Concerns have been reported by the media following issues that have been raised by Moorfields Eye Hospital, the largest eye clinic in the UK, to the MHRA about a lens fitted in to around 6,000 patients by Optical Express.
The claims come amid a law suit against the high street chain for its marketing practices where text messages have been used to offer competitions to win free laser eye surgery amongst other alleged invasive ways in which people have been contacted without consent.
Optical Express are reportedly appealing an enforcement notice against them from the Information Commissioner as well as lodging a legal complaint with the manufacturer of the lens that has been referred to the MHRA. The Mplus X lens, manufactured by German company Oculentis, is reportedly the subject of complaints that it has allegedly significantly reduced the quality of vision for several patients.
The news also comes within months of a £500,000 payout that Optical Express have been ordered to pay after a woman suffered with significant sight problems after laser eye surgery with the clinic. She won her claim based on the allegation that Optical Express had failed to clearly explain the potential risks of having laser eye surgery, and this has paved the way for many other complaints of a similar nature being made.
Surgeons who are understood to have worked for Optical Express have informed media sources that they had previously reported concerns over the use of the Mplus X lens which went unheard. The lens was also apparently dismissed for use in Australia and has reportedly been the subject of concerns in other countries as well.
Oculentis have already released a statement which says that The Observer, who have reported on the Mplus X, have
“over the years printed a number of critical articles about the UK based refractive surgery company Optical Express (OE). Unfortunately, in addition to the general refractive laser business, our product has now also been drawn into this dispute.”
They also say that claims made so far have been raised by a direct competitor to their company as opposed to any independent expert, and the Mplus X has not been withdrawn from the market and the manufacturers appear confident that the lens is safe.
The reports from Moorfields Hospital said that four out of six patients had suffered with serious loss in the quality of their vision, and reports allege that the extent of the issues may go as far as patients losing so much of their vision that they cannot see beyond their own arm. Former customers of Optical Express have said they were the subject of intensive sales tactics and some say they have been hit with unexpected fees or hidden costs they were not properly informed about.
It has been suggested that one in three patients with Optical Express claimed that they had not been properly informed.
We’ll bring more on this as the story develops, but it’s clear that a bitter battle may ensue between those who say they have been the victim of negligence and Optical Express and Oculentis.
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Funnily enough I remember receiving a text message myself a few months ago about winning free laser eye surgery with Optical Express – my phone is fairly new and I don’t give my details out to companies, and had never had an eye issues when I got the message. I put it down to them randomly texting numbers which isn’t something a supposedly respectable high street optician chain ought to be doing in my opinion.
There is also an entire website dedicated to former customers of Optical Express that are not happy with their outcomes that is aptly named http://www.opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk