NHS Ophthalmology Waiting Times
The average NHS Ophthalmology wait in England is 10 weeks, but it ranges from 3 weeks at Berkshire Independent Hospital - Ramsay to 15 weeks elsewhere. That gap is yours to use — you have a legal right to choose where you are treated.
What Ophthalmology covers
Ophthalmology covers eye conditions and eye surgery — cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, watery eyes and eyelid problems. Cataract surgery is one of the highest-volume NHS operations and one where the wait varies enormously between hospitals.
People are usually referred here for
- Cataract surgery
- Glaucoma or raised eye pressure
- Macular degeneration
- Diabetic eye disease
- Eyelid problems or watery eyes
- Sudden change in vision
10w
Avg treatment wait
3w
Shortest wait
15w
Longest wait
200
Hospitals reporting
Find the shortest Ophthalmology wait near you
Enter your postcode to get a ranked list of every NHS and independent sector provider.
Shortest Ophthalmology waits in England
| # | Hospital | Region | Avg treatment wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Berkshire Independent Hospital - Ramsay | South East | 3w |
| 02 | Southampton Practice Plus Group | South East | 4w |
| 03 | Bromsgrove Newmedica | Midlands | 4w |
| 04 | Benenden Hospital | South East | 5w |
| 05 | Luton Spamedica | East of England | 5w |
| 06 | Plymouth Practice Plus Group | South West | 5w |
| 07 | St Marys Portsmouth Practice Plus Group | South East | 5w |
| 08 | Gillingham Practice Plus Group | South East | 5w |
| 09 | Worcester Newmedica | Midlands | 5w |
| 10 | Ilford Practice Plus Group | London | 6w |
Average Ophthalmology wait by region
Procedures treated under Ophthalmology
Waiting lists are recorded by specialty, so all of these share the Ophthalmology wait times above.
Browse all conditions →Were you referred somewhere else?
The same problem is sometimes handled by a different department, and the wait can be very different. Check these too:
Your right to choose a Ophthalmology hospital
Under the NHS Constitution and the Health Act 2009, you have a legal right to choose which NHS or NHS-commissioned independent sector provider sees you for your first outpatient Ophthalmology appointment.
Your GP must refer you via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) and offer you at least five choices. If you have already been referred to a hospital with a long wait, you can ask your GP to re-refer you to a provider with a shorter wait. This is entirely within your rights.
Research shows the average extra distance to a significantly shorter wait is just 13 miles.
Read the full Ophthalmology Right to Choose guide →Ready to find a shorter Ophthalmology wait?
Search every NHS hospital by postcode. Free, no sign-up required.