hi guys, so my dad is going for an eye screening for diabetes on Friday and has been told about his sight possibly being blurry. He lives a 5 minute walk from the GP practice, so for anyone who has had this procedure done, will his eyesight be good enough to make the 5 min walk home?
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Will my dad be okay walking home from a diabetic eye screening?
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poohtiggy
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I've not heard of anyone having eye screening at the GP, do you know exactly what they are going to do, has he been warned about them using dilateing drops?
June_C
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I can't speak for your Dad, but my eyesight was ok afterwards. I just needed sunglasses to protect from the bright light. Is there anyone that can walk with him to be on the safe side?
TorqPenderloin
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We don't know how old your father is, what is eyesight is like normally, or what kinds of procedures they will be performing on him.
Assuming he's in perfect health, his vision is excellent, and if all they're doing is dilating his pupils then he should be just fine with a set of sunglasses (as @June_C mentioned).
They won't (shouldn't) be poking his eyes with sharp sticks if that's what you're wondering.
Assuming he's in perfect health, his vision is excellent, and if all they're doing is dilating his pupils then he should be just fine with a set of sunglasses (as @June_C mentioned).
They won't (shouldn't) be poking his eyes with sharp sticks if that's what you're wondering.
As far as i know it's at his local GP practice; that is what he said anyway. Is it usually done at a hospital then?
He is 69 and his eyesight is good, he doesn't wear glasses. He is in good health other than that. I don't know the procedures exactly, i will have to find out again and let you know.
poohtiggy
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It is usually done by selected Opticians (if it is a Retinopathy Test) they use drops to dilate the pupils so that they can take photographs of the workings of the eyes. This is a special test only for Diabetics and if this is the test he's having the letter should warn to take sunglasses as the daylight can be a bit of a shock to the eyes afterwards, also it depends on his natural sight, the last time I had my test I was sorry I didnt have somebody with me. For a normal eye test he would be fine
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I've had 2 retinopathy scans done - one at the nearest Diabetes Centre Opthalmology Clinic and the other at my GP, where a mobile team (complete with magic machinery) set up shop for a few days to do all the practise diabetics. I was only seen at the hospital the year before as I was away when the mobile team visited.
My eyes were pretty blurry afterwards, but I was absolutely fine to get myself home. When I had the tests done at the hospital, getting home involved a 10 minute walk to the railway station, a train ride, followed by a bus ride, then a 5 minute walk.
To be fair my vision is usually helped by glasses, but I can manage without them. It would have been trickier if it had been dark or dusk.
As others have said, it would be worthwhile considering your fathers sight generally, and whether there are any particularly hazardous road crossings or whatever. We're all different and there's no reason to feel your father would do better or worse than me after his screening.
brottonmoores
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I was fine walking home after my eye test, eyes a bit stingy that's all,
FlashManDo
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I always wear sunglasses after my screening, but have never had any problems walking home, I live about 15 minutes from the hospital where I have mine done
OK .. the wife has had the drops in to open up the pupils in her eyes .. (not looking for diabetes eye problems .. but its the same drops) she was left effectley blind for two day after .. and no way could she even get to the door of the drs let alone walk home unaided. My Dr has someone from the hospital come over to do the eye screenings. I refuse to have the drops and they can often do the test without using the drops.
edit to add .. could he get a friend to go with him .. just incase he has the same problem as the wife
edit to add .. could he get a friend to go with him .. just incase he has the same problem as the wife
Robbity
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@poohtiggy: I can get my diabetic screening done at my local surgery - they have a rota to save us having to travel to the local hospital, but they also do the screening there too.
@Hedylogos : I'm a short sighted OAP (a few years older than your dad!) and it's a 10 minute walk home from the surgery for me - I've done the trip after screening on a sunny day with my prescription photosensitive glasses on - it was a bit bright as I was walking facing into the lowish sun but I managed OK.
Dark glasses are a must IMO as since your eyes are dilated they're more sensitive to light because your pupls can't adjust until the drops wear off. For me the brightness was more of an issue than any blurriness.
Robbity
@Hedylogos : I'm a short sighted OAP (a few years older than your dad!) and it's a 10 minute walk home from the surgery for me - I've done the trip after screening on a sunny day with my prescription photosensitive glasses on - it was a bit bright as I was walking facing into the lowish sun but I managed OK.
Dark glasses are a must IMO as since your eyes are dilated they're more sensitive to light because your pupls can't adjust until the drops wear off. For me the brightness was more of an issue than any blurriness.
Robbity
I used to have my screening done at my GPs.
Advise him to take sunglasses. If he's having the dilating drops and he hasn't had them before then he won't know how he's goung to react. They can make your vision very blurry, which can be disorientating. If he has things like roads to cross, he may feel more confident with someone with him.
Advise him to take sunglasses. If he's having the dilating drops and he hasn't had them before then he won't know how he's goung to react. They can make your vision very blurry, which can be disorientating. If he has things like roads to cross, he may feel more confident with someone with him.
CarbsRok
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It sounds as if it's a mobile screening unit going to your dad's GP practice. I live in Cornwall and this is normal around the area, so worry not.
He will be fine to walk home. People are told not to drive though.
He has told me he hasn't actually been diagnosed as diabetic. Is this a test solely for diabetics? According to my dad, all the doctor has said is he was borderline. Surely he either is diabetic or he isn't? If he is diabetic, the doctor should be giving advice on how to control it, right? Sorry i don't know much about diabetes, but it doesn't make sense how they haven't even given him a definitive answer.
WackyJacky64
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they do the diabetic eye screening (nhs) screening at GP surgeries where i live i have taken my dad many times and it is the real the test and not all NHS eye screening is done at a hospital .
