A charity has warned that due to negligence of doctors in eye clinics, NHS patients are losing their vision from avoidable conditions.

A survey of workers at clinics across England was conducted. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) found that over one-third patients were `sometimes' losing their vision without any cause because of delay in their treatment.

Over 80% of the 172 ophthalmologists and ophthalmological nurses acted in response to the survey. They said their clinic did not have adequate facilities to fulfill demand.

Increased stress was held liable for the ageing population and the increased accessibility to modern treatments. RNIB's Chief Executive, Lesley-Anne Alexander, said, "These statistics are shameful as nobody should lose their sight from a treatable condition simply because their eye clinic is too busy to provide care in a clinically appropriate timescale".

She even advised NHS hospitals that such action may be put them in danger of clinical neglect claims.

The charitable trust has called for the health service to conduct a quick inquiry. The aim of such an inquiry will be to look into the quality of eye care services. The trust also advised that NHS England should generate a post for a national clinical director for eye care provision to supervise services.