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Eye test

J

jaykay

Well-Known Member
Messages
439
Just had my eye test for retinopathy-it's still a bit bright in here! :lol: It wasn't much worse than a normal eye test. Afterwards they showed me the pictures they took and there was a dirty big dark spot which freaked me out but the optician pointed to it and said that it was just a birthmark- I have a freckle on my eye! Well, I have them every where else, so why not? Glad nothing horrible is showing yet and I thought I'd message and let the newbies know not to be scared of the test ( like I was :lol: :lol: :lol: ).
Have a good day 8)
 
Love the thought of freckles on the eye!! :lol:
My OH has freckles wonder if he has them there too 8)

Angie
 
i'm so glad you posted this jaykay,
i am having the test soon (wonder what they'll find on mine) :lol:
knowing my luck they will say the eyes are fine its the rest of me :lol: :lol:
cheers mate
rob
 
I had mine done today as well! Stung a bit for about 20 seconds - but have found that I have slept for most of the day as couldn't read or focus on anything
It was really interesting to see the back of my eye - no freckles on me though
 
Jaykay,

It's always reassuring to know that all is well with the eyes, most people with diabetes would agree that there No1 priority is to retain their eyesight and this is why good bg control is paramount, pleased all is well!

Nigel
 
That's good news, Jaykay...
It's just 5 weeks since I was diagnosed and the Dn said, at the time, that I would receive a letter to go to have my eyes tested.
Up to now, no letter has arrived. Should I chase it up, or make my own arrangements with the optician that my wife uses?

Malc.
 
Hey squishychick! I thought it was just me being sleepy! The stinging was bearable and went away quickly and the brightness was well contained by sunglasses. But I was really sleepy and had an hours catnap this afternoon-most unlike me! Feel fine now tho' and eyes are back to normal.

@Malc- I would chase it up if I were you. In fact I couldn't make an eye test immediately and took about a month and a half to get an appointment. Had 2 letters and a phone call from the PCT ( I think it was them anyway )in that time, checking up why I had not had the test done, so obviously it's something they rightly consider very important.
 

Thanks, I'll contact them on Monday.

As a matter of interest, was the test done at a hospital, or regular opticians?

Regards, Malc.
 

Ours are done at a mobile unit that travels around the county. My nurse said it would be doing our practice in May (I was diagnosed in November) and that I would get a letter prior to that for my appointment. I guess it just depends what arrangements there are in your area and where the tests take place.
Angie
 
I was terrified when I was recalled to a specialist after my first retinopathy. The specialist said that I had a pin sized hemorrhage in my right eye. First I was OH NO! but he reasured me that it would clear up by itself. He was actually surprised how little diabetic change there was in my eyes. I have to go back to see the specialist in July and I hope all will still be ok.
 
Hi Malc

The retinopathy screening is slightly different to what is done by an optician in a routine eye test, and is done by a specialist technician.

However - I picked up from your post - 'the optician that my wife uses'.

Everyone, whether needing glasses or not, should really have an eye test at least every two years. There are other things that can happen to your eyes - eg glaucoma, macular degeneration - that have nothing to do with diabetes, will NOT be picked up in the retinopathy screening ('cos that's not what they're looking for) and can lead to blindness if untreated.

Please, everyone who reads this post - if you haven't seen an optician in the last two years, make an appointment to get your eyes checked.

If you haven't much money, you can get help with costs via an HC2 certificate. Ask at your doctor's or the optician for info. I have one. Nothing to be ashamed of! It also does prescription and dental charges.

Viv
 
Viv-the last 2 eye tests I have had have been free because of being diabetic.

@ Malc. I was given a list of suitable opticians in about a 20 mile radius, I actually picked the nearest one because of the drops and not being sure if I could drive. Because they are not my usual opticians, they gave me a normal eye test first, then the drops.
 
Hadn't thought of the 'diabetic' angle re cost, Jaykay - I get mine free because of being a pensioner :shock: then get help with new contact lenses via my HC2.

My GP has spent 5 minutes today telling me the screening could NOT be done by a 'normal' optician because it's too specialist! despite me having had my retinas photo'ed by my own optician 3 times now! Ours is a mobile unit that comes to the surgery, and does screening only. I queried why the photos were all they'd done - hence the GP rant, telling me that's all anyone in the country gets at the screening!

Shows two things - how different areas vary, and (alas) how different GPs' knowledge varies. Anyway, I've had it done, no problems with the test (apart from having to sit and wait for 1.5 hours until I could read a numberplate at 20 metres, so I could drive home) and results completely clear.

That's this year over!

Viv
 
Hey I have a freckle on my eye too :lol:

Went to see the eye doc in the summer before I knew I had diabetes, so wondering if I should go back? Chances are that I would end up being referred to an opthamologist but the waiting list is 4 YEARS long!!! since I know the eye doc on a social basis I may just ask if I should be concerned about coming in or not. So much to learn about this condition :?
 
I was told I would get an appointment through - but seemed to have got missed in the system! When I chased it up - got an appointment through for 3 months away! Ours is a mobile unit that apparently visits every month but they can only see 30 people a day and have a lot to get through!

The results will be back in 2-4 weeks - the ladies running it were really nice, very helpful and explained everything to me - including asking some really dumb questions

I was worried about it - the worse thing was the chair sliding across the back of the van as they were parked on a slope!!!

Did ask if next time I could go to work after, but having spent the day asleep think I will try and make it in my hols or very late afternoon!
 
I had benign spots etc, and yeah its nothing to be scared of, perfectly normal. Drops stings slightly for a minute and then 4hrs give or take for your pupils to stop dilating. One point though, why does the NHS always put drops in and Boots never do and get a good image. Seems to me the NHS are wasting money again, at least in my case who can dilate easily naturally.
 
wellwell1212 said:
One point though, why does the NHS always put drops in and Boots never do and get a good image. Seems to me the NHS are wasting money again, at least in my case who can dilate easily naturally.
Click to expand...

That's probably because when you get your diabetes eye tests done, they are done by an eye specialist to get your retinas checked for abnormalities and when you go to boots, they just check your vision to see what strength your lenses have to be.
 

Ah no, I should have been more explicate. Boots do a retinal check which shows the same results on a similar machine as the NHS. The NHS did not used to bother putting in eye drops if you had good enough natural dilation but, now they do as a matter of course in recent years and it seems a waste of time and money to me.
 
My test is booked for the end of March - booked a days holiday on the strength of it

Had one a few years ago for possible MD and it involved not only the drops but a fluorescent dye injection too. Looked in the mirror afterwards and looked like the 'tango' man. Brilliant orange!!

Better still, when my kidneys disposed of it, my piddle was bright fluorescent green like the stuff they use to find leaky drains... :lol:
 
Hi jaykay
i went to a clinic appointment for a test last week i have an old injury in my left eye it was out of its socket :cry: anyway i got the drops in my eyes and waited 15 mins then went into the room. I never mentioned the defect and was hoping after all this time it had gone. The lady kept saying follow the cross on my left. She said to me would you like to look yer please wow how much hi tech equipement it was amazing ."So what happend to your left eye " told her she showed me a similar thing to what you have described .I was hoping that it would be fixed now after 25yrs .Not that injury !!!!!!! i'm thinking more things going wrong. Every time i go to a opticions they pannic and request i go to etu.
do your normal tests show your frecle? :wink:
 
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