Cataract operations

Definitely not heard this - I have slowly growing cataracts and had assumed that they would be done on the NHS when appropriate.

Same for me, have eye test tomorrow with low vision optician , hope the cataracts are still slow growing

Appalling! Mine were treated virtually as soon as they were spotted. The second was minor but my surgeon said the discrepancy in vision would be hard to cope with so second op was done as soon as I recovered from the first.
Mind you, this has made such a difference that I would have funded it if I'd had to!
I do hope this turns out to be remedied asap.

It's very much related to post code rationing - each CCG sets its own rules

Was it a high street optician who told her this Ann or an optician at a NHS eye hospital/clinic?

Yes Anya it was Specsavers. She lives in Derbyshire. I also know people who have had immediate treatment with very early cataracts and others who have been told they must wait until they are "ripe".

Ann I'd suggest your friend gets her GP to refer her to an eye consultant on the NHS.

my late mother had her cataracts removed when she was in her eighties,the lovely young Australian surgeon was quick to reassure her she'd be able to drive after the op...thats brilliant she said I couldn't drive before I had them .

Does she need to lip read/wear a hearing aid? If so she should be prioritized

I had an eye test with an optician yesterday as I feel my cataracts are getting worse. He also used drops to check that my eyes were healthy behind the cataracts.
He said that if he sent me to the largest NHS hospital they probably would make me wait until the cataracts are worse but another hospital has a private company carrying out the operations on the NHS. I have heard good reports about the private company.
The optician will do the check up appointment a few weeks after my worst eye is done and then refer me to have the second one done. He think it will probably all be done by next February.