Cataracts. Should the optician tell you that you have them.

[Pinkorchid]

No they don't,

Have you ever had a retinal scan Ally since you have been diabetic

 

[Dark Horse]

I didn`t know that, mine is, and always has been, carried out by my optician and I`ve never been offered one from anyone else. So who is responsible in Ally`s case I wonder?

The annual retinopathy checks are organised by the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme. In some areas of the country they sub-contract out the initial photography and grading to opticians who have undertaken additional specialist training in diabetic retinopathy. (Most high-street opticians are not accredited to do this.) In other areas of the country, the photography is undertaken by specialist retinal photographers and the images graded by specialist graders.

 

[Patricia21]

I had my first retinopothy last month,I would never have known about it but for the forum,so I asked my diabetic nurse,who has now put me on the list,thank goodness for the forum.

 

[JohnEGreen]

Most high-street opticians are not accredited to do this

This is so but I was given a list of several local Opticians and was able to choose my own preference which was Specsavers as it turns out they had a direct link with the local diabetes unit and I had my results in about four days.

 

[Duncan57]

What was your diabetes control like at the time? Cataracts do not cause blurred vision your vision just diminishes as time goes on until treated.

I did not know I was type 2 until Nov 2015. And cataracts do cause blurred vision.

 

[Robbity]

I had my first retinopothy last month,I would never have known about it but for the forum,so I asked my diabetic nurse,who has now put me on the list,thank goodness for the forum.

My annual retinopathy screening is, and has been, the most reliable and proactive part of all my diabetic screening I'm thankful to say, as my eyesight has been my main "diabetic worry".

The technician actually showed me my cataract this time on my scan - we'd had an interesting discussion about the process. However, I've known from other eye treatment that I had cataracts in both eyes for many years, and I've had the operation on my very bad eye along with other treatment, but they've been reluctant because of my sight issues with it to do my "good" eye yet.

There are other effects, eg I got a new coat at Christmas which I thought was brown. Now I can see properly I know it is dark blue. I'm not sure how often I've gone out in odd socks.

The only reason I'm concious at all of my untreated cataract is a definite colour difference in the vision in that eye, everything has a yellow tinge, but not anything as dramatic as yours, @MargaretR! I get some blurriness occasionally, but I've put it down to changes in glucose levels as it's not consistent.

Robbity

 

[Duncan57]

Did the glasses fix the blurred vision? I noticed from your other posts you have high BP any chance this would have caused blurred vision? Also how often do you see your GP and have bloods done? I'm wondering how long you had been undiagnosed with diabetes as high bloods would also cause blurred vision.

The eye clinic confirmed cataracts this Monday. I have seen my GP regularly since being diagnosed last Nov.

 

[JohnEGreen]

Signs and symptoms of cataracts include:
Clouded, blurred or dim vision.
Increasing difficulty with vision at night.
Sensitivity to light and glare.
Seeing "halos" around lights.
Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription.
Fading or yellowing of colors.
Double vision in a single eye.

 

[jackois]

At my last sight check, at Boots, the optician mentioned that I had the beginnings of a cataract to my right eye. This was noticed on the photograph taken & the picture was re-taken as a confirmation.

She advertised that it would be okay for now & would be checked again at my net appointment.

This was an eye check for sight & my retinopathy check is a separate entity carried out in a van at the local surgery.

 

[chris lowe]

Boots told me two years ago that I had the beginning of a cataract but at my diabetic screenings since I was told its so slight it could be years before it has any effect. It may be that it's in such an early stage it wasn't worth worrying you with .

 

[CarbsRok]

I did not know I was type 2 until Nov 2015. And cataracts do cause blurred vision.

There's probably a good chance you had diabetes before then then. I had cataracts and they certainly didn't cause blurred vision with me just diminished my distance sight.

 

[JohnEGreen]

That's it not everyone has or experiences the same symptoms.

 

[Dark Horse]

This is so but I was given a list of several local Opticians and was able to choose my own preference which was Specsavers as it turns out they had a direct link with the local diabetes unit and I had my results in about four days.

You were able to choose from a list of accredited opticians because you live in an area of the country where screening is optometry-based. People who live in an area where screening is not optometry-based, should attend the screening organised by their local Diabetic Eye Screening Programme and not expect their local opticians to offer the same service.

 

[JohnEGreen]

You were able to choose from a list of accredited opticians because you live in an area of the country where screening is optometry-based. People who live in an area where screening is not optometry-based, should attend the screening organised by their local Diabetic Eye Screening Programme and not expect their local opticians to offer the same service.

I never said they should I just related what happened in my case and my experience I of course realise that care of any sort does not apply universally or in each and every case.

 

[Robinredbreast]

I have cataracts in both eyes and I have had them for a few years now, so my eyesight and diabetes eye care is monitored.
Yesterday I received my Boots Eye Health Check letter. At thr bottom of the page are two tear off forms. One for the date and time of appointment and the other which says :-

Free Eye health Check
including digital retinal photography when you buy a complete pair of glasses
Full price Eye Health Check is £25
See over for terms and conditions
Valid until 17 July 2016

Someone mentioned a yellow tinge, I sometimes see this on a TV programme, now, I thought it could possibly be my TV is getting a little old, but now, is it my eyes ?? My appointment is on Tuesday 2nd May.

 

[Robbity]

Someone mentioned a yellow tinge, I sometimes see this on a TV programme, now, I thought it could possibly be my TV is getting a little old, but now, is it my eyes ??

I think it was both me and @MargaretR. I learned about the yellow tinge from a fellow crafter with cataracts many years ago as it makes a difference to colour matching, especially in needlework. I can see a definite but very slight colour difference between my left eye with cataract (slightly creamy white) and my right eye with replacement lens (white white) when I close one or the other when looking at a pure white surface. It's a bit like a very watered down version of the difference between seeing something using a proper daylight bulb and a normal bog standard one. Margaret's colour changing coat was a stronger instance of this.

Robbity