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Eye test

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
HenryBennett

HenryBennett

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi all,

I‘ve long been aware that diabetes causes eye problems so as soon as opticians started to reopen I booked an eye test with Specsavers. I paid for the enhanced scan - only £10.

However, I’ve read in various threads that I should have had some eye drops (steroid?) first. Can they detect potential D eye problems with this scan? According to the scan everything was fine, but can I rely on that?

Thanks,

Henry
 
Yes, I agree with @Anitram, the proper retinal imaging screening is usually done at a hospital and eyedrops are used to dilate the pupils. You are entitled to this as part of the D care package, and it's free.
 
I’ve never had eye drops at either Specsavers or at a diabetic retinopathy check up. Not everyone needs them.
 
I've not had them at Specsavers, but I've always had them at a retinal screening. I thought it was the normal thing...
 
I think the eye drops may be dependant on whether they feel they can get a good look without them. Personally I’ve always had them for any check.
 
HI
Firstly you should not have paid for the enhanced test. As a diabetic eye tests are FREE. The eye tests at opticians do pick up diabetic issues such as haemorrhages ( burst or weakened blood vessels in the back of the eye) if you have any sign of these you should be told to make an appointment for Diabetic eye screening. Here either at hospital or certain GP clinics you SHOULD have eye drops 1 for anaesthetic and 2 the drops to dilate the pupils so that the ophthalmologist can see the back of the eye clearly. The treatment for this is laser surgery to protect the remainder of the vision Uncomfortable but manageable. At o point should you take no for an answer. Diabetes is the biggest cause of blindness in the working population.
 
Piglet said:
HI
Firstly you should not have paid for the enhanced test. As a diabetic eye tests are FREE. The eye tests at opticians do pick up diabetic issues such as haemorrhages ( burst or weakened blood vessels in the back of the eye) if you have any sign of these you should be told to make an appointment for Diabetic eye screening. Here either at hospital or certain GP clinics you SHOULD have eye drops 1 for anaesthetic and 2 the drops to dilate the pupils so that the ophthalmologist can see the back of the eye clearly. The treatment for this is laser surgery to protect the remainder of the vision Uncomfortable but manageable. At o point should you take no for an answer. Diabetes is the biggest cause of blindness in the working population.
Click to expand...
Standard eye tests are free. The enhanced one costs £10 because it’s not standard.
The imaging they have at Specsavers (and it is only available there) can detect issues about four years prior to other tests showing an indication of an issue. It’s not the same thing that they do at the hospital retinopathy exam at all.
 
I refused the extra £10 one before Xmas, they were a bit vague about the benefit.
 
ColinUK said:
Standard eye tests are free. The enhanced one costs £10 because it’s not standard.
The imaging they have at Specsavers (and it is only available there) can detect issues about four years prior to other tests showing an indication of an issue. It’s not the same thing that they do at the hospital retinopathy exam at all.
Click to expand...
Without knowing the precise machine used, I would say that Opticians other than Specsavers offer eye scans. I had one to look into my 'floaters' at a local independent optician and it cost me £25 a few years back.

But this is different to the free specialised Retinopathy eye exam done for all Diabetics on the NHS.
 
I stand corrected on the enhanced eye tests. I have always had free eye tests and my screening at the hospital so have never been offered an enhanced test. For clarity I did not say that the eye tests at the hospital were the same as the ones at Specsavers...
 
And for further clarity Piglet, we no longer get any anaesthetic drops prior to the dilatory ones. Having had cataracts removed in both eyes in recent years, I asked various opthalmologists why we no longer get them for retinopathy and they all said that unless you are going the put a pad over the eye and a protective plastic cover (like they do when you actually have an eye op) there's too much danger of getting something eg accidentally blown in your eye whilst it's numb, or eg soapy water when washing your face, if you can't feel it and it becomes embedded - so they stopped in the West Midlands.
 
I will double check when I next have my eyes tested at the hospital as I did have the anaesthetic drops on my previous visit.
 
Thank you all for your comments. I suspect that as with heart, cancer etc departments staff have been redeployed.

I was due to attend the cardiac rehab programme but the department was closed. The rehab centre is planning to open but will have only two nurses of the eight when it was shut. I got to see a cardiac nurse on Monday so there are signs of life.

I guess I’ll have to ask my GP to request an eye test and then wait.
 
The extra test must be something they offer routinely now then at Spec savers? Just been speaking to my gran and she’s booked for her check up tomorrow and they rang today to ask if she wanted it.
 
MarkGeordie said:
The extra test must be something they offer routinely now then at Spec savers? Just been speaking to my gran and she’s booked for her check up tomorrow and they rang today to ask if she wanted it.
Click to expand...
They do, and have done so for a few years now.
 
Yep I had it, turned out to be quite useful as I’d had one done in 2015 and they could compare the scans. With everything so up in the air, £10 seems worth it to me.
 
HenryBennett said:
Hi all,

I‘ve long been aware that diabetes causes eye problems so as soon as opticians started to reopen I booked an eye test with Specsavers. I paid for the enhanced scan - only £10.

However, I’ve read in various threads that I should have had some eye drops (steroid?) first. Can they detect potential D eye problems with this scan? According to the scan everything was fine, but can I rely on that?

Thanks,

Henry
Click to expand...
I have only had drops at a hospital where they picked up my diabetes but then at my annual diabetes eyes reen they also put drops in. I would save your money and just rely on your diabetic eye screen
 
I have yearly eye checks at the hospital also have the retinal screening every year and neither dilate my eyes with drops.
Maybe I’m just lucky.
 
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, I believe you should be getting annual invites to the Mobile Eye Screening service which goes around the country and does the eye-drop photography thing. Have you not had one of these appointments yet?
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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