"Torn retina repair"

I was treated at the Opthalmology clinic at UHCW over three consecutive days.

Overall, I was very impressed with the skill and efficiency of the three doctors who treated me, but my experience on the third day was much more distressing than on the first two.

I initially attended owing to suddenly increased floaters and blurring in my left eye, after a diagnosis of PVD four months ago.

On this recent occasion, retinal tears were discovered and treated by a second doctor with laser 'spot welding'.

Both doctors were friendly, informative and caring.

I was told that an anaesthetic was being administered and the laser treatment was very slighly uncomfortable but certainly not painful.

The doctor had told me to ask him to stop if I experienced pain, and I did not need to.

He complimented me on my resilience.

I am a healthy, fit, 65 year-old, with, I believe, a fairly high pain threshold.

I was asked to return on the third day for a little more laser therapy, as bleeding in my eye had prevented the doctor from fully sealing the tears.

He told me to attend at 8.30.a.m. to avoid having to wait too long. (I had spent 4.5 hours and 2 hours respectively, on the previous two days.)

I explained this situation three times to different receptionists and nurses, but still seemed to join the normal casualty queue and be given a numbered card.

There was clearly some mix up with my paperwork as I was eventually called in two different waiting areas for two separate identical eye tests!

My original doctor told me that my further laser treatment would be carried out by another senior consultant,

I eventually saw him after over two hours.

He examined my eyes and said that my pupil was not sufficiently dilated, despite earlier drops.

More drops were put in and I was told to wait with my eyes closed for 15 minutes.

This extended to almost an hour.

The second lot of laser surgery was then very uncomfortable and painful, (I had understood that it was not supposed to be!) and seemed prolonged.

There was no mention of pausing if it became too painful, as on my first visit.

I did not complain as I wanted it over with, although I think it must have been clear that I was in some considerable discomfort, and the doctor seemed determined to get it done in one go.

My level of pain even made me wonder whether any anaesthetic had indeed been given.

It had not been mentioned.

I respect hugely the skill and expertise of the consultant who treated me, but I was rather taken aback by the experience on this third occasion, having been so impressed by the patient care on my first two visits.

I found it difficult to walk and make my way out of the hospital to find my wife who was waiting for me.

Follow up procedures, initiated by the consultant have been very efficient and I now have a follow-up appointment at Warwick hospital.