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Eye Screening

C

caitycakes

Well-Known Member
Hi all,

Got to go on Wed for my eye screening test. Can anyone tell me how long it takes? Don't know about anyone else but I find appointments and tests more hassle than the diabetes! I know it's important and I will definitely be going but would like an idea of what to expect and how long it will take. Also, do I have to go without eye make-up lol :oops:

Thanks

Caitycakes x
 
Takes about half an hour IIRC .They may have to put drops in your eyes to make the pupils bigger so don't drive there,get someone to take you.Mind you I got away without the drops because pupils opened wide enough without them.Probably because I wear tinted specs as my eyes are very sensitive to light.
 
Thanks Sue,

I had been planning on going myself in the car, so I'm glad you mentioned about not driving after pupils dilated.

Caitycakes x
 
I had my eyes checked at our local GP surgery. They used particularly powerful CLEAR drops to dilate my eyes (not the more friendly ORANGE ones my optician uses). They told me to wear SUNGLASSES to walk home, but as I don't have clip-ons for my glasses, I didn't. It was a bright, sunny day and my eyes were so dilated that it was quite painful keeping my eyes open and my vision was very blurred. As a result I was nauseous for the rest of the day

SO:
1. DON'T DRIVE
2. WEAR SUNGLASSES
3. DON'T WORRY, IF YOU DO 1 & 2, EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE! :D
 
i agree,

dont drive, definatly wear sun glasses.

It takes about 10 or 15 minutes for the drops to work then they take photo's of your eyes. Ask if yo ucan see the photo's too they're cool! :mrgreen:
 
They do not always need to use drops to dilate the pupils. I have had 3 retinopathy tests and only had drops on the first occasion. (The other two tests were carried out in a semi-darkened room which meant that my pupils were already dilated to cope with the low light level.) I was also advised by a colleague that should eye drops be used I should ask for the eye drops which reverse the dilation once the test has been completed. The second drops were not offered so I asked and once they were applied I had to sit for 10 minutes before driving.

In my experience the process of taking the digital images takes only a few seconds.
 
Jenny said:
They do not always need to use drops to dilate the pupils. I have had 3 retinopathy tests and only had drops on the first occasion. (The other two tests were carried out in a semi-darkened room which meant that my pupils were already dilated to cope with the low light level.) I was also advised by a colleague that should eye drops be used I should ask for the eye drops which reverse the dilation once the test has been completed. The second drops were not offered so I asked and once they were applied I had to sit for 10 minutes before driving.

In my experience the process of taking the digital images takes only a few seconds.
Click to expand...

Yes my optician does that, his digital camera has a particularly bright flash and since it provides instant results he can see immediately if the photos need redoing (even if you are still looking at jupiter and all its moons) which obviates the need for the drops.

Disclaimer: I'm not suggesting anyone rely on an optician, particularly not from Specsavers etc. it just so happens I know the guy personally, know where he trained and who he knows and trust him enough to refer to to the correct specialist in the event of any doubt. It's an order of magnitude easier to walk down town and back rather than drive an hour to the hospital and sit around for half a day. Last time I was there with mother I hypo'd and had an argument with the arrogant sods. Not all bad news though, they gave about a dozen of us free car park tickets, otherwise it would have been £4.50 each. I'd probably have to take a taxi for myself, last time they dilated her her eyes were still leaking orange stuff two days later.
 
I take a good book, because the wait to be seen at the clinic is horrendous. I also use the bus and have my daark glasses in my bag
 
Apart from the 3 tests that have been done at the GP surgery by staff from the health board I have had one test at Specsavers. I was surprised that they did the test without asking if I was diabetic. Whilst they did not say why the test had been done, they gave exactly the same comments that I received from the 'official' retinopathy result ie. ' some minor changes that are diabetic related but nothing to worry about'.
 
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