Eye Check Ups

[Fencer]

I normally go to get my eyes check every two year (recommended time period), have done for a long time now. The eye exam that you now get in Scotland is the full test - not just eyesight, they check the health of your eyes and check for any diseases/problems that can be picked up in your eyes. So, even though I've always had good eyesight, I see it as a worthwhile way to spend half an hour ever two years.

I went along this weekend for my regular checkup and was quite please with the extra service that I received. I told them when I went in that I had recently been diagnosed with diabetes and because of this they increased the frequency of my checkups to one year and also added in photographs of the back of my eye to the checkup.

At the end of the appointment, I was pleased to hear that not only are my eyes healthy but my vision is also very good ("better than 20/20 vision" I was told). She did then give me a prescription, but told me that I don't need to get glasses. This is just in case I want to "sharpen up things in the distance" or for reading graphics/subtitles on the telly.

Do you go to the optician every year instead of every two years?
Is there any need for them to be doing extra checks (such as the photograph of the eye and the increased frequency of exams) since the hospital does this every year too? I was pleased to see them taking diabetes seriously and offering a good service, but can't help but wonder if this is purely commercial due to the increase in money they will receive from the NHS.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Hi Fencer, as a diabetic you should have a retinal scan done every year to compare for diabetic retinopathy, a retinal scan is the photo of the back of the eye. They should dilate your eyes first by placing eye drops in the eyes and then take a photo of the back of the eye to spot any bleeds that are caused by increased blood pressure.

I have my scans done at the local hospital and personally would not use an optician who I see as just out to make a buck. IMO your optician sounds rubbish to tell you you have better than 20/20 vision and then give you a prescription. 20/20 vision is perfect so I am not aware that you can have better than perfect vision. And obviously if your vision was perfect then you would not need a corrective prescription.

If I were you I would ask for a referral from your doctor to a specialist eye centre, assuming Scotland is the same as the rest of the UK in as much as you are entitled to a retinal scan every year and also free eye test at the optician, it is of vital importance that we all look after our eyes now we are diabetic

 

[Fencer]

Yeah, I get the yearly specialised retinopathy check at the hospital, had my first one about 3 month ago. This is the optician doing an extra check.

I did wonder about the whole 20/20 bit. I think I'll have a wee read up about what that actually means.

Edit: OK, a quick Google showed up this site: http://www.aoa.org/x4695.xml

20/20 does not necessarily mean perfect vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance.

As I said, that's just a quick Google, so no idea how accurate it is.

 

[sandy2011]

I see my optometrist twice a year or at least once.
Since I was diagnosed with T2 I saw him once, the appointment was last June 2011. I asked him if my eyes had anything caused by T2 yet, he said he didn't see anything for the moment.

 

[Unbeliever]

I haven't followed the links given above because i researched the subject a while back. Itoo believed it wasn't possible to have better than 20/20 vision but it is! It was interesting to find out how the measurements were originally arrived at.
I think here is some confusion in this thread about the effecs of diabetic retinopathy and ordinary vision.
As I poined out elsewhwre last night it is ,naturally difficult o eplain this to anyone who doesn't experience it.
There is a percepion that all eye disorders mean very poor vision in the usual sense of having to move print nearer o your eyes or having to be very close to things before you can see them clearly.

There are many other ypes of visula problems . cathrerinecherub [where is she by the way} posted a very good link to a sie which illustrated the results of various conditions. I shall try to find it later [sigh permiting}Retinopathy and its treatment can also cause other problems caaracs and glaucoma to mention a few.
In my extremely frequent visits to the eye clinic I often hear advice given to patients that they can NOW visit heir own optician. I have from ime to time asked if I could visit mine again because I thought they could help me to make the most of the vision I had but all such reqyests have been met by an emphatic NO!
I agree with Sid. Some opticians may be very good just as some GPs are but this is an issue best deal with in a hospital. Its all about eyes I know but best left to the specialists.

This must be a dilemma for a lot of people but he hospital will advise about the ime o visit an optician or not. It could be an expensive and waseful experience rying o keep p with changes o the eye caused by reinopathy.