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Scared of dilation drops

Please NEVER drive after this test no matter how normal you feel your sight is. The instruction not to drive is there for a reason.

There could be strict penalties if you're caught driving when you've been advised not to, and, more importantly, you could kill or seriously injure yourself or others.

I have edited some posts in this thread accordingly. Please think again...
 
With me, everything feels too bright with too much light getting into my eyes. The reflections off chrome fittings and windscreens dazzle me. Luckily, I have a willing chauffeur to drive me home.
 
Thankyou... I wasn't going to drive after my appointment
 
Ambersilva said:
With me, everything feels too bright with too much light getting into my eyes. The reflections off chrome fittings and windscreens dazzle me. Luckily, I have a willing chauffeur to drive me home.
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So did I the bus driver bus stop is virtually out side my front door..
 
Ive had 5 screening appointments. I've only had the drops twice. The drops are fine, they do make you sensitive to light and it makes it difficult to focus. I'm very short sighted and I found my glasses made things worse for a couple of hours after. If you do have the drops it does resolve fairly quickly. But it is worth asking if they are able to do it without the drops because they sometimes can, if your pupils will behave and stay big enough.

No matter how unpleasant the idea of drops effecting your vision for a few hours is, it's worth remembering that it's only temporary and the point of the screening is to pick up any changes in you retinas so that they can take action to treat it well in advance of any more significant / permanent vision issues developing.

The retinopathy appointments are honestly not that bad - you'll be fine
 
I used to suffer from uvietis which meant that my iris became inflamed and I often had to put dilation drops in when I had a flare up. I used to liken it to looking through a puddle particularly when trying to use the computer with my sunglasses on! They did sting but you get used to them after a while - it's a novelty for me to only have them in once a year instead of sometimes once/twice a day for a while. I never drove with them in and always took my husband with me to my appointments and put my drops in when I got to work.
 
Hi.. well I'm going in a an hour and I'm reading through all your comments to calm my anxiety about this ..I really don't know why my fear of blurred eyes is so strong
hopefully I won't freak out and all will be ok.. and afterwards will think what a silly Billy.. thankyou all xx
 
You'll be fine @maxjoe121 Be prepared for the sting by having a tissue ready. I found a gentle press under the eye helped. The sting starts after a few seconds so can catch you unawares but it's very short lived.

Then you gradually realise your eyes feel a bit tired somehow and kind of 'wonky' (the focus, I presume) Just sit and relax.

Then you'll be called back in for the actual,eye check and that's no problem at all

Afterwards, shove your sunglasses on (even indoors if needed) and watch out for bright sun and lights as they can make you wince a bit. The effects gradually disappear and your eyes will be back to normal
 
Thankyou.. what do you mean by wonky eeeek..
 
maxjoe121 said:
Thankyou.. what do you mean by wonky eeeek..
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Just like when you're really tired and can't focus, or if you've ever tried on someone's glasses and the prescription isn't quite right for you. It's most noticeable if you try to read - it's more of an effort and your eyes don't focus as well. This can make you feel a bit strange if you're not used to it, but not in a scary way
 
Hi I'm back and I just want to say to all of you on here a massive thankyou for making good me feel less anxuous.. I did freak out beforehand a bit but just if the unknown I think.. all went well and eyes just bit strange like in the sun but the lady was lovely and very understanding of my anxiety.. thankyou all again xx
 
Thankyou.. it was just like you said and not as bad as I'd imagined x
 
I am wary of these drops too, not anxiety based but I should've got a lift home...everything was very blurred for hours and I was disorientated.
 
eddie1968 said:
I am wary of these drops too, not anxiety based but I should've got a lift home...everything was very blurred for hours and I was disorientated.
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It didn't effect me to bad with the drops. Although I couldn't drive home as the light was to glarey so I got a friend to take me. It did say on my letter do not drive
 
Will done and thank you for reporting back. It will help others
 
Please go for your test, it will leave you eyes a bit blurred but it dose pass. I have been going every year for the past 20 years and I do understand about your panic but this is so important. I have had laser on my eyes to save my sight because I was a diabetic for years and did not know, the way I found out I was a diabetic was through an eye test I took and my eyes were not good I could see fine but the back of my eyes were a mess and if I had not had the laser and took care of my blood sugar I would be blind, so please go, by the way my eyes have been stable since and that was twenty years ago I go every year. Good luck. B J
 
Hi.. thankyou and this was a post from August so just to let you know I did go for my test and everything was fine..thanks for your words
 
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