| Reference | FOI 2026/1620 |
|---|---|
| Description | IFR applications for medical retina patients |
| Date Requested | 20/02/2026 |
| Date Replied | 12/03/2026 |
| Category | - |
I am Ophthalmic Surgeon and familiar with IFR applications for medical retina patients that we needed to do a few years ago before NICE approved some of the medications now in widespread use.
My question concerns post-operative refractive surprise following NHS cataract surgery. Such problem can potentially be treated by corneal laser refraction surgery.
Can you please advise how many times this has been applied for and or funded for NHS Greater Manchester residents per annum for the most recent say 3-8 years you have records for please.
Following a search of the NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) Individual Funding Request (IFR) database, no funding requests have been received by the service for corneal laser refraction surgery to treat post-operative refractive surprise following NHS cataract surgery, during the period 01.01.2016 – 01.01.2026.
However, this does not mean that this type of surgery is not being performed across Greater Manchester, and so you will need to check with providers directly whether this is the case.
To assist you, please find below links to their websites with information about how to make a Freedom of Information request.
| Provider | FOI Information |
| Bolton NHS Foundation Trust | Freedom of information – Bolton NHS FT (boltonft.nhs.uk) |
| Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust | Freedom of Information Requests :: Northern Care Alliance |
| Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust | Freedom of Information – Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (mft.nhs.uk) |
| Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | – Freedom of Information – Stockport NHS Foundation Trust |
| Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | WWL Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | FOI Disclosure Log |
In addition, NHS GM commission the following providers, should you wish to contact them direct:
| Anglia Community Eye Service Ltd (ACES) | Cataract Surgery for NHS Patients | ACES Eye Clinic |
| Community Health and Eyecare (CHEC) | Providing Excellence in Community Healthcare Nationwide – CHEC |
| Optegra UK limited | Optegra Eye Hospital | Vision Correction Specialists |
| Practice Plus Group Hospitals Limited (PPG) | High-quality healthcare for all | Practice Plus Group |
| SpaMedica Limited | www.spamedica.co.uk |
| New Medical Systems Ltd trading as Newmedica | NHS and Private Eye Health Care | Newmedica |
