suffer with migraines that having surgery will help! 😡

The Care Quality Commission and Healthcare Improvement Scotland ratings for Optical Express are horrifying, and truly make me feel physically sick!

'Optical Express clinic on Corporation Street, Birmingham which treats people suffering from cataracts, has received the highest possible rating of ‘outstanding’ in a spectacular review following a visit from the Care and Quality Commission (CQC). In a glowing report, inspectors said: “Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and took account of their individual needs.”'
www.opticalexpress.co.uk/magazine/articl...ated-outstanding-cqc

'Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has rated four Optical Express surgery clinics in Scotland as ‘Exceptional’ following recent inspections. The Optical Express clinics in Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness offer a range of clinical eye care services to patients including laser eye surgery, cataract surgery and lens replacement surgery. Of the three domains of rating, each of the clinics were awarded three ‘Exceptional’ ratings, the highest ratings available, by the Scottish regulator.Optical Express’ Scottish clinics received the spectacular review after visits from HIS earlier this year. In one of the glowing reports, a patient involved in the inspection of the Aberdeen clinic remarked that “The team had a good balance of professionalism and treated me like a valued friend.”’

"Noelle Hannan, Glasgow Clinic Registered Manager and Clinical Director [& Tweedle’s wife], said: “I am very proud that our clinic in Glasgow has been recognised in this way by HIS and rated ‘Exceptional’. This is a massive achievement for us and it wouldn’t be possible without all the hard work from our multi-disciplinary team who demonstrate energy and enthusiasm whilst ensuring the very high standards we adhere to are fulfilled. I’m proud to be part of a team that is modelling best practice, and I know first-hand that our patients are grateful for the first rate service and outcomes they receive.”’ [ROTFLMAO!]
www.opticalexpress.co.uk/magazine/articl...-exceptional-ratings

Circled in yellow in the background poster, mental health nurse, Georgia Lee, was a recipient of the Thanks A Million scam (1); under the guise of benevolancy, OE sickeningly used the 2017 terrorist attacks to circumvent the Information Commissioner's Office’s enforcement re spam texts (2).
aberdeenbusinessnews.co.uk/healthcare-im...-clinic-exceptional/

The corrupt company even published a picture of ‘winner' Laura Newman on Instagram - who is in fact Stephen Hannan’s cousin and OE employee, fraudulently claiming she’d won free laser surgery (3)!

And not the first time they’ve posed staff as customers in promotional photos!

(1) www.opticalexpress.co.uk/thanks-a-million/georgia
(2) panopticonblog.com/2015/09/03/blindly-fu...-and-optical-express
(3) www.opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk/index.php/oermlblog (7 Dec 2019)

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) have chosen to totally ignore the many thousands of people damaged by Optical Express, whose eyes and lives are permanently ruined! Not forgetting the cost to the NHS, burdened with providing expensive aftercare.

They disgust me, along with every other organisation claiming to protect the public, instead rewarding and promoting the companies responsible for causing so much devastation and pain to people's lives!

Representatives from both regulators are invited to Bad Eye Day Lobby at the House of Commons on 17 April, when they can hear first hand accounts from people they are supposed to protect!

If government ministers (and allegedly a few CQC employees fed by David Moulsdale) stopped taking backhanders and bothered to address this scandal, it's not a difficult task to collate the numbers of damaged refractive surgery patients turning to the NHS, as I discussed at a meeting with Moorfields Eye Hospital CEO and MD in September 2018.

They eventually agreed to this, but their successors, Martin Kuper and Louisa Wickham, have refused to engage with me, Dr Kuper not even having the courtesy to reply to any of my emails.

As for Louisa Wickham, whom I’ve met on four occasions over the years, when accompanying MBEF clients to their NHS consultations, she is fully aware of the problems caused by the unregulated refractive industry.

The first time we met, Louisa gave me permission to quote her stating that she would not risk having laser eye surgery because her eyes are too valuable.
Now in a position to help, why is she not doing so?

Tweedledum|Stephen Hannan not so pretty in Pink, Dr David Teenan in Lime, Dr Sajjad Mughal in Orange.

#blindedonthehighstreet #stormsasha

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I don’t normally post about my personal life, but on this occasion I'm making an exception, to highlight one of the most serious issues within the #refractivesurgery industry - lack of informed consent

On Saturday evening, needing emergency treatment, my dog was referred to the The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, thankfully only half an hour drive from my home.

Whilst he was being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, a trainee vet (not a sales person!) took all the information that was required from me.

And after examining my dog, Dave Beeston (Emergency and Critical Care vet) personally checked all this with me again, before explaining what they intended to do over the next 24 hrs...

Risks and possible complications fully explained in person, BEFORE I signed the consent agreement.

The next day, early Sunday evening, I was called by the neurologist, Daniel Ryan, who explained in detail the procedures my dog would undergo on Monday. Again, all risks and possible unhappy results fully explained.

I was FULLY INFORMED!

And much as I love him, it should be considered that this is a dog we're discussing, not forgetting that his treatment was essential, not elective as is refractive eye surgery.

Yet I have never heard of ANY human refractive patient, no matter where their surgery, being equally fully informed, by the operating surgeon (as it should be), or by anyone else.

That there are many thousands of people left with serious side effects and debilitating post op problems after undergoing unnecessary refractive eye surgery not disclosed to potential new victims, or advice given not to take the risk simply to lose specs or contact lenses.

Because if this were done, I guestimate that sales would decrease by at least 50%!

And other than to say that the last few days have been incredibly traumatic for me (as animal lovers will appreciate), I won't be commenting further on my personal life, or that of my dog!

But I will take this opportunity to praise the many wonderful doctors and nurses at The Royal Veterinary College (RVC); exceptional care from wonderful people who do whatever they can to help sick animals.

Groundhog Day

1 January 2020: 'I am confident that 2020 will ultimately be OUR year… with two good reasons for my prediction tucked in my pocket until I am able to publish - one hopefully by the end of February or March...'

1 January 2021:
‘Unfortunately last year didn’t quite go the way I'd expected - in more ways than one, but there is good news on the horizon…’

1 January 2022:
‘If interested in reading more about the above, scroll back to read the earlier NYD posts in full - and consider 2022 the new 2020, at least so far as this industry is concerned!’

Things yet again not going quite the way in 2022 as so many of us expected, not least due to the extraordinary outcome of Dr #PrashantJindal’s FtP hearing, when the #mpts panel members incredibly recused themselves, absurdly blaming me for their unprecedented decision, astonishingly supported by the not fit for purpose General Medical Council legal team - story to be continued soon!

But with truths being published on both sides of the Atlantic, the refractive industry is starting to feel the heat, and I believe they’ll be walking on coals soon!

A number of surprises to come this side of the Atlantic, one of which guaranteed to make a lot of damaged patients smile, and I hope to have the green light to publicise some of the details later this month!

In the meantime, as I similarly posted last year, I’ll keep on doing what I have been doing for almost 12 years, and all I ask in return is that you PLEASE support my work - even if only by posting on OERML website forum, and liking/sharing my Twitter/Fb posts (and occasionally Instagram when I have time) 🙏

To all damaged patients, their families and friends, and those who support us in various ways (especially John McDonnell MP), I wish you a Happy New Year, and the best 2023 possible!

And to everyone else, I wish you what you deserve!

When I saw that Chris Hoadley had liked my previous post on LinkedIn, having not seen him on my page before, I clicked on his profile, and was surprised to see that he was advertising the £300 vouchers

As LinkedIn have a similar policy to eBay.co.uk with regard to medical devices, drugs, etc... I immediately reported the post. www.linkedin.com/legal/ads-policy

Amazed when I received their response that his post didn't go against LinkedIn policies, I then commented under Chris Hoadley's post (Yup, I've noticed my 'liking' typo!)



He incredibly replied that he hadn’t liked my post (he quite recently deleted), and obviously complained to LinkedIn, as I then received an email from the Trust & Safety team, stating that my comment didn’t comply with their policy on bullying and harassment and had therefore been removed.

I was given the option for them to ’take a second look’, but the link was unfortunately not working, as I would have argued that Chris Hoadley's post IS against their policies, and that he has neglected to mention that he receives £100 for every voucher used, and £1,000 for the tenth!!

Perhaps LinkedIn will look at his post again now that they've been tagged!

Optical Express lucrative 'Refer a Friend' vouchers cont'd (1/4 posted 16 October)

In 2013, thanks to the endeavours of many MBEFoundation members, eBay stopped the sale of Optimax and Optical Express referral vouchers: www.opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk/ind...end-vouchers-on-ebay

However, whilst researching for this topic two weeks ago, I found approximately TWENTY TWO Optical Express vouchers on eBay, similar to the one pictured here, listed by various sellers, and in breach of eBay policies: 'We do not accept advertising related to or encouraging any sensitive or offensive matters or that conflict with the eBay brand, including, but not limited to:
• Surgery or body enhancement services'
www.ebayads.com/advertising-policies/uni...kingdom-ad-policies/

Within two days I had every one of them removed!*

Some of the sellers had sold dozens of the vouchers, with various incentives (free postage even though emailed!), and no mention of their own £100 reward.



One generous seller's listing claimed that he was giving all proceeds to charity, so I asked him this question: 'Does the £100 you receive from Optical Express also go to charity?' (I didn't mention £1,000 for the 10th booker!)

I was quite surprised when he answered, but of course he probably thought I was a potential sucker!

'New message from: scoobyuk_136:
Hi - just the £0.99 currently however I do fundraising for wateraid regularly and have been thinking of changing the listing to state £50 (50%) goes to charity (and obviously giving the £50 to a charity)'

Even if he were thinking of it, which I very much doubt, happily he no longer has the option!

Googling 'Optical Express vouchers', I was shocked to find dozens of sites advertisng them, including MoneySavingExpert.com, previously owned by Martin Lewis, 'the most trusted man in Britain', according to The Guardian!

www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/31/mo...sumer-finance-advice

You might think it odd that MoneySavingExpert.com also include this information on the same OE promotion page:
'Had a problem with Optical Express? There’s a free online tool you can use to complain – it helps draft, manage and if necessary escalate your complaint. It’s offered by a firm called Resolver, which we like so much we work with it to help people get complaints justice – you can use it to complain to Optical Express.'**
www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/optical-express/

In fact it's disgusting hypocrisy, because MoneySavingExpert.com know full well there are likely to be problems:
forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4981857/optical-express

*I don't have time to keep checking, but to those that do, if you find any Optical Express vouchers on eBay, please report them...
Simply click on 'Report this item', and choose options as shown here.



**Any damaged patient considering it, don't bother with Resolver, total waste of time when it comes to OE, just like Optical Consumer Complaints Service)

Newsflash

Last Thursday an Optical Express insider told me that optometrist Derrick Hannan had left the company, after being there for more than 20 years!
He confirmed this on his Facebook page just a few hours ago...

A number of rumours for his surprising departure are circulating within the company, which I won't discuss here, not least because I don't believe they're true, though of course I could be wrong.

However, brother of Tweedledum (aka Stephen Hannan) is named in many ongoing legal claims from OE patients, and subject of current GOC investigations - plural!!

So perhaps David Moulsdale decided it better to jettison his loyal employee for the good of his company's reputation (I'll say it for you - ROTFLMAO!)

Time will tell, but whatever the reason, you can bet he signed a knee capping risk NDA!

1/4:
Optical Express pay lucrative referral fees



* www2.opticalexpress.co.uk/refer-a-friend
opticalexpress.co.uk/magazine/article/re...-even-more-rewarding

** gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/good-medica...128_pdf-51527435.pdf

*** rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03...ive-Surgery-2022.pdf

To be continued...