Last updated with NHS England data for August 2026. How we update

Ophthalmology (Eye Care) Waiting Times Across the NHS

The NHS Ophthalmology (Eye Care) waiting list in England has 622,581 patients currently waiting for treatment, with a typical wait of around 9 weeks across 313 hospitals. In practice, Ophthalmology (Eye Care) waiting times range from about 3 weeks at the fastest hospital to 23 weeks at the slowest. From GP referral to first Ophthalmology (Eye Care) appointment, most patients (92%) are seen within about 25 weeks; the NHS constitutional target is 18 weeks. 4,973 patients have been on the Ophthalmology (Eye Care) waiting list for more than a year. Waits for Ophthalmology (Eye Care) are about 1 week longer than in August 2025.

12-month change

Then vs now nationally

Aug 25→Aug 26
Typical wait
8.8weeks
â–² +1 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
8in 10
â–¼ -1.7 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
623k
â–² +35k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
5k
â–¼ -3.1k
Been on the list for 12+ months
313
Hospitals you could choose from
9 weeks
How long most people wait
8 in 10
Seen within 18 weeks
5k
Have waited over a year

Common reasons for referral

Cataract surgery
Glaucoma treatment
Macular degeneration
Diabetic eye screening
Squint correction
Tear duct problems
Eyelid surgery
Laser eye treatment
Retinal detachment

National trend

Average ophthalmology (eye care) wait across England, month by month.

â–² +1 wks

All hospitals

Hospital Region Wait Within 18 Wks 52+ Wk
Spamedica Ipswich Diagnostic & Treatment Centre East of England East of England 3 wks
100.0%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Southampton South East South East 3 wks
91.6%
-
Norwich & Norfolk Surgical Ltd (N2s) East of England East of England 3 wks
96.7%
-
Spamedica Bedford East of England East of England 4 wks
87.7%
-
Spamedica Wokingham London London 4 wks
85.9%
1
Spamedica Bexhill South East South East 4 wks
91.5%
-
Probus Surgical Centre South West South West 4 wks
98.1%
-
Spamedica Brighton South East South East 4 wks
86.1%
1
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Emersons Green South West South West 4 wks
96.1%
-
Spamedica Newcastle-under-lyme Midlands Midlands 4 wks
96.6%
-
The Berkshire Independent Hospital South East South East 4 wks
100.0%
-
Spamedica Oxford South East South East 4 wks
88.9%
-
Benenden Hospital South East South East 4 wks
86.7%
-
Spamedica Preston North West North West 4 wks
93.3%
-
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - St Marys Portsmouth South East South East 5 wks
90.9%
-
Anglia Community Eye Service - Cambridge East of England East of England 5 wks
88.5%
1
Spamedica Epsom South East South East 5 wks
88.3%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital Brighton South East South East 5 wks
98.0%
-
Spamedica Gloucester South West South West 5 wks
90.7%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital Uttoxeter Midlands Midlands 5 wks
95.7%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Plymouth South West South West 5 wks
99.0%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital Maidstone South East South East 5 wks
97.3%
-
Spamedica Skelmersdale North West North West 5 wks
90.8%
-
Spamedica Truro South West South West 5 wks
89.5%
-
Spamedica Derby Midlands Midlands 5 wks
88.4%
1
Spamedica Kendal North West North West 5 wks
91.5%
-
Independent Health Group South West South West 5 wks
98.2%
-
Spamedica Blackpool North West North West 5 wks
89.6%
-
Spamedica Norwich East of England East of England 5 wks
83.7%
2
The Yorkshire Clinic North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
94.3%
-
Ces Medical South East South East 5 wks
97.4%
-
Spamedica Widnes North West North West 5 wks
93.6%
-
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Gillingham South East South East 5 wks
90.5%
-
Bmi - Bishops Wood London London 5 wks
98.1%
-
Newmedica - Swindon Murdock Road South West South West 5 wks
86.3%
2
Optegra (Surrey Eye Hospital) South East South East 5 wks
95.7%
-
Spamedica Sheffield Community Diagnostic & Treatment Centre North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
98.8%
-
Spamedica Bolton North West North West 5 wks
94.8%
-
Spamedica Colchester East of England East of England 5 wks
88.7%
-
Anglia Community Eye Service - Peterborough East of England East of England 5 wks
89.1%
1
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Ilford London London 5 wks
100.0%
-
Anglia Community Eye Service Ltd East of England East of England 5 wks
93.3%
-
Spamedica Wirral North West North West 5 wks
95.6%
-
Spamedica Haydock North West North West 5 wks
88.4%
1
Newmedica - Nottingham Midlands Midlands 5 wks
96.5%
-
Aces Liverpool North West North West 6 wks
90.7%
1
Spamedica Luton East of England East of England 6 wks
83.8%
-
Aces Southampton South East South East 6 wks
96.4%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital Preston North West North West 6 wks
97.3%
-
Spamedica Peterborough East of England East of England 6 wks
87.1%
1
Spamedica Cambridge East of England East of England 6 wks
85.6%
1
Spamedica Sittingbourne South East South East 6 wks
84.9%
-
Spamedica Wolverhampton Midlands Midlands 6 wks
89.9%
3
Bmi - The London Independent Hospital London London 6 wks
96.9%
-
Spamedica Oldham North West North West 6 wks
88.0%
-
Spamedica Guildford South East South East 6 wks
79.5%
-
Spamedica Chesterfield Midlands Midlands 6 wks
87.7%
-
Anglia Community Eye Service - Thetford Healthy Living Centre East of England East of England 6 wks
95.3%
-
Bmi - Shirley Oaks Hospital London London 6 wks
84.9%
-
Spamedica Chelmsford East of England East of England 6 wks
89.9%
2
Spamedica Dalston London London 6 wks
86.8%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Barlborough Midlands Midlands 6 wks
92.2%
-
Spamedica Leicester Midlands Midlands 6 wks
88.0%
-
Spamedica Chester North West North West 6 wks
90.7%
1
Ashtead Hospital South East South East 6 wks
88.8%
-
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
81.1%
-
Newmedica - Bromsgrove Midlands Midlands 6 wks
87.5%
-
Spamedica Doncaster North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
92.0%
-
Aces Manchester North West North West 6 wks
86.7%
-
Newcastle Newmedica Ltd North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
97.9%
-
Newmedica - Worcester Midlands Midlands 6 wks
88.1%
1
Newmedica - Bristol - Litfield House South West South West 6 wks
86.0%
5
Newmedica - North Derbyshire - Midland Court Midlands Midlands 6 wks
90.3%
1
Spamedica Solihull Midlands Midlands 6 wks
86.5%
1
Spamedica Birmingham Midlands Midlands 6 wks
91.1%
1
Aces Milton Keynes East of England East of England 6 wks
96.8%
-
Spamedica Liverpool North West North West 6 wks
88.7%
1
Spamedica Hull North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
96.1%
-
Anglia Community Eye Services Fakenham East of England East of England 6 wks
91.9%
-
Optegra (Solent Eye Hospital) South East South East 6 wks
95.0%
-
Spamedica Wembley London London 6 wks
83.7%
3
Optegra Eye Hospital Colchester East of England East of England 6 wks
92.3%
-
Spamedica Gateshead North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
92.3%
-
Phoenix Health Solutions Limited HQ North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
97.4%
-
Bmi - The Chaucer Hospital South East South East 6 wks
95.1%
-
Spamedica Macclesfield Community Diagnostic & Treatment Centre North West North West 6 wks
84.2%
-
Epsomedical Group South East South East 7 wks
96.5%
-
Nuffield Health, North Staffordshire Hospital Midlands Midlands 7 wks
67.4%
2
Newmedica - Worksop - Dukeries North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
90.0%
-
Spamedica Coventry Midlands Midlands 7 wks
89.2%
-
Spamedica Dorchester South West South West 7 wks
90.7%
-
Spamedica Swindon South West South West 7 wks
80.0%
-
Spamedica North Tyneside North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
91.5%
-
Sulis Hospital Bath (Foxcote Avenue) South West South West 7 wks
91.7%
-
Bmi - The Clementine Churchill Hospital London London 7 wks
100.0%
-
Woodthorpe Hospital Midlands Midlands 7 wks
93.2%
-
Spamedica Romford London London 7 wks
85.4%
1
Spamedica Carlisle North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
90.6%
-
Spamedica Stockton-on-tees North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
92.0%
1
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust London London 7 wks
87.4%
-
Spamedica Sheffield North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
89.6%
-
Newmedica Suffolk - Bury St Edmunds - Clarity House East of England East of England 7 wks
93.9%
-
Newmedica - Gloucester (Brighouse Court) South West South West 7 wks
81.7%
7
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
81.5%
5
Optegra (Birmingham Eye Hospital) Midlands Midlands 7 wks
91.6%
-
Newmedica - Birmingham Midlands Midlands 7 wks
93.0%
1
Optegra Eye Hospital Newcastle North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
92.5%
-
Newmedica - Langford South West South West 7 wks
77.3%
9
Newmedica - Ipswich East of England East of England 7 wks
95.1%
-
Aces White City London London 7 wks
84.3%
-
Bmi - Goring Hall Hospital South East South East 7 wks
88.3%
-
Rivers Hospital East of England East of England 7 wks
86.6%
1
Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 7 wks
89.5%
-
Newmedica - Teesside - North Ormesby North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
92.3%
-
Aces Bristol South West South West 7 wks
85.6%
-
Spamedica Newark Midlands Midlands 7 wks
90.9%
6
Tetbury Hospital Trust Ltd South West South West 7 wks
95.3%
-
Spamedica Manchester North West North West 7 wks
81.9%
2
Spamedica Poole South West South West 7 wks
88.1%
1
Newmedica - Norwich East of England East of England 7 wks
86.7%
3
Aces Chelmsford East of England East of England 7 wks
92.3%
-
Spamedica Exeter South West South West 7 wks
87.2%
1
Spamedica Telford Midlands Midlands 7 wks
91.8%
-
Spamedica Sale North West North West 7 wks
81.5%
-
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
82.1%
-
Optegra (Manchester Eye Hospital) North West North West 7 wks
92.9%
-
Newmedica - Cheshire Oaks North West North West 7 wks
86.5%
2
Nuffield Health The Holly Hospital East of England East of England 7 wks
87.6%
-
Practice Plus Group Ophthalmology - North West North West North West 7 wks
96.3%
-
Spamedica Isle Of Wight Community Diagnostic & Treatment Centre South East South East 8 wks
86.4%
-
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
82.3%
1
Spamedica Bromley South East South East 8 wks
84.6%
2
University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
78.5%
25
Calderdale And Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
84.7%
-
Spamedica Taunton South West South West 8 wks
86.5%
2
Aces Birmingham Midlands Midlands 8 wks
83.9%
-
Community Health And Eyecare Limited North West North West 8 wks
86.3%
1
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 8 wks
84.6%
19
Newmedica - Exeter - Glen House South West South West 8 wks
95.3%
-
Spamedica Watford East of England East of England 8 wks
84.7%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Shepton Mallet South West South West 8 wks
84.3%
12
Spamedica Leeds North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
93.4%
-
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
86.4%
-
Healthshare Diagnostics East of England East of England 8 wks
76.2%
1
Spamedica Portsmouth South East South East 8 wks
78.7%
2
Aces Nottingham Midlands Midlands 8 wks
88.9%
1
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
86.0%
-
Newmedica - Manchester West North West North West 8 wks
85.7%
-
Spamedica Bristol South West South West 8 wks
85.1%
-
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust South West South West 8 wks
80.2%
4
Optegra Eye Hospital Sheffield North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
90.9%
-
Spamedica Croydon London London 8 wks
73.6%
1
Nuffield Health, Wolverhampton Hospital Midlands Midlands 8 wks
86.2%
-
Spamedica Eye Hospital (Wakefield) North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
93.3%
-
Midland Eye (Eye-docs Ltd) Midlands Midlands 8 wks
96.8%
-
Spamedica Bradford North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
91.2%
-
Optegra London Eye Hospital London London 8 wks
80.7%
-
Plymouth Newmedica Ltd South West South West 8 wks
90.7%
-
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
83.0%
1
East And North Hertfordshire NHS Trust East of England East of England 8 wks
79.3%
29
Newmedica - Bradford & Huddersfield North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
87.4%
4
Spamedica Worcester Midlands Midlands 8 wks
84.5%
2
Newmedica - Brigg - Riverside Surgery North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
83.8%
1
Newmedica Aztec West South West South West 8 wks
74.4%
8
Newmedica - Darlington North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
90.6%
-
Northern Lincolnshire And Goole NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
81.4%
1
Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 8 wks
82.8%
-
Bmi Woodlands Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
85.6%
-
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 9 wks
77.4%
18
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 9 wks
83.3%
3
Optegra Eye Hospital Nottingham Midlands Midlands 9 wks
95.0%
-
Bmi Southend Private Hospital East of England East of England 9 wks
81.4%
-
University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 9 wks
75.9%
-
Newmedica Leicester Midlands Midlands 9 wks
86.4%
3
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
76.4%
1
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 9 wks
79.7%
1
Glendon Wood Hospital Midlands Midlands 9 wks
88.3%
-
Spamedica Hereford Diagnostic And Treatment Centre Midlands Midlands 9 wks
80.9%
-
Guy's And St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London London 9 wks
82.1%
1
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
82.9%
-
St Hugh's Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
90.6%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital West London London London 9 wks
81.9%
-
Newmedica - Nottingham - Keyworth Midlands Midlands 9 wks
100.0%
-
Aces Exeter South West South West 9 wks
86.3%
-
Aces Newcastle North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
84.4%
-
Aces Dartford South East South East 9 wks
86.3%
-
University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
76.1%
10
Stourside Hospital Midlands Midlands 9 wks
93.4%
-
Harrogate And District NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
78.4%
-
Warrington And Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 9 wks
84.6%
-
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 9 wks
78.8%
2
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
79.2%
98
Nuffield Health, Tees Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
84.1%
-
Newmedica - Shrewsbury Midlands Midlands 9 wks
97.1%
-
Newmedica - Wakefield North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
88.9%
-
Circle Reading Hospital South East South East 9 wks
71.7%
-
Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) South East South East 9 wks
79.5%
-
Bmi - Hendon Hospital London London 9 wks
68.5%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital York North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
86.5%
-
Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust South East South East 9 wks
74.7%
-
Whittington Health NHS Trust London London 9 wks
81.0%
2
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 9 wks
72.1%
1
Sandwell And West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
78.9%
9
Surrey And Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 10 wks
79.4%
1
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London London 10 wks
75.7%
-
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
76.5%
-
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
80.6%
-
Newmedica Community Ophthalmology - Leeds North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
86.5%
-
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 10 wks
74.9%
-
Newmedica Community Ophthalmology - North East Lincolnshire - Grimsby North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
78.4%
3
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
68.0%
134
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 10 wks
80.2%
-
Wye Valley NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
74.5%
4
Pinehill Hospital East of England East of England 10 wks
76.9%
-
South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
75.4%
-
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
75.7%
-
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
78.4%
-
Newmedica - Harrogate North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
84.0%
-
York And Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
71.1%
24
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
78.6%
3
New Hall Hospital South West South West 10 wks
85.4%
-
Newmedica - Northampton Midlands Midlands 10 wks
77.2%
-
Somerset Surgical Services HQ South West South West 10 wks
83.8%
-
Aces Leeds King Street North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
94.4%
-
Isight North West North West 10 wks
81.3%
-
North Downs Hospital South East South East 10 wks
90.2%
1
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
71.8%
3
Boston West Hospital Midlands Midlands 11 wks
84.4%
-
Blakelands Hospital East of England East of England 11 wks
83.0%
1
Oaks Hospital East of England East of England 11 wks
65.2%
-
Fairfield Independent Hospital North West North West 11 wks
64.8%
-
Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 11 wks
78.4%
-
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
71.9%
2
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
70.9%
-
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
77.9%
8
Bmi - Bath Clinic South West South West 11 wks
80.2%
-
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
70.5%
45
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Devizes South West South West 11 wks
81.7%
-
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
68.0%
35
Fitzwilliam Hospital East of England East of England 11 wks
82.8%
-
The Shrewsbury And Telford Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
73.3%
-
Newmedica - Berkshire South East South East 11 wks
68.4%
6
The Stoneygate Eye Hospital Midlands Midlands 11 wks
73.9%
-
Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
71.0%
9
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
70.1%
32
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
68.4%
17
Optegra Yorkshire Eye Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
70.7%
-
Doncaster And Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
67.1%
19
Deeping Surgical Midlands Midlands 12 wks
74.2%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital Leicester Midlands Midlands 12 wks
83.8%
-
St Helens And Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 12 wks
69.0%
8
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
68.2%
10
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 12 wks
67.2%
4
County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
66.7%
31
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
70.4%
-
Fulwood Hall Hospital North West North West 12 wks
71.3%
-
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
67.0%
98
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
68.1%
7
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
69.5%
3
Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
66.4%
16
Beacon Park Hospital Midlands Midlands 12 wks
57.6%
-
Barts Health NHS Trust London London 12 wks
68.0%
4
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
63.4%
39
Newmedica Community Ophthalmology - Gloucestershire - Gloucester (Aspen Centre) (Acg13) South West South West 12 wks
71.9%
2
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
65.4%
53
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
66.6%
10
Spamedica Southampton South East South East 12 wks
63.8%
12
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust London London 12 wks
66.0%
-
Bmi - The Ridgeway Hospital South West South West 12 wks
75.1%
-
Bmi The Lincoln Hospital Midlands Midlands 12 wks
80.6%
-
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
66.1%
4
East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
64.1%
34
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
64.4%
109
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 12 wks
72.1%
-
Norfolk And Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
68.8%
45
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 13 wks
63.9%
49
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 13 wks
64.3%
11
East Cheshire NHS Trust North West North West 13 wks
64.1%
24
University Hospitals Of Derby And Burton NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 13 wks
64.6%
79
Newmedica - Oxfordshire South East South East 13 wks
65.6%
-
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 13 wks
62.4%
1
Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 13 wks
63.7%
29
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 13 wks
60.7%
163
Royal Devon And Exeter NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 13 wks
61.3%
222
Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 14 wks
61.0%
-
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
59.7%
59
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 14 wks
59.4%
23
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 14 wks
60.7%
274
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 14 wks
61.5%
537
Isle Of Wight NHS Trust South East South East 14 wks
61.1%
1
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
59.0%
457
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 14 wks
62.2%
-
Border Health Alliance Limited Midlands Midlands 14 wks
62.2%
-
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
61.5%
33
Newmedica - Hertforshire - Welwyn Garden City East of England East of England 14 wks
60.9%
1
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 15 wks
59.3%
26
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 15 wks
58.7%
38
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 15 wks
58.2%
15
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
57.5%
94
Claremont Private Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 15 wks
60.0%
-
Nuffield Health, Shrewsbury Hospital Midlands Midlands 15 wks
76.6%
-
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 15 wks
56.7%
96
Portsmouth Hospitals University National Health Service Trust South East South East 16 wks
55.9%
158
University Hospitals Of North Midlands NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 16 wks
55.5%
258
Newmedica - Hampshire South East South East 16 wks
55.7%
15
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 16 wks
55.7%
3
Bmi - The Blackheath Hospital London London 17 wks
54.5%
1
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 17 wks
51.6%
432
Newmedica - Berkshire - Bracknell South East South East 18 wks
51.3%
-
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 18 wks
50.8%
197
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 18 wks
50.9%
247
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 18 wks
50.2%
250
Mount Stuart Hospital South West South West 23 wks
27.9%
4

Patient experiences

Stories from people who've been through this department. (2 reviews)

A
Anonymous
Jun 2026
New Hall Hospital

Still waiting and no idea when I will be treated.

Offered an appointment by phone on 27 April for 8 May which I had to decline as I had a Day Surgery appointment at the local hospital to check for cancer on the same day. (This appointment was already outside the anticipated 2 week wait and I waited over a month in the end...ironically this date was brought forward with 12 hour's notice ...so could have attended both appointments.
New Hall booking team vaguely commented that they would be in touch but after another 6 weeks I had to contact them and I believe my name had been removed from the surgery list. I cannot be sure as there is no information forthcoming about what happened or when I may be treated now. I've made a formal complaint but progress is slow as staff contact me then take a days leave My sight was poor anyway without "significant" cataracts in both eyes and it's got worse so daily living tasks (I live on my own) have become extremely difficult to manage. I would prefer it if people were honest...how can someone be called surgery...and still not have a replacement date two months later.? I was put in an impossible position..I am an NHS patient and would hope the clash of appointments showed up whichever hospital was involved. I feel I don't matter....I know I don't cos there will be another NHS funded patient being treated my place and Ramsay will get their fee.

Referred 2026-01-21

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS Ophthalmology (Eye Care) waiting list?

The NHS Ophthalmology (Eye Care) waiting list in England has about 622,581 patients currently waiting for treatment. The typical wait is around 9 weeks (2 months), based on data from 313 hospitals. Waiting times vary significantly between hospitals, so it's worth comparing your options before accepting a referral.

How long will I wait to see an ophthalmologist on the NHS?

The headline NHS waiting time is the wait from your GP's referral to your first outpatient appointment, which is the first time you actually see an ophthalmologist. Nationally this currently averages about 9 weeks. In our data it ranges from as short as 3 weeks at the fastest hospital to 23 weeks at the slowest, so where you are referred matters. Any tests, procedures or treatment that follow that first appointment may have their own waits on top.

What percentage of Ophthalmology (Eye Care) patients are seen within 18 weeks?

Across the NHS, 81% of Ophthalmology (Eye Care) patients are currently seen within the 18-week target. The NHS constitutional standard is 92%.

Can I choose which hospital I'm referred to?

Yes. Under the NHS Constitution, patients in England have the right to choose which hospital they are referred to for a first outpatient appointment. You can use WaitRadar to compare waiting times and discuss your options with your GP.

Source: NHS England RTT statistics. about our methodology

This is informational data, not medical advice. Always discuss referral options with your GP. Full disclaimer.