First eye screening what to expect?

[Dzeis72]

I couldn't see clearly for around an hour. It was a very sunny day and I was using public transport to get home as my appointment was in the late afternoon. I wish I had used sunglasses. I found the experience very uncomfortable. I undertook the test last Friday and I'm still waiting for my results.

 

[Dark Horse]

I am due to have my first test on 30 June. My problem is a little different in that I have quite poor eyesight and wear specs, I do not own a pair of prescription sunglasses so I fear that I will be blind after the test until I get home. I will have a large son with me but I have to admit I'm inches away from cancelling the appointment because the close it gets the more anxious I am becoming.

You can get a cheap pair of sunglasses (e.g. from a charity shop) that are large enough to slip over your normal glasses. Most people won't notice you're wearing 2 pairs. A hat with a brim can also be useful. On the other hand, it may be dull and raining and brightness won't be a problem. It's not unusual to be a little apprehensive before your first screening but most people come away from the appointment wondering what they had been worried about.

There's a Youtube video that shows what goes on during a screening appointment here:-

 

[Chook]

I am due to have my first test on 30 June. My problem is a little different in that I have quite poor eyesight and wear specs, I do not own a pair of prescription sunglasses so I fear that I will be blind after the test until I get home. I will have a large son with me but I have to admit I'm inches away from cancelling the appointment because the close it gets the more anxious I am becoming.

It might be worth investing in a pair of large sunglasses to go over the top of your own specs as you will be having this test every year.

One year I did forget my sunglasses and Mr Chook walked me arm in arm out to our car - with me with my eyes closed. It was an experience I wouldn't want to repeat as it completely escaped him that I needed space to walk beside him and I walloped in to a lamp post.

Don't cancel the appointment - its so important - you really need that test.

 

[pleinster]

In the UK it is illegal to drive after the drops have been put in. Operating machinery may not be a good idea. The light off my computer screen hurt so much I couldn't look at it. 4 hours later things improved. Back to normal after 5 hours.

Really? What law is that? I can see insurers not coughing up at the slightest excuse, but there is a subsection of an an Act of Parliament or statutory instrument to actually make it illegal?

 

[Kikeena_]

I went yesterday for my first screen. It didn't sting that much and the stinging was very short lived. Only a few minutes. My vision was affected but I was still able to play on my phone! But I felt a little nauseous because of the change in vision, and generally a little slow after. It only lasted 2 hours from when they put the drops on though.

 

[Dark Horse]

Really? What law is that? I can see insurers not coughing up at the slightest excuse, but there is a subsection of an an Act of Parliament or statutory instrument to actually make it illegal?

You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres.

You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale(with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.
https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules
​

Dilation can affect the visual acuity (which is why the screeners do the test with the eye chart BEFORE they take photos). For some people this may be enough to reduce their visual acuity to below the minimum visual acuity of 6/12.

 

[Art Of Flowers]

I got my results last Friday, 2 weeks after the test. It said the result appeared normal. This means very little risk of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy at this time.

 

[Emerald44]

This is very interesting as I have my first test beginning of July and they sent me a leaflet explaining the procedure but there was no mention of sunglasses to wear afterwards, just that you cannot drive for at least 4 hours. So I shall be looking for a pair of sunglasses to bring.

 

[Hammer1964]

I have my first on Monday. on my letter it says I cannot drive and my vision will be blurry for upto 4 hours after. Is this the case as i'm due to go into work after my appointment?

Had mine done last month, I had no stinging, no watering, a little blurry for about half an hour, the clinic nurse said I could put my lenses back in straight away as they would not be affected. After half an hour everything was fine.

 

[pleinster]

You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres.

You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale(with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.
https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules
​

Dilation can affect the visual acuity (which is why the screeners do the test with the eye chart BEFORE they take photos). For some people this may be enough to reduce their visual acuity to below the minimum visual acuity of 6/12.

Thanks for clarifying. While this government site represents the minimum requirement in terms of what one is expected to be able to make out, it still does not cite the actual legislation for our perusal. The only UK legislation I can find which makes it illegal to drive if vision has not been corrected to meet said condition is the Road Traffic Act 1988, section 96, subsection 1. Sorry to be dull and tedious, but I picked it up during a law degree (which was very dull and tedious). My point is, that while your own comment is informative, the original post by @keitjones, stating that "it is illegal to drive after the drops have been put in", is a bit misleading (accidentally of course), and, unless I am missing something, no current or past legislation actually states that. By all means, don't take the chance if you are less than confident that your eyesight is affected to the extent that you would fall short of the criteria mentioned, but - otherwise - I "see" no legal reason not to drive purely based on the fact that you have had these drops put in. Insurance companies would also be required to stipulate in policy documentation that such drops or a doctor's advice not to drive would render the policy invalid to avoid paying out. Anyway, my eyes are fine after five minutes, so I will be driving home.

 

[Mr_Pot]

Thanks for clarifying. While this government site represents the minimum requirement in terms of what one is expected to be able to make out, it still does not cite the actual legislation for our perusal. The only UK legislation I can find which makes it illegal to drive if vision has not been corrected to meet said condition is the Road Traffic Act 1988, section 96, subsection 1. Sorry to be dull and tedious, but I picked it up during a law degree (which was very dull and tedious). My point is, that while your own comment is informative, the original post by @keitjones, stating that "it is illegal to drive after the drops have been put in", is a bit misleading (accidentally of course), and, unless I am missing something, no current or past legislation actually states that. By all means, don't take the chance if you are less than confident that your eyesight is affected to the extent that you would fall short of the criteria mentioned, but - otherwise - I "see" no legal reason not to drive purely based on the fact that you have had these drops put in. Insurance companies would also be required to stipulate in policy documentation that such drops or a doctor's advice not to drive would render the policy invalid to avoid paying out. Anyway, my eyes are fine after five minutes, so I will be driving home.

Personally I wouldn't risk it. It would just be my luck that some idiot would drive into me on the way home.
The attached document is very useful especially the last paragraph.

 

[Mr_Pot]

Also of possible interest to those who have said on this forum that they had screening without drops, the above guidance says that that is not an acceptable method of screening in England.

 

[Christina0308]

Had mine last Friday, drops stung only seconds and results all good.

 

[pleinster]

Personally I wouldn't risk it. It would just be my luck that some idiot would drive into me on the way home.
The attached document is very useful especially the last paragraph.

Thanks for that. I had not considered that if an insurer has stated in their policy that cover is invalidated if the driver fails to meet certain criteria, it could be argued that the driver is driving without insurance...and is therefore committing an offence.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

At the ophthalmologist I go to they have a sign on the wall at the reception area, about driving home after having eye drops. They will either phone someone to pick you up or get a taxi for you.

The optometrist I go to tells you not to drive when you make an appointment, but get someone to pick up and drop you off.

Getting back to the OP @dudester, he or his son should be able to get a pair of sunglasses between the time he first posted and his appointment so he is / was not effected by the brightness.