‘I couldn’t see anything’

He had to wait months — now he’s nearly blind

An elderly man had to make at least seven visits to his doctor and optometrist over a five-and-a-halfmonth period before a district health board would see him for deteriorating eyesight — by which time he was “essentially blind”.

Allan Darlow was given a minor change in his prescription after having a routine eye exam at Specsavers in Tauranga in June last year. A month and a half later he visited his GP after suffering a fall. That started a process during which his GP made at least five referrals to Specsavers and the Bay of Plenty DHB, but his case was not deemed high priority based on initial assessments.

The GP sent referrals to the DHB and Specsavers between mid-August and mid-September raising concerns. Specsavers also sent a referral to the DHB during this time.

During that time Darlow’s partner, Patricia Simpson, was also calling the DHB asking for a more urgent appointment as his vision continued to worsen.

“We were told there were no appointments available until January 26 which was another five months.

“We were ringing continuously trying to get an earlier appointment but were told there were 400 people that needed to be seen before Allan and until it was affecting his quality of life it was not urgent,” she said.

Meanwhile, Darlow’s deteriorating vision was having a significant impact on his daily life. “I had to have a bucket to go to the toilet, I couldn’t see anything. If that’s not quality of life being affected then I don’t know what is,” Darlow said.

On October 4, his GP sent another referral to the DHB — this time marked urgent — saying Darlow was missing the toilet pan, only seeing outlines of people and couldn’t see the television. A month later the DHB replied saying there was heavy demand for eye clinic appointments and suggested he go back to the optometrist. Two weeks later his GP contacted the DHB again, this time saying, “AJ [Allan] is essentially blind”.

After finally seeing him on November 22, following another assessment from Specsavers, the DHB eye clinic specialist wrote to Darlow’s GP saying they had received a number of referrals over the past few months and “all confirmed he had reasonable vision”.

This was despite the “urgent referral” from the GP and information about him not being able to use the toilet, see people or the television, given six weeks earlier.

Darlow feels Specsavers took too long to send their referrals to the DHB, and the DHB needed to act sooner.

After the Herald approached Specsavers for comment, the company launched an investigation into his claims of a delay in sending the referral — something Darlow believes contributed to him losing his sight.

“We have immediately commenced a full investigation, which includes an audit of clinical records and a review of people and processes in relation to this matter,” Specsavers’ director of optometry professional services, Ben Ashby, told the Herald.

Until the investigation had been completed, Ashby said the company was unable to provide further information or comment.

Bay of Plenty DHB’s acting business leader in surgery, anaesthesia and radiology, Dorothy McKeown, said Darlow was seen by an ophthalmologist on November 22 last year.

“This was within the grading timeframe of four months, based on the information set out in the optometrist’s referral letter,” she said.

McKeown said all patients were graded from one to four clinical priority, which determined how quickly they were seen. Darlow’s case was graded a four, the lowest priority, and was not upgraded despite his GP’s urgent referral.

“The grading was based on the information contained in their referral letter,” she said.

McKeown said results of an examination completed in early November showed no “appreciable” change since the first referral on August 31. Patients with possible high risk glaucoma were always categorised grade 4.

Blind Foundation chief executive Sandra Budd said Darlow’s case was not an isolated one.

“We want our country to do better at taking eye care seriously.”

Darlow ended up having surgery on December 14 to remove two cataracts — six months after originally being given a change in prescription for his glasses. While the cataracts were removed, eye surgeon Dr Sam Kain said — in a letter to the GP — his vision had been “significantly impaired by glaucoma and his vision now is probably as good as we can make it”.

Glaucoma is degenerative and incurable but treatment can prevent further loss of vision if detected early.

Darlow now relies on the full-time care of his partner.