Help for First Diabetic Eye Screening

[Neens]

4 days ago I had my first appointment and I was properly scared. I have an instinctive reaction (fright/flight) to close my eyes when any foreign object gets anywhere near them. I am also fairly useless with eye drops and know from experience a procedure which should be simple will take several attempts for results.

I posted here for tea and sympathy - and disguised the real reason for posting under a title which became a post I was glad to have given the forum in the end - worth a read and people are adding to the joy list which brings me great pleasure... or...joy! 😉

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/the-joys-of-diabetes.84701/

So here I am feeling braver and knowing newly diagnosed people have joined the forum I am posting the gold dust I found today... for me 4 days too late! I did get lots of reassurance from members here in response to my cry for help.

Like everything to do with managing T2 it is all okay, it just seems big the first time. Finger pricking for example, which for me is still a little hit and miss 3 weeks on.

I searched retinopathy before I went and of course read the leaflet sent with my letter. Even in Learning Zone Emma, who made a vlog of her year goes off to the appointment but (understandably) we see just before and after.

The NHS - the most reliable source of all things Diabetic have this page.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-eye-screening/
Watch the video. It will put your mind at ease.


My truth /Variations:
I know every local area varies, some of these appointments are at hospital.

• Mine was in the clinic, part of my Surgery.
• My eye drops took a lot longer to be put in. I explained my concerns.
• I felt a chilli/onion chopping type sting rather than pain, it did ease off.
• We are guided back out to the waiting room for 20 mins whilst the eye drops work.
• I felt vulnerable as I had attended alone and was slowly losing focus, sight. This is why most people take someone with them.
• The photos were no worse than similar tests at the opticians.
• The 2nd part was really quick.
• Quite hilariously I was shown the 4 images - which of course by this time - I couldn't see.
• I had sunglasses and a friend to meet me and give me a lift home.

• Real daylight was sensitive, I just closed my eyes.
• Back at home I closed the curtains, lay in the dark and listened to TV I had recorded the night before (comedy).
• I had prepared all food and it was ready to go in different sized lunch boxes on the table. I really thought I would be blind, blind.

• After a few hours I could see a bit. I didn't see any better with glasses on so took them off.
• After 4 hours I could see almost normally.
• After 6 hours my eyes still felt a bit scratchy and my left eye (which had to be repeated a few times) was more dilated than right pupil. Makes sense - it is not an exact measure going into each eye.
• I had some headaches that afternoon and a bit the next day.

Couldn't have been that bad though - as I went for a walk and a few hours out in the evening. I didn't drive at all. It seems like it happened weeks ago - not just a few days.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks for such a thorough write up of your experience Neens, I’m sure new members who are anxious about their first eye screening will find it very reassuring

 

[Neens]

Thanks for such a thorough write up of your experience Neens, I’m sure new members who are anxious about their first eye screening will find it very reassuring

That was my main reason for writing/posting it. 🙂 It would have helped me.

 

[AJLang]

Hi is your post about about you having the retinopathy test or that you have retinopathy and this is about your treatment for? I really apologise if I’m being pedantic but there’s a really big difference between having the retinopathy test and having retinopathy.

 

[Kaylz]

Hi is your post about about you having the retinopathy test or that you have retinopathy and this is about your treatment for? I really apologise if I’m being pedantic but there’s a really big difference between having the retinopathy test and having retinopathy.

To me it certainly leans more to just the screening Amanda and I do agree with you xx

 

[rebrascora]

@everydayupsanddowns

Mike, would it be possible to change the title to something like .... "My experience of Retinal Screening".... to avoid any confusion

 

[Neens]

Hi is your post about about you having the retinopathy test or that you have retinopathy and this is about your treatment for? I really apologise if I’m being pedantic but there’s a really big difference between having the retinopathy test and having retinopathy.

Thanks for this - I thought I could edit the title - I can't.
Yes Help for the Retinopathy Test - happy for someone to amend title.

Just used the wording that was used on me and paperwork. Thought fairly clear from tags and video title, they use the same terminology for testing and the condition.

Sorry.
New to it. Learning.

 

[Ljc]

Thanks for this - I thought I could edit the title - I can't.
Yes Help for the Retinopathy Test - happy for someone to amend title.

Just used the wording that was used on me and paperwork. Thought fairly clear from tags and video title, they use the same terminology for testing and the condition.

Sorry.
New to it. Learning.

Hi you can edit your own thread titles if you go up to thread tools and click on it

Then click on edit title

 

[rebrascora]

Here it is referred to as "retinal screening" and "retinopathy" is the result you would prefer not to get from the screening.

 

[Neens]

@Ljc thanks for that. Done. 🙂

 

[Gucci69]

@Neens thanks for information as I have my first eye and feet appointment on a Friday

 

[Jade]

Hi
I had my retinal screening yesterday- probably for the 25 th time as done every year since diagnosed in 95. Back then it used to take half a day now 30-40 minutes.
A good tip - After photos done I wash my eyes with warm water to wash out drops and this really improves vision quickly.

I was hoping for a grey day but of course it was a very bright sunny day so I wore cheap dark glasses over my normal ones. I have had early background retinopathy for last 2 years- no need for treatment at this stage.

 

[Neens]

Thanks @Gucci69 - glad this post helped, that was my hope in posting it.
Good to hear it went okay.

Great tip @Jade I will remember that for next year.