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Eyesight silly question

Mrsmac247

Well-Known Member
Messages
232
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi all, I have what I think maybe a silly question but just checking.

I seen to be having a slight problem with my eye sight. It has never been perfect and as a teenager I was supposed to wear reading glasses but it was not in my design wardrobe! I got around this by associating words as shapes. Fast forward 20 years and I at the last couple of weeks I seern to be increasingly blurry more so with words.

For example I am typing this on the phone app and the background is black with white text and every word has a shadow. The tv which is positioned at optimal distance and is 40+ inches, the time on breakfast tv and the words they put at the bottom sometimes again have a shadow almost like a double impression.

Question is, so I wait for my referral to the eye people for my diabetes to being this up or should I make an appointment with the optician? I don't know how long the referral takes but funds are really tight and I'm assuming an optician will be expensive if they recommend glasses?

Oh just to say not sure of bg as I am awaiting another order of strips

Thank you for any answers/suggestions
 
Make an urgent apt with your optician who can do all the checks and if a problem they will refer you straight to hospital.
Glasses are expensive if you allow them to be. They can be picked up for £29 if not on benefits or free if on benefits.
Better to go with out something though if you need glasses. If you have double vision you are not allowed to drive until sorted by glasses. (That's if you drive)
 
Thank you @CarbsRok I was kind of thinking the same sort of thing really but would be gutted to go and having to find money for glasses then and there. I have never been tested as an adult so haven't a clue how it works. Yes I do drive but it only effects words funny enough but what you said struck a cord that I need to get it looked at asap. Thank you
 
Sorry to add, no I funny get benefits so would be self funding
 
The actual eye test is free though, Spec savers do the £29 offer No idea about your income but if it's low there are benefits you can claim to entitle you to reduced costs of free glasses.
As you drive pace the distance out to make sure you can see the distance to make you legal.
I see double out of one of my eyes unless I wear glasses and haven't touched a drop honest
 
@CarbsRok we are in a funny position, I am not entitled to most benefits as my husband is working but I am a carer for our disabled daughter. My GP also messed up with my medical exemption form so have not a clue where that is in the system and what that would help towards!

I will look for a local spec savers, £29 isn't too bad even if just for a temporary measure
 
Ring the free prescription line and ask where your certificate is, or even ask your GP if it has been sent. As you are a carer this might entitle you to extra help, perhaps ask CAB or do a search on the net
I found this for spec savers on how eye test is done http://www.specsavers.co.uk/eye-health hope it helps
 
Thank you very much, but I already get carers allowance as my daughter classifies as higher rate dla. So it's looking as though I can get the test free and if i can find a temporary frame for a small fee that should be ok
 
Mrsmac247 said:
Thank you very much, but I already get carers allowance as my daughter classifies as higher rate dla. So it's looking as though I can get the test free and if i can find a temporary frame for a small fee that should be ok
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Yes I realised you had carers allowance and quite rightly so. But having carers allowance does open up other windows, like tax credit and other help as well. Hence why I suggested you looked at calculators to see what else is available to you. Because an exemption cert for diabetes doesn't entitle you to free dental treatment or check ups. Obviously a free eye test though. So well worth having a good dig around to see what you can find out.
 
Ahhh I see, thank you very much, will look further into this
 
Good morning Mrs M. I'm sorry to hear of your visions difficulties, but don't forget that vision can change with BGs - if you've been getting it down lately, your vision adjusts with the changes to the fluids etc. in your eyeball. Even if you've had a few days higher than normal, it can make tangible, temporary changes in vision.

These changes are usually temporary until it settles, so whilst seeing an optician is a good idea, please also check your BGs as soon as you get your strips, as it might just be due to a change in your BG. As I've been coming down since taking insulin, I've had some days when my sight has been very poor and it felt like I had bubble wrap taped to my specs. Thankfully each episode only lasted a few hours until it settled, but make sure that you do tell an optician that you're diabetic and what the changes have been in your BG. I wouldn't want you to fork out on new specs if they're not actually the answer.
 
Thank you @BooJewels that also makes sense. I must admit since not having my strips I have been eating meals that usually have a good result on my meter but miss the assurance that it gives, if anything i think I may need to eat a little more food lol

I will definitely bear that in mind and ensure that I tell the optician of my diabetes, I know I should be wearing glasses any way and I think that it is getting to the stage where I just have to bite the bullet so to speak after ignoring it for several years!
 
@Mrsmac247, increasing blurry vision is a cause for concern, try and get in at your Dr's asap and if they think its necessary they'll refer you to the Ophthalmology clinic at your local hospital.
 
Hiw long after being diagnosed do you usually get the eyes checked? Just wondering
 
Mrsmac247 said:
Hiw long after being diagnosed do you usually get the eyes checked? Just wondering
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Can be a while- mine took @3 months. It's also an idea to make the regular trip to the Optician 6 months after the main eye check- that way, you get two checks a year- and in case you wonder how good the Opticians are, Specsavers caught my retinopathy in time when the eyes starting deteriorating after the main check had occurred- likely saved at least part of my sight.
 
Oh wow @MarkE thank you for your advice it definitely makes sense. Will go with spec savers. Didn't realise it takes that long as well, I guess it is good time from referral but will go myself in the next couple of days
 
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