Patient journey and informed consent

6. Arrive at the clinic

Your consultation will determine your suitability for treatment and it will also provide you with all the information you'll need to be able to make an informed choice about eye surgery. When you arrive at the clinic, you'll be welcomed by a patient advisor. They'll explain the different steps involved and you'll have plenty of time to ask questions, which will help you to make a decision about proceeding with treatment.

7. Health questionnaire review

If you've not already done so, you'll be asked to complete your health and lifestyle questionnaire.

8. Advanced diagnostic testing

You'll undergo a series of non-invasive, yet highly sophisticated, diagnostic tests and your advisor will explain each of these in detail before any examination is carried out. The results of these eye tests are much more advanced than the measurements taken during a standard eye examination.

9. Meet your optometrist

Your specialist optometrist can now review the information provided in your questionnaire and diagnostic tests. Following this, you'll be asked to verify and sign, to confirm that the details contained in your health and lifestyle questionnaire are correct.

You'll discuss with them, in more detail, your reasons for considering eye surgery, your goals and the information that you've previously provided.

10. Optical examinations and eye health assessment

A series of tests and examinations will determine your eye health, your natural vision and the current prescription in each eye. Your optometrist will place drops in your eyes to dilate your pupils, allowing a thorough examination of your eyelids, cornea, pupil, lens and retina. You may notice your vision becomes a little blurred and more sensitive to light, but this is nothing to worry about – it'll return to normal in a matter of hours.

11. Receive our preliminary recommendation

Your optometrist will determine your suitability for surgery on a preliminary basis, pending confirmation from your ophthalmic surgeon. The final decision will always rest with your ophthalmic surgeon, but if you're not considered suitable for surgery, we can offer a number of other solutions. If you are suitable on a preliminary basis, we'll recommend the most effective and appropriate treatment for you.

12. Have a detailed discussion with our Optometrist

If our Optometrist confirms you are a candidate for one of our procedures they will have a detailed discussion with you, during which they will explain the benefits and the potential risks and outcomes associated with eye surgery. This will give you the knowledge you need to make an informed decision about your procedure. You'll be asked to sign an electronic signature pad, confirming you have understood the information provided and that all of your questions have been answered.

13. Receive your Patient Information Folder

You will be given a Patient Information Folder which provides the details of your procedure. You'll also receive an Informed Consent Document covering the benefits, risks, outcomes and other vision correction treatments available. A Terms and Conditions document is provided too and it's important that you read all the information given. You can see these documents here.

14. Read your informed consent document

Your informed consent document will provide you with a further understanding of the benefits, potential risks, range of outcomes relating to eye surgery and vision correction alternatives. It will also help you to prepare any further questions you may want to ask. Please ensure you read your informed consent document prior to your clinician discussion or surgeon consultation.

15. Have a surgeon consultation

Some patients will have a consultation with your specialist surgeon before treatment day. This can be done in person, or by via a video call. Your surgeon will talk you through your suitability. If you are a suitable candidate for surgery, the surgeon will discuss the recommended procedure, its benefits, potential risks and the range of associated outcomes, as well as the vision correction alternatives to the recommended procedure. You'll have plenty of opportunity to ask questions. Your surgeon may also request further tests at this point. If your surgeon consultation is in-person, your surgeon will perform an examination of your eyes. If you have your surgeon discussion by video call, you have the further option of an in person discussion prior to your day of surgery and in any event you will have a consultation with the surgeon on the day of planned surgery before any surgical procedure takes place.

16. Have a clinician discussion

Patients who are not scheduled to meet with their surgeon until day of surgery, must  have another discussion with an experienced Optometrist before treatment day. This will typically be done by telephone. The experienced optometrist will talk you through the surgery that has been recommended on a preliminary basis and ensure that you fully understand the process. The procedure, it’s benefits, it’s potential risks, the range of associated outcomes and the vision correction alternatives to the recommended procedure will be discussed. Like with the other consultations you participate in you'll have plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

17. Surgeon Consultation

As a follow-on to any necessary diagnostic tests being completed you will participate in a consultation with your Ophthalmic Surgeon. During this consultation your Surgeon will perform an examination of your eyes. He or she will then have a discussion with you on your suitability for surgery. If you are deemed to be a suitable candidate by your surgeon, they will discuss the recommended procedure, it’s benefits, potential risks and range of outcomes, as well as the vision correction alternatives to the recommended procedure. You will have time to ask any questions once again. Having reflected upon all associated matters, suitable candidates for surgery who wish to proceed will complete the Informed Consent process with their treating surgeon.

18. Your surgery

Your surgical care team will do everything they can to help you feel at ease and you can rest assured that they'll also address any concerns you may have. Prior to the surgery taking place, they'll take you through each step of the procedure, so you know exactly what to expect.

With lens surgery, your eyes can either be treated on separate days or both on the same day. The surgery itself takes around ten minutes per eye. You'll meet with your personal anesthetist and they'll ensure that you are comfortable and relaxed throughout your procedure. Although you'll be awake throughout, you won't experience any pain during the treatment.

With laser eye surgery, your eyes will generally be treated on the same day. Each eye is operated on individually, with the surgery taking around ten minutes to perform.

19. Rest after surgery

After your treatment, your surgeon will assess the immediate results. A member of the surgical care team will then take you to a private lounge area to relax. You'll be provided with aftercare instructions and eye drops and you'll also be told what to expect during the initial stages of recovery. Your next day aftercare appointment will be scheduled and you'll be free to leave at your leisure.

20. Next day aftercare appointment

It is essential that you attend your aftercare appointments. These start the day after surgery, when the clinical team will carry out a full eye assessment to ensure that they're healing as expected.

21. Plan your aftercare journey

We'll continue to look after your eye health well into the future and because we understand that every patient is an individual, your aftercare will be tailored to your own unique requirements. Following your next day aftercare appointment, you'll attend further appointments, until both you and the care team are happy to discharge you from our care. This happens to the majority of our patients between three and 12 months after surgery.

It's important to note that charges are involved for additional post-treatment appointments which take place outside of our inclusive periods. They are as follows:

• Optometrist: £100
• Ophthalmic Surgeon £200

Medications are provided at no cost for three months as a follow-on to your surgery. Outwith this time private fees will apply.

22. Attend your annual eye examination

An eye examination is not just to check your vision it is also essential to monitor the general health of your eyes. Many health conditions can be detected during an eye examination. At Optical Express our experienced optometrists will carry out a thorough assessment of each patient's visual health including state-of-the-art screening for diseases. This includes looking for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration before they become a bigger health challenge. Conditions which, if left undiagnosed, can lead to severe sight loss.