• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Eye screening

HSSS

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,675
Location
South of England
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Just had mine done yesterday. After years of invariably getting a migraine afterwards no matter how careful I was about sunglasses and being in dark spaces they agree to do the test without the drops. Apparently drops are used to limit recalls due to dark images. But this means those of us that struggle with side effects might well be having the drops unnecessarly as many of us can still have a good quality image without the drops, although as we age our eyes dilate less well on their own. They can see then and there if the image is likely to be good enough. As the room wasn’t that dark I cupped my hands around the eye being tested to maximise natural dilation and it look like it worked. Just waiting on official notification it was ok (and hopefully so are the blood vessels). Theres is also the option of half strength drops more usually used on pregnant women.

So if the drops cause you issues beyond a couple of hours of light sensitivity and blurring ask rathr than suffer.
 
Despite not being pregnant, I think I have been given the half strength drops most of the time.
Whilst I have not experienced the nasty headaches, one one occasion it took about 5 hours for the blurring to clear. Now it only takes 30 to 60 minutes.
I have been luck to not need to drive but there is a clarity needed to walk (especially cross the road) which I now have when I leave the surgery but didn't have in the "early days".
 
My eyes have usually cleared up in about an hour, but my god they stung like a B%^&* this last time, never had that before.
 
Oddly other than a bit of stinging i got very little blurring. It’s the migraines that then wipe me out bedridden for 12 to 36 hours I want to avoid
 
Just a question on this, I have a pupil that doesn’t dilate at all I’m guessing they’re still getting images from it?
 
Sarah69 said:
Just a question on this, I have a pupil that doesn’t dilate at all I’m guessing they’re still getting images from it?
Click to expand...
I’d have thought they would have recalled you if they weren’t getting an image they could assess
 
I’ve twice had the screening without drops. My regular optician suggested asking as I have wide pupils.

On each of my last 2 screenings I did that and it was agreed subject to them getting decent images.

Luckily they did!
 
Haven't had one of these since before corona and don't know if still on the list or not as not heard anything about them since 2019

I remember I couldn't see well for most of the day afterwards... was like having oil in my eyes or something, although accepted it for my own good.

Do remember it stinging once actually too.
 
HSSS said:
I’d have thought they would have recalled you if they weren’t getting an image they could assess
Click to expand...

Or they know the pupil in that eye doesn't dilate so they do the best they can.

I'm lucky, they get good enough images without the drops.
 
Back
Top