Clinic shows surging demand for private eye care
Surgeon-owned OCL Vision eye clinic has revealed the surging demand for private eye surgery as NHS waiting lists break new records.
OCL ophthalmologist Dr Laura de Benito-Llopis
Since launching four years ago, surgeons have treated over 11,000 private patients at its clinics in central London and Hertfordshire. This year, they have seen 4,115 new patients.
Founded in 2018 by three of the UK’s most renowned ophthalmic surgeons, it is now home to 13 consultant surgeons and 70 support staff, who between them provide a full range of eye-related surgical procedures.
It recently appointed as a director Mr Mark Wilkins, formerly head of the corneal service at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Demand is particularly high for laser eye surgery, with OCL’s surgeons carrying out 50% more laser procedures in the past 12 months than they did during the pre-Covid year 2018-19.
Paresh Patel
The clinic is also playing a leading role in easing the pressure on the NHS.
Chief executive Paresh Patel said: ‘I can think of no better way to celebrate our fourth birthday than by providing life-changing surgery to a record number of patients.
‘More than 4,100 people came through our doors for the first time during the past year and our dedicated team is hugely proud to have been able to offer each one treatment options and outcomes they wouldn’t get anywhere else.
‘Over the past four years, we’ve worked to cement OCL Vision’s reputation for providing world-class centres of surgical excellence by investing in the best equipment and the most skilled and experienced surgeons.
‘We’ve grown our roster of surgeons from three to 13, each of whom is a leader in their field. Together with our support staff of 70, our specialist surgery teams share a common goal to provide superb, highly personalised patient care to every patient.
‘As we begin our fifth year together, we’re in the process of expanding our number of clinics and growing our team further as we provide a vital complement to the NHS, and are determined to help more people than ever get the treatment – and the vision – they want.’