Retinopathy tests

Good news is good news.

 

When I saw my optician a few weeks ago he said the check he/she does with a light shining to check the blood vessels is a better check than the retinopathy scan. Has anyone else heard this? If so, and we all visit our optician, why do we also need the retinopathy scan?

 

Haven’t had mine, but when I visited the optician in August, he had some snazzy new machine which included fully blown up scans where I could see floaters and all sorts and was assured all in order.

 

There are pros and cons of each method:-

The advantage of the slit lamp examination with a bright light looks is that it looks at the whole of the retina whereas the photography screening only covers some of the retina (including the macula and the disc).

The advantages of photography screening include:-

1. It's better at picking up changes early (small changes can be identified on photographs that would be completely missed during slit lamp examination)
2. All diabetic retinopathy image graders have a specific qualification in detecting and grading diabetic retinopathy. (Some opticians do elect to do this training but most do not have this level of knowledge.)
3. Use of photography allows good quality assurance - all positive tests are agreed by at least one other person while negative results are sampled for re-testing to make sure individuals are not missing retinopathy. If there are any queries, the photographs can be shown to the consultant ophthalmologist associated with the screening programme. (With a slit lamp examination, the examiner works in isolation and mistakes would not automatically be detected.)
4. Photographs are stored and can be compared from year to year. This enables comparisons to identify whether something is a worrying new change or a long-term feature which does not need further investigation. This avoids both over- and under-referral to ophthalmology.
5. There are automatic referral pathways in place in the screening service so that if worrying retinopathy is detected, the patient is automatically referred to ophthalmology where further examinations take place including a slit lamp examination of the whole of the retina. This gives the best of both worlds.
6. Photography screening is cheaper than slit lamp examinations so patients can be screened more frequently.
7. Photography screening is free at the point of care.

 

Mine checkup was due early this year and I actually got a letter cancelling my appointment before I got the one making it. I've finally got one in a couple of weeks time.

I've found some of the technicians are more chatty than others, but I usually get an unofficial OK.

 

I had mine a couple of weeks ago at the opticians - she used a fancy machine (OCT I think it was called - cost £10 to have it done) but worth every penny when she said all looked ok including the floaters which I had which was all re-assuring to me as like everyone else I have not had my check-ups this year at the hospital, although I have a retinopathy appointment in a couple of weeks time so hopefully it will go ahead this time.

 

I forgot to update on my visit from another thread when i got called back for the OCT scan last month as the first one showed signs of diabetic maculopathy

thankfully came back all clear and now gone back to the yearly check ups, which was huge relief

 

Yes tests are free but I had to pay £10 for the OCT one - it is optional if you want this test, you do not have to have it but it was quite interesting actually as very clear pictures of my eyes were on her computer screen and we could see even the floaters that I was seeing at that time in both eyes very clearly (crystal). IMO it was well worth the £10 for me to be re-assured as I have not had a retinopathy test at the hospital for well over a year now.

 

One for each eye?