• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2026 Survey »

Eye screening

helenb1979

helenb1979

Member
Messages
16
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi.
I have my first eye screening test next week. I'm not going to lie
I'm scared, not of the results because I always joke my eye sight isn't great. So not expecting much.I'm scared of the thought of eye drops going in, please could you be honest with me and tell me what happens during the test, and what happens to your eyesight during the test. Thank you
 
Hi, they’ll put the drops in, it’ll sting for a few seconds and then they get you to sit in the waiting area for around 30 minutes while the drops work. You’ll then get called through to have pics taken (of your eyes ) and then you leave. You’re eyes will react to the brightness outside so if you have a hat/sunglasses take them with you. The eyes will normally go back to normal within 5-6hrs (depending on the person)
It’ll be ok
 
chaoticliloj said:
Hi, they’ll put the drops in, it’ll sting for a few seconds and then they get you to sit in the waiting area for around 30 minutes while the drops work. You’ll then get called through to have pics taken (of your eyes ) and then you leave. You’re eyes will react to the brightness outside so if you have a hat/sunglasses take them with you. The eyes will normally go back to normal within 5-6hrs (depending on the person)
It’ll be ok
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
the only change to your night will be noticed after when you go into the light
as above take sunglasses also you should not drive back
it can take a while to get results though
 
helenb1979 said:
Hi.
I have my first eye screening test next week. I'm not going to lie
I'm scared, not of the results because I always joke my eye sight isn't great. So not expecting much.I'm scared of the thought of eye drops going in, please could you be honest with me and tell me what happens during the test, and what happens to your eyesight during the test. Thank you
Click to expand...

My experience with the drops is you’ll want to automatically close your eyes shut tight once they’re put in, listen to what the technician will probably say and blink a lot, the “pain” will dissipate a lot quicker if you keep blinking. You might find as well towards the end of the day your eyes will feel heavy/tired (at least mine do).
 
helenb1979 said:
I'm scared of the thought of eye drops going in
Click to expand...

Hi @helenb1979 this is nothing to be worried about. :happy:
I can only offer my experience the drops will sting, this is very mild and only last for a few seconds, but I have never had to wait for them to take effect for more than 5 mins not half an hour as stated above.

After the exam your eye sight will be a little bit blurry.
Bring sun glasses. :cool: This is just good advice in the middle of a heatwave anyway.
You won't be able to drive for a couple of hours after the eye exam. (arrange transport)
Or read anything properly for a couple of hours books computer screen etc.., it's a good idea to take the rest of the morning or afternoon of work, you won't need the whole day to regain your eye sight, only last for an hour or two.

But as @chaoticliloj says it depends on the person.

As for the eye test itself its exactly the same as it would be with out the eye drops, shine a light ask you to look at the light and take some pictures doesn't take long and is not invasive. They are not looking to check your prescription just checking to make sure there are no sighs of damage.

If they are able to get a good view of the back your eye they wont use any drops. If your eyes don't open widen enough :wideyed: then they will use the drops.

Hope that helps put your fears at rest.
:bag:
 
Hi @helenb1979 ,

What others said above, though for me my eyes don’t sting with the drops. but there is a scanner/digital camera you will probably sit at resting your chin on for the “snap.” Or in my case there is also a similar machine in another room that does a sort of topography of the macula?
The results come back pretty quick..

Good luck.
 
After the drops go in you won't be able to read or see your phone or a book, so maybe download something soothing to listen to while you wait for the next part of the process. Sometimes at my clinic the wait can be quite long (understatement!)
 
MrsA2 said:
After the drops go in you won't be able to read or see your phone or a book, so maybe download something soothing to listen to while you wait for the next part of the process. Sometimes at my clinic the wait can be quite long (understatement!)
Click to expand...
thank you
 
MrsA2 said:
After the drops go in you won't be able to read or see your phone or a book, so maybe download something soothing to listen to while you wait for the next part of the process. Sometimes at my clinic the wait can be quite long (understatement!)
Click to expand...
thank
Jaylee said:
Hi @helenb1979 ,

What others said above, though for me my eyes don’t sting with the drops. but there is a scanner/digital camera you will probably sit at resting your chin on for the “snap.” Or in my case there is also a similar machine in another room that does a sort of topography of the macula?
The results come back pretty quick..

Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
MrsA2 said:
After the drops go in you won't be able to read or see your phone or a book, so maybe download something soothing to listen to while you wait for the next part of the process. Sometimes at my clinic the wait can be quite long (understatement!)
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
MrsA2 said:
After the drops go in you won't be able to read or see your phone or a book, so maybe download something soothing to listen to while you wait for the next part of the process. Sometimes at my clinic the wait can be quite long (understatement!)
Click to expand...
Tha
MrsA2 said:
After the drops go in you won't be able to read or see your phone or a book, so maybe download something soothing to listen to while you wait for the next part of the process. Sometimes at my clinic the wait can be quite long (understatement!)
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
My eyes sting for quite a while - 10-15 minutes - annoyingly. Maybe they are just sensitive? The process doesn't hurt at all, which seems to be your main concern, so hopefully you will be among what seems to be the majority of non-stinging eyed people.
 
SalRead1 said:
My eyes sting for quite a while - 10-15 minutes - annoyingly. Maybe they are just sensitive? The process doesn't hurt at all, which seems to be your main concern, so hopefully you will be among what seems to be the majority of non-stinging eyed people.
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
helenb1979 said:
Hi.
I have my first eye screening test next week. I'm not going to lie
I'm scared, not of the results because I always joke my eye sight isn't great. So not expecting much.I'm scared of the thought of eye drops going in, please could you be honest with me and tell me what happens during the test, and what happens to your eyesight during the test. Thank you
Click to expand...
Regarding the eye drops if you blink for a bit, the stinging stops. Was told this by the person doing the test and it works ;)
 
The drops can sting, but really only for a few seconds - as others have said, blink rapidly (which you'll probably find you do anyway), and they stop stinging. You may find they barely sting at all! Then you have to hurry up and wait while they take effect - I find I can continue to read as normal, although as I tend to use a Kindle, I can increase the font size if necessary - I don't think I'd try to read a dead tree book!

Then they call you back in and sit you with your chin on a support - you may have had this happen during your regular eye tests - and tell you to stare at a light signal while take flash photographs of each eye in turn. They do seem to vary as to how many photographs they take, and whether they will turn the flash down for you - I've had one photo of each eye, and I've had a dozen, with no rhyme or reason. Last time was somewhere in between. Then you wait for a few seconds while they double-check it's saved, and then you can go home. You mustn't drive for a couple of hours, so if your clinic isn't accessible by public transport (mine, luckily, is a door-to-door bus!), book a taxi or get someone to come and fetch you. And a week or ten days later you'll get a letter saying it's fine and come back in a year, or they want to keep an eye on you an come back in three months. Either way, they'll send you an appointment when it suits them.

They do stress in the various letters you'll get that these tests are no substitute for regular eye tests with your normal ophthalmologist, as all they are looking for is signs of diabetic retinopathy - do make sure you go for your normal eye test at the normal time.
 
Back
Top