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Eye Screening

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Rosiecarmel

Rosiecarmel

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1.5 LADA
Tomorrow at 17:40 I've got my eye screening appointment at the hospital. My mums driving over from Kendal to take me as the letter says the eye drops will make my vision blurry. Do they tell you then and there if there are any problems?
 
My letter said to take sunglasses with you as your eyes may be sensitive to the light.
 
It's a technician that takes the photos Rosie BUT supposing they have been doing it a while, they'll be able to see what the major things are, or rather whether there are any. I have a couple of eensy teensy spots now, and when they show me, I can hardly see them, what with the drops. But they are miles away from the lens and the 'important bits for actually seeing'. The photos are then reviewed by at least two ophthalmology types, and when they've both decided on the answer, they write to us. My letters always say either 'Diabetic changes' or 'Background changes, then goes on to say 'no need for anything else, so see you in another 12 months'.

Your eyeball is a mass of small veins anyway, but retinopathy means extra weedy little thread veins sprout, and because they are feeble-walled - the blood tries to flow into them and they just burst - so mine look like a shortish wiggly red thread, not unlike literally like a single thread of proper silk like when a silk scarf frays, with a tiny knot in it - the knot is the bleed.

All the people I have ever seen - all from the central local retinal photography service based at Rugby St Cross Hospital - have instantly shown me the photos and shown me what they show. 'This is your Fundus, this is ....' and I usually say 'Well next time, do it without drops so I can see the ruddy things then!'

Take your mom in with you - cos Pete always sees mine and can ask 'What's that then?' or whatever.

And TAKE YOUR SUNGLASSES. You'll need em even if it's raining and esp if it's dark and the streetlights plus headlamps are on!
 
I've only had mine done once since being diagnosed. I had it done a few time some time ago for different reasons. That was at a hospital. They had a load of us sat in a line. They'd do the drops and come back to check us if I remember correctly.
For the diabetes eye check it was done at a local GP practice. They took a photograph that went away to be check. I'm sure they had me sat around and out the door much faster than at the hospital. I'm sure it stung more and I was more bothered by the light this time.
Take sunglasses if you've got them. Although I've never had them.
 
When I was having it done before I walked and caught the bus.
 
Got mine tomorrow too at 9:10am. Not looking forward to the eye drops. Should be clear though as I had it done at my optician back in November as always and it was clear. He reckons he's got better and more detailed equipment than the hospital, which doesn't surprise me...
 
Good luck Bob and Rosie 🙂 The drops sting a little, but only for a moment. It can take from 2 to 5 hours before your eyes are fully back to normal - the drops dilate your pupils so everything will be really bright - you can see, but it's hard to focus (I always have problems making out the number on the bus for the journey back! 😱) It varies whether you'll be told anything, I always used to have to wait a couple of weeks for a letter.

Just a word of warning - they sometimes find something called 'background retinopathy', and many people find this letter scary. It's not - there's usually no treatment required, and it's perfectly possible for BR to resolve itself by the time of your next test, and it won't affect your vision. Often, when people are recently diagnosed, the rapid change in blood sugar levels caused by alteration to diet and activity levels can cause this BR, but it's not something to worry about! 🙂
 
Good luck to you both.
I was lucky and didnt need the eye drops as my pupils were largen enough and the person doing it said lets do it quick before they shrink! She showed me the pictures there and then and said that she couldnt see anything dodgy but they would get the specialists to look at them. It was about 4 days later I got the letter to say all was hunky dory.
 
While eyesight is a bit blurry, I've always been able to see bus numbers afterwards. Winter evening sessions are good, as no sunlight. I've never needed sunglasses then.
 
Well, all went OK. Didn't need sunglasses, but everything's really blurry, can barely see to type...
 
Glad it went well Bob :D
 
I wear contacts (30 day continuous wear) so I've never shelled out on prescription sunglasses. Will have to abuse my Mum's hospitality when its my turn I think coz I'll not be able to see a thing!
 
Thanks everyone. The drops really hurt - maybe I was being a wuss! Weirdly when I was sat on my phone in the waiting room everything went blurry but when I took my glasses off I could see properly again! Vision is almost back to normal now. He said at my age it's unusual to have any serious complications but I should get a letter within two weeks
 
Glad it was Ok. Yes, the drops do sting a lot, don't they! My daughter had a lazy eye when she was little, and was always having to have drops when she went for a checkup. She tells me ' Now you know what I went through!'
 
Good Rosie!

What Northerner said was right - I was right hacked off after I first had my pump, and improving my A1c, hurrah! Then I had the photos taken and there was lots of BR in both eyes - all new ones. 12 months later - I was left with the one in my Left eye I've had for 17 years, and one also stayed in my Right eye. Pooh. All the other little beggars had disappeared again, and, said she grabbing the wooden desk top as she said it, they haven't reappeared yet, another 4 years down the line.
 
Those drops do sting like crazy, i really dislike them, because they make my nose run, not just a little bit either, it's like a full on tap, most annoying! Glad it went well for both of you, and fingers crossed everything is clear.

Rosie I have to take my specs off afterwards because I can't see with them on, the dilation changes the focal length of the eye apparently. The unfortunate part of that is I can see in the distance without them on (which I wouldn't normally be able to do) but I can't see a ruddy thing in the mid ground, it always makes me wonder when they say "don't drive for at least 6 hours" who would actually attempt it...although I think those of us who wear specs are more likely to notice the lack of vision maybe? The annoying thing is I've been having retinal photography and screening every year since they invented it, used to be at the eye hospital in a big scanner at first, and they've never had to use drops to dilate my pupils, the eye consultant man said 95% of people don't need them, but screening clinics have to be as efficient as possible so use them anyway 🙄 I'd opt out of the screening on the basis that I already have the eye screening done for another condition, but then they won't tickle my feet (they do it at the same time) and I'd have to ask the GP to do it. Given that I wouldn't trust my GP to wipe a child's nose I won't be doing that!
 
Yep, same symptoms of the drops here. I have astigmatism so wear glasses all the time (apart from when playing gigs hence my avatar) and oddly after the drops I could see better without them.
 
What always amuses me about the eye screening I have at the hospital is all the leaflets available in the waiting area, after the drops have been put in...

Now you’ve had your drops, please go and sit down,
Before long they will call out your name…
You just need to wait whilst your pupils dilate
And your retinas start to inflame!

But let me just show you, for it may be some time,
Our library of books old and new!
We’ve novels and thrillers, and can’t-put-them-downs,
There’s bound to be one to suit you!

Or if you prefer, there’s a fantastic range
Of magazines to flick through and browse!
There’s fashion and cars and gardening and golf,
Or farming if you’ve a passion for cows!

If that’s not to your taste, take a look over here
At our leaflets displayed in this rack!
There’s all you need know about things ‘down below’
Or ways you might injure your back!

In an EYE hospital nurse? Have you quite thought this through?
It ought to be no big surprise
For the reason we’re here is abundantly clear –
We’ve got something wrong with our eyes!

:D
 
When I go for my screening, it's at the local surgery and there's only ever a couple of us at a time, but I had to take my husband to the main eye hospital recently, (which was running majorly late and therefore packed) and noticed that all the people sitting round with drops in were actually talking to each other! How unBritish! How refreshing!
 
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