Archives: Testimonials

Following headaches and deterioration in my eyesight I was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes by my optician.  As I had a forthcoming employment medical, I had concerns I would not pass this due to my vision getting worse.

I had a consultation with Mr Shafiq and he explained clearly what lens options I could have and I chose the Trifocal implants.

Staff at the Nuffield were excellent, Mr Shafiq provided an explanation throughout the surgery.  This was done in around 15 minutes and was less painful than a dental procedure.

The day after my operations my vision was good and improved quickly.  I am very happy with being glasses free for the first time in 40 years.

I would highly recommend Mr Shafiq to anyone requiring cataract surgery.

June 21

Mr. Shafiq’s knowledge and expertise ensured that I received an expert diagnosis for my cataracts and to eliminate my long sightedness. I am 93 years old and have worn glasses for the last 84 years. Now I no longer need them. Mr. Shafiq explained the involvements, allayed all my anxieties and offered me dates and times to suit my circumstances. The operations were straightforward and painless. I offer you a big thank you for a timely and life changing experience
HM

This testimonial speaks for itself.

Each person comes with a problem that is specific to their needs and hobbies. Of course everyone s vision is affected by cataract but the bespoke aim of the surgery is tailored to each person s needs. AS

Hazel saw my website and emailed me from North Wales. She faced a long wait for cataract surgery locally and wanted to discuss her best options for cataract surgery and lens implant. After an exchange of emails, I saw her for Consultation, and arranged a date for cataract surgery for both eyes 3 days apart, seeing her in between to check the focus of the first eye. This was excellent, so we carried out the second eye surgery as planned, two days after the first giving her distance vision in one eye and middle distance in the other. This gave her an all round vision in everyday life , meaning she just would wear reading spectacles for close reading. I was quite touched that she chose to travel from Wales for surgery in Newcastle in my care and I was very pleased that she did so well. Here is her testimonial:

‘From the first email exchange with Mr Shafiq, I felt comfortable about having him operate on my eyes.  Once we had met him, both my husband and I were convinced travelling from North Wales for the operations was more than worth it. I have always had a bit of a phobia about anyone touching my eyes, but didn’t have a problem with My Shafiq operating on them, as he put me at my ease straight away. There wasn’t anything more than slight discomfort after both operations, and a couple of painkillers soon took care of that.

After wearing glasses for 57 years, with ever worsening sight, even after a month I still wake up every morning not believing my sight can be this good. The world definitely looks different now, but it took some getting used to not having to wear glasses apart from reading.

So my heartfelt thanks goes to Ayad and the teams at the RVI and Nuffield for all the care they gave me last month.’

September 2019

I have worn spectacles since I was 17 years old, I am now 71. Over the past six years my vision has deteriorated and I developed cataracts, my eyesight became so poor I was advised by my optician that I should no longer be driving and that I required cataract surgery.
I saw Mr Shafiq and an appointment was made to remove the cataract in my right eye, my left eye was treated 3weeks later. Both procedures went smoothly and I am recovering well, the improvement to my vision is such that I no longer need spectacles for distance I only use them for reading.
I can recommend Mr Shafiq and his team if you require this procedure.

Lillian S

November 2018

1. Mr W developed cataract  him problems with his vision every day life. After a Consultation, discussion , and some time to consider his options , Mr W elected to undergo cataract surgery with Trifocal implants. He no longer requires spectacles in his everyday life and describes his experience below:

   As I advanced into my sixties, cataracts developing in both eyes made me increasingly dependant on both reading and distance glasses, neither of which I had needed until well into my forties. I arranged a consultation with Mr Shafiq who advised that I was a suitable case for treatment and described the different lens options I should consider. I was clearly under-researched at that point and needed time to mull these options over before making up my mind. I was however immediately attracted to the trifocal lens he had suggested might work best for what I wanted, i.e. not to be reliant on distance glasses at all, and minimal ongoing reliance on reading glasses. Mr Shafiq encouraged me to speak to him at any time if I had further questions about lens types or wanted clarification on any aspects of the procedure. I did speak to him again and found this most useful and reassuring.
   I went ahead with surgery on first one eye and a few weeks thereafter on the other. I was apprehensive about the procedure, especially with the first one, but it all went very smoothly. Over about an hour before being escorted to the theatre eyedrops were periodically administered to dilate the eye in preparation for the operation, and once in the theatre the whole procedure took no more than 15 to 20 minutes. I could only really see a very bright light all the time and experienced no pain at all, just some occasional discomfort as various instruments were deployed. Although I left with a patch over the affected eye which was to remain on until the following morning I knew that I could still see out of it straight away, which was a relief!
   The improvement in my eyesight, which I experienced almost immediately after each operation, has been impressive. Any concerns I had about disorientation from the trifocal effect proved groundless. I have had no need for distance glasses whether for driving or other longer range activities since the first operation, and similarly my close and intermediate range vision has improved to such an extent that my old reading glasses are also now redundant. Fiddly close up tasks, e.g. locating a small screw head with a screwdriver are much more manageable now.
   By way of problems, I had an adverse reaction to the drops I was sent home with. Mr Shafiq was very attentive over this when I contacted him in some agitation the day after the first operation, and the problem was easily resolved. The eye first operated on has felt absolutely fine from the outset. I did experience some minor irritation with the second eye which continued for a few months. I raised this with Mr Shafiq who checked that everything was still well with both eyes, which it was, and explained that it was not uncommon to have this kind of experience whilst the nerves etc in and around the eye settled down after the operation. All is well now.
   As a footnote, at a recent periodic eye examination my optician confirmed that I had no need for prescription glasses of any kind and also said he was impressed with the work that had been carried out by Mr Shafiq, which was as good as he had seen.

   Graham W

December 2017

MR T WORE STRONG MAGNIFYING SPECTACLES OF LONG-SIGHTEDNESS AND CAME TO ME WITH CATARACTS. I WAS ABLE TO RESTORE HIS VISION BY REMOVING THE CATARACTS AND IMPLANTING LENSES THAT FOCUSSED HIM FIR DISTANCE WITHOUT GLASSES.

Firstly I would like to thank Mr Shafiq and all his colleagues at the Nuffield Newcastle for their professionalism during my recent eye operations.
As a young boy I had to wear very strong and heavy lensed spectacles because of long sightedness and then later on in life changing to hard contact lenses. Over recent years I have had problems with these lenses and being told by my optician that I also had cataracts he advised me to contact Mr Shafiq for a consultation.
During this consultation Mr Shafiq advised me that he could rectify my hypermetropia at the same time implanting new lenses to correct the cataracts. He explained everything with great clarity and answered all my queries to reassure me.
Over the next four weeks I had both eyes operated on successfully. The difference in brightness, colour and sharpness was outstanding. Previous to the operations it was like I was looking through a yellow/cream filter.
During the operations Mr Shafiq was so reassuring and has a fantastic personality that I would recommend him as a very professional and accomplished eye surgeon and have no reservations in recommending him to anyone who has any eye problems.
Thank you Mr Shafiq for changing my life for the better and making the world a brighter place.

Regards
James T October 2018

September 2018

Mr Shafiq

Many thanks to you and the team at the Nuffield in Jesmond, Newcastle for the care administered to my Mother during the past month as she went through Cataract Surgery on both eyes

Every stage of the process took place as described in the briefing notes

There were no surprises, no delays and most importantly due to your expertise we feel you have achieved exceptional results

Mother is now ‘two lines’ on the sight test chart better than she needs to be able to drive safely

Mum is 81 and now lives alone, your successful surgery has now extended her ‘independence horizon greatly’ and given her confidence a must needed boost

Your rapport with Mum made her relaxed at every stage of the process, you explained what you were doing in a manner that was both reassuring and informative as well as easy to understand

I’m sure your work gives you great satisfaction, it most feel so good to have such a positive impact on your patients’ lives and futures

Your great work has also impacted both mine and my Brothers lives’ in a positive way, we worry less about mum ‘stumbling around Northumberland’ not seeing where she is going clearly enough

Mum understands the is no requirement for prescription lenses for distance and that all she need is ‘readers’ we will let the surgery settle for a month and then think about an opticians appointment for appropriate reading glasses

A final anecdote for you, picture the scene…………..

I drive mum to the shops and say ‘I’ll wait in the car here for you,’ off she goes into the Co-op on Amble high street.

As I wait a car pulls in front of me and parks on the road side

I see Mum start to walk towards the car and before I can alert her she has opened the passenger door to the car in front of me and is sat looking at a complete stranger

I’m not sure who was more shocked her, him or me ! The fact that the car in front of mine was the same colour as mine had caused the confusion.

So…. As well as fixing Mums eyes you’ve reduced the possibility of random cardiac arrest for the drivers of Northumberland

Thanks again for your great work

James and Roddy M on behalf of Mrs Anne M.