Yearly eye screening

[happier than you]

Is there anybody who has pretty much given up on it?
In the past 5 or 6 years i have always either got back "no sign of damage, test again in a year" or "some sign of damage, test again in a year". If they always test again in a year, regardless, what exactly is the point? It's not like anybody has ever actually explained it to me.

I've missed last years one, first i forgot to make an appointment, then i had the flu and didn't feel up to it. I find the whole experience really depressing. I hate the eye drops. I hate the clinic i go to. For some reason they have the heating on so high i feel like my entire body is melting, they only have about 4 chairs for anybody to sit on whilst waiting. Last time, i told the recptionist who i was, then i waited for ages and nothing happened. Nobody else going in and out, just this 1 old man. The woman who was presumably doing the tests looked at a clipboard she got off the receptionist...looked over at me sat next to this old man, presumably just decided i didn't look like the person who had the appointment and i was just with the old guy and she just walked off. She never said a word to me, just walked off. After the old man left, nearly an hour went by with nobody else coming or going, i'm sat right across from the receptionist the whole time who never once looked over at me, she was too busy doing her nails and chatting on the phone the whole time. By this time it was obvious i wasn't going to get seen, so i just got up and walked out. Again, the receptionist didn't even look over at me to ask if i hadn't been seen or whatever.

I got a letter saying i missed the appointment! Need to make another one. So i did. Same receptionist, so i say to her am i actually going to get the appointment this time, because last time i sat there for an hour whilst you all ignored me. Anyway i get this pretty snooty guy who clearly thinks i'm mentally retarded because i have diabetes. Do the completely pointless eye chart test. It's pointless, because my eyesight is poor. I explained that i can't read all that many of the letters, because my eyesight is poor. I'm in my 40s and my eyesight has been poor my entire life. I couldn't read many of the letters when i was 8 years old, so not much chance i'm suddenly going to have 20/20 vision now. I explain that i don't wear glasses and never have. I don't drive, my eyesight is poor but it's never got any worse ever. He then lectures me about i should wear glasses, i again re-iterate that my eyesight is exactly the same now as it was over 30 years ago. He then says if my eyesight is poor then i may get run over by a car i can't see! Comedy gold. Yeah...whatever. I work with computers, have done for 25 years. I can see what i'm typing. I'm pretty sure i can see a great big bloody car if it's about to hit me! It's not really comparable with not being able to read tiny letters on a board 20ft away, now is it. I have really bad eye floaters, i've always had them since i can remember. They never get worse or better, they've just always been there. Glasses aren't going to anything about that. Nothing in my life requires me to be able to read tiny letters from the other side of the room. Trust me, i get by just fine. It wasn't so much what he said, more the tone. He clearly thinks of the patients he sees as "a bit special".

Sorry, i've really gone on a rant there. So...has anybody given up bothering with these tests and is there actually any treatment if they do find damage? Bearing in mind, when i got told i had some damage...i just got told retest in another 12 months anyway.

 

[Finsky]

I really do get you are trying to say...and yes, I have been to see 'bad' opticians as well and switched to different place where I have been treated much better.
Yes, eye tests are yearly bother...something I could do without, but I do see them being beneficial to be worth it. The eye test and diabetic screening is not all about just what you are able or not to see...all the different tests are done to measure different things or possible changes within eye ball. Many health conditions can be detected from eye by just visual look into to the structure and with all the different measurements too....often those changes can show health change issues and can alert to them in our health before it is obvious in rest of the body, like a early warning system......so in that way, they are good to have done.
Or so I have been told...I don't personally have training for these things.
But, like with any medications etc..it is your body, if you don't drive and don't want to have/change your glasses...nobody can't force you for it.
I would not accept the attitude and treatment you have been getting from your optician and their receptionist. If they are just branch from a bigger optician business....I would send email to their head office and make complaint.
Some businesses make 'issue' that they do their diabetic screening and eye test over two different appointments...yes, they might tell you that, but if you put your foot down and say it is not suitable for you, no business who can't afford to loose potential customer, will refuse do it all in one go. Specsavers did try that on me...but I didn't agree...
If they are small independent business and you have other options locally to you....'vote' with your feet and don't bother with their 'services'. What ever you decide to do...if you do feel you don't get the service that is fair...don't be afraid to open your mouth and question why it is so...sometimes they need to be pointed the obvious or taken down from their high horse before they change their attitudes.
I would also recommend when you see the optician...just make conversation about all the different tests that are done to you and ask what they are for, what they are measuring, what they can see from those tests etc. It is your body they are testing, just like any other tests are done in doctor's...you are entitled to know answers what is done to you, why and the results for them.
Not only that....by making all those questions...if not just for sake of conversation, you might just make that opticians day that little bit more interesting...maybe you turn out to be that somebody who is showing interest for their work and knowledge for it...giving the change them to 'show it off' too...which again might result bit better attention for the details from their behalf....you will benefit and he does feel better..win win...
BTW...;Yes, just like any business, they will try to sell you things, even if you don't really need or want 'stuff'..that's where they make their money from. I always make clear to my optician, that if my glasses are adequate for my needs, that will do for me (or what ever my choice is!), they can do their recommendations but ultimately I make my own choices. I do drive, so that will be limitation, as if the prescription has to change then there is not much to argue about.

 

[PatsyB]

I have to have them yearly.... I HATETHEM with a vengence.......but have to have them if I wish to keep my driving licence and hope yearly they are all right

 

[Dark Horse]

Diabetic Eye Screening aims to detect sight-threatening changes within the retina before any sight-loss occurs as this is the time that treatment is most effective. Treatment after vision deteriorates may prevent further deterioration but may not be able to reverse the vision loss that has already occurred. By screening regularly, changes are more likely to be detected at an early stage when the treatment is most effective.

Background retinopathy does not affect eyesight and does not need treatment. You and your doctor will be informed if you have background retinopathy as a) you may wish to try and improve your diabetic control and b) it indicates that there is some progression and it is now even more important not to miss the yearly screening appointments.

If sight-threatening retinopathy is detected at screening, you will be referred to the Hospital Eye Service. If they confirm that there is sight-threatening retinopathy, you may be offered laser or injections into the eye (or both).

The visual acuity test with the eye chart is important because some of the referral criteria take into account reduction in the vision, regardless of whether the vision was poor to start with. The screeners are trying to test how well your retina is working (rather than your lens) so they ask people to bring their distance glasses with them to read the eye chart. If someone doesn't have distance glasses (or has forgotten them) they may be asked to use an occluder with small holes in. Some people find this difficult to use so it's better to use distance glasses if they are available. If your vision has dropped since the last screening (along with other changes) you may be referred to hospital so it's important to read as many letters as possible on the chart and not "give up" even if you can't read the whole line.

Regarding the waiting time you had previously, it sounds like there was an error somewhere. If you are not seen within 15 minutes, it's reasonable to remind the receptionist you are there and ask if there is a delay and if so, how long. If you are not seen within 1 hour, it is reasonable to send an official complaint - these get investigated and may highlight a problem that needs to be addressed and hopefully prevent it from happening again.

In summary:-

• background retinopathy is not sight-threatening and does not need treatment but indicates you need to be more vigilant about going for screening
• if sight-threatening retinopathy is detected, you will be referred to the Hospital Eye Service where treatment is available
• the eye chart test is important as it will detect a drop in vision from your last screening which may mean you need referral to the Hospital Eye Service
• waiting for an hour without being seen is not acceptable for Eye Screening so warrants complaining about

Hope this has answered your questions.

 

[Daibell]

I have mine done yearly as everyone else but my local NHS trust does a good job. The staff are helpful and friendly, there are enough seats and the waiting time is low. I get a letter back almost immediately.

 

[noblehead]

Is there anybody who has pretty much given up on it?
In the past 5 or 6 years i have always either got back "no sign of damage, test again in a year" or "some sign of damage, test again in a year". If they always test again in a year, regardless, what exactly is the point? It's not like anybody has ever actually explained it to me.

The point is that diabetic retinopathy is sight threatening and in the worst case scenario can lead to blindness, the early it is detected the better the outcome as with any other diabetes related complication.

Never ignore the eye screening test.

 

[Scimama]

Is diabetic eye screening worth it? yes.

It might be inconvenient to have to take day off to go for screening, arrange transport, arrange childcare etc etc but life would be a lot harder if you lost your sight.

My sister, my brother, my uncle, bother in law have all had retinopathy detected at an annual eye test, in all cases they had treatment to minimise further damage/loss to their sight. these changes had happened over the course of a few months and hadn't been obvious to them, without the eye screening they wouldnt have known.