Whenever I think I've heard it all, I discover that I can still be shocked by the behaviour of the refractive surgery industry, especially Optical Express, with 't
he largest network of private clinics in the UK and Ireland’ - for now
www.opticalexpress.co.uk/about/treatment-clinics
Yesterday I was contacted by Ms L, persuaded by a greedy OE sales person, aka ‘refractive technician’, and an unethical optometrist (both paid commission for the sale) to undergo lens exchange two weeks ago - at the age of 44!!
'
For many people, lens replacement (sometimes known as refractive lens exchange) is the most practical option to improve their vision. It’s most effective for patients who are AGED 45 OR OVER.’
www.opticalexpress.co.uk/lens-replacemen...active-lens-exchange
Contradicted on another page:
'Lens surgery, which can correct and overcome a distance prescription, aid intermediate or near vision across a range of tasks or treat a cataract, is often a better option than laser eye surgery for people OVER THE AGE OF 40. Our skilled and experienced clinicians are well placed to recommend the best procedure for you.’
www.opticalexpress.co.uk/magazine/articl...ng-laser-eye-surgery
Yet according to The Royal College of Ophthalmologists:
'
If you are OVER 50 YEARS OF AGE and have a glasses prescription higher than the normal range for laser eye surgery, you are likely to be suitable for RLE.’
www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/201...eaflet-April2017.pdf
Bad enough that this woman was too young, with only a pre op -3.25 distance prescription and +1.25 close up, but what’s even worse is that Optical Express surgeon, Dr Aasheet Desai, inserted the WRONG lenses, with a prescription meant for someone else, which suggests a second patient was also fitted with the wrong lenses!
Not forgetting the General Medical Council (GMC)and General Optical Council, one for Care Quality Commission to check out methinks, and - in my humble lay person’s opinion - a slam dunk medical negligence claim!
Meanwhile, Optical Express were desperate to get this woman back in for explants today and tomorrow - performed by Dr Aasheet Desai, who has apparently performed only 10 explants in his entire career!
Explant surgery is highly skilled, not as simple as swapping brake discs on a car, and certainly not to be trusted to a man who fitted the wrong lenses in the first place!
I texted David Moulsdale yesterday afternoon, and told him to make sure these ops were cancelled, that he shouldn't be allowing Dr Aasheet Desai to operate on anyone's eyes until this has been investigated.
I spoke with Ms L and her partner at length, who then spoke with an OE patient also damaged by lens exchange, better able to advise her than I am, and she finally decided to cancel herself…
However, when I called this morning to let her know that last night I spoke with two surgeons highly experienced in this field (each with way more than 10 successful explants under their belts!), both willing to perform the ops next week, Ms L did not answer, nor reply to my emails, suggesting that Optical Express persuaded her to ignore my advice.
And this is the OE consent form Ms L will have to sign if she goes ahead with these ops (the first in less than an hour as I write this) absolving OE from any responsibility hereon:
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