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eye test

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roxy44

Well-Known Member
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Hi

sorry but need to ask about the eye test again plz
5 week dx....going next wednesday for the scan....i am terrified :oops: , the thought of drops being put in and vision going blurry is making me panic....this may be silly but its how i feel....if i have no choice i will have to go through with it....of course the fear of going blind is more frightening!!

would it be ok if i asked if they could do the test without the drops? without them getting anoyed with me?
its a mobile eye clinic that is coming to my GPs surgery. is there a test i can do at home to see if my pupils can enlarge without the drops?

like i say if there is no option then i will grit my teeth and go ahead!!
just had a thought
could i ring the place that sent me the appointment through and explain and see what they say?

thanks for reading xx
 
Had my test last wednesday, the drops felt like getting shampoo in your eye so the stinging isn't intense and doesn't last long. However, I would advise sunglasses! It was a bright day and I was seen at 11.30 so was in the mid day sun, I ended walking down the road with one eye shut and squinting through the other! I took refuge in a dark pub, it was about 3 & 1/2 hours until my pupils returned to a state I felt comfortable to get into daylight again (or was it that long coz I was enjoying my drink?)
 
thanks Gappy, what about the blurryness? its that is making me anxious...is there a chance i might not need the drops?
 
It was explained to me that the drops are needed so the technology can get a decent picture, through a wide open pupil. The blurryness was a bit weird, you can see things ok, but I was sending texts to people but seeing what I typed on screen was a problem, that was only about half hour though for me. But honestly the sunglasses I would say are vital! Mind you everyone's different the tw*t before me got into a car and drove away, no way I could of done that.
 
If this is your first time I can understand your worry. Its not so bad in practice. Makes the eyes sensitive to light for a few hours - a sort of starburst effect and I didnt find my vision blurred too much.
Is there a friend who can go with you? it might make you feel less anxious. As I understand it they do need to have the pupils dilated so they can give a thorough examination.
 
Roxy,please dont worry the drops dont sting much ,the NHS has to tell you the worst scenario in case you dont like it and sue :( I have not had a problem with blurred vision but your eyes will be sensitive to the light because the drops stop your pupils contracting for a while .Sun glasses are a good idea and if you can take a a friend with you that would be good .After you have had this done you will wonder why you worried and knowing that your eyes are being looked after is well worth it . Let us know how you go.
CAROL
 
thanx everyone for your comforting advice,

my appointment is 9 am wednesday...and if i'm honest i am freaking out about it...i will be so glad when its done with ,

thanx again xxx
 
roxy44 said:
thanx everyone for your comforting advice,

my appointment is 9 am wednesday...and if i'm honest i am freaking out about it...i will be so glad when its done with ,

thanx again xxx
Click to expand...

Make sure you don't drive, take someone if you can. If you feel disorientated and too blurry to walk home you can always sit there for a while. Sunglasses are a great tip as it can be uncomfortable if it's sunny.

They are always super nice and helpful, the only problems i had was seeing things up close.

I have a thing about things being in or near my eyes so i found the first time difficult, i kept blinking and the drops were all over my face. :lol:

The drops are to make your pupils wider so they can get a good picture of your eyes.

If whoever is photographing your eyes is nice they may even let you see the picture too, it's a bit weird looking i think!
 
It's not pleasant but it's really not terrible. The drops stung a little for a minute or so and my eyesight was blurry for a couple of hours but I could get around, make a cuppa, text etc. Do take sunglasses, as the bright light is uncomfortable and as everyone has said, have someone with you if possible but I've made my own way home alone everytime I've had it done.

It's really not that bad, honestly.
 
thanx rglennon

when you go in what do they do first? eye test? then drop? then do you have to go back in waiting room till eyes are right to scan?

thanx xx
 
First of all I got a short "read the letters" sight test. Then the drops go in, this was no worse than getting shampoo in your eye. Then I sat in a waiting room, for about 15 mins while the drops take effect. Then you're back in to be photographed, the bloke looked at the pictures on a computer screen, I could see them too, said he can't see anything wrong but they go back to head office where experts look at them on big screens and I'll get confirmation in writing I'm ok, then wont hear again until I get my appt for next year. When I stepped out into the mid day sun I wish I had sunglasses. The blurryness is only up close, you can see the faceof theperson standing next to you no problem, I had trouble seeing the letters on my phone screen. The blurryness was only about half hour, the light sensitivity was about 4 hours for me, I did seek the refuge of a darkened pub so was possibly too comfortable and making it last though!
 
thanx Gappy :)

when they put the drops in and you go out to wait....can you feel your focus changing?

sorry to be a wimp xx
 
No, I didn't but I was looking through the front window of the van at the driving test centre opposite so was looking lond distance. I didn't feel any changing sensation, not like suddenly going dark or in case suddenly going fuzzy! In fact when I tried reading my texts I just laughed at myself for not having to study my phone hard-I must of looked stupid! But when I was in the shade nobody could tell until I told them, as no normal person looks so closely at your eyes, and as I said I could see them clearly.
 
Hi roxy! Had my eyes tested on friday full diabetic screen test kit n caboodle! 1st they ask you to read the letters on chart then do one eye at a time again reading letters on chart. Then took my occular eye pressures [have high occular hypertension] then look in eyes with light n machine , then let you rest n re-adgust for a bit , then you are asked if your NOT driving? then pop eye drops in they can sting sometimes not always I have found... then you wait a little time for the drops to do their work [dialate your eyes ] n gradually the blurry focus happens its only slight n you feel quite light sensitive n want to look down more than up, this is the time to pop your sunglasses on! you can still see things n people but its fuzzy in focus, then after they have a good look in your eyes they take the photographs n its all totally painless. After all they do n you start to make your way home wear your glasses n have somneone with you to drive you . Your vision will clear n return to normal 4-5hrs later. Its only like a fuzzy focus thing tempoarly n painfree totally so please dont worry or fret to much about it. Hope this helps you roxy. It wont hurt or cause you pain. Anna.x :)
 
I find it takes a while after the drops go in before you notice anything. Usually seems that the drops don't work properly til its all over and you go out into the light.

My own optician sometimes manages to avoid using the drops, by making the room as dark as poss and waiting a while for my pupils to open in response to the dark. Depends how busy the optician is (I purposely go on a weekday) and it helps if I wear sunglasses on the way there. At the hospital this isn't an option, though.

It's just an inconvenience really, after the first couple of times you'll wonder what the fuss was about.
 
Looking forward to tomorrow afternoon when you post here that all's well!
 
No need to worry, it's like shampoo in your eyes, then you know how you can't focus when you're drunk and tired? no? you aint drank enough then! Only it's like that (without the headache & nausea)-hard to see detail that's all. And even the palpitations now will be nothing compared to the relief when you know you aren't going blind!
 
lol...once got drunk when i was 15...never again!!

i am going to tell them when i go in that i am very anxious and see what they say..might be able to do without drops..but we'll see..what will be will be..thanx Gappy, youve been a great help...now if we can just swap eyes and you go in my place.......... lol
 
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