Routine Eye Test / Blood Sugars

[AllieTee]

This year's eye screening showed a cataract in my left eye. I was advised to visit an optician. The optician refused me a routine eye test until I could show regular blood sugar levels of about 5.9. Is this a normal expectation?

 

[grovesy]

I have never had this myself.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

Certainly not a normal expectation. Could there have been a misunderstanding? Ì would expect a reputable optician to test my eyes but refuse to sell me replacement lenses until my BG was stable. They might possibly suggest I buy the cheap throwaway specs to help me through a transition period if my elevated BG had significantly affected my vision.

 

[harbottle]

This year's eye screening showed a cataract in my left eye. I was advised to visit an optician. The optician refused me a routine eye test until I could show regular blood sugar levels of about 5.9. Is this a normal expectation?

The optician may not want to do an eye test as fluctuating blood sugar levels can affect the results of the sight test. Although they also do checks for other conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts. Diabetes makes both a higher risk.

Not sure why 5.9 though. I believe for the lens to change shape it has be > 10 for a period of time.

 

[JimG]

I've never had that issue with either of the opticians I have been to over the past few years. The issue I had with the cataract was that, as it developed I needed an increased prescription every six months. the second issue was with the hospital. The routine eye screening, if they are simply taking a photo of the back of the eye will not always pick up the cataracts unless they are very large. Cataracts are at the front of the eye. Retinopathy at the back.

 

[John Gray]

Cataracts are at the front of the eye. Retinopathy at the back.

Very true! I've had both original lenses replaced by plastic ones, fortunately immediately before lockdown for the second eye, and no mention whatever was made of any HbA1c values or stability by the optician, although having a fairly stable blood glucose is a Good Thing for eyes, in general.

Personally, I would advise you to seek out a more diabetes-knowledgeable optician! [Or perhaps one with less knowledge!]

 

[JimG]

Very true! I've had both original lenses replaced by plastic ones, fortunately immediately before lockdown for the second eye, and no mention whatever was made of any HbA1c values or stability by the optician, although having a fairly stable blood glucose is a Good Thing for eyes, in general.

Personally, I would advise you to seek out a more diabetes-knowledgeable optician! [Or perhaps one with less knowledge!]

I should add that, when I was first diagnosed, the optician gave me an eye test but she advised against issuing the prescription until my blood sugars had fallen as the prescription could change. The eye test picks up more things than issuing spectacles and so I do not think it should be refused. Two things spring to mind about the initial post. Maybe the optician has become confused between issuing the new spectacles and doing the test. Or, maybe, the optician cannot see the point of doing the eye test if they cannot charge for new spectacles at the end of it. In either case, I would agree with John Gray - find a new optician.

 

[rebrascora]

If you are newly diagnosed and your BG levels are significantly raised then an eye test at the opticians is probably a waste of their time and yours so I can kind of understand them wanting your levels to be in range and stable before they do a test and prescribe specs, because if they are not reasonably stable and in range then any specs they prescribe could be useless in a very short space of time and you would possibly be entitled to your money back. So I can kind of see where they are coming from but specifying a level that you really may have little chance of achieving or proving is a bit much.

The fact that you mention "this year's eye screening" suggests that you have been diagnosed over a year and therefore presumably your diabetes is a bit more stable than at diagnosis.

What is your current HbA1c? If it is very high then perhaps that is the issue?

 

[Lucyr]

This year's eye screening showed a cataract in my left eye. I was advised to visit an optician. The optician refused me a routine eye test until I could show regular blood sugar levels of about 5.9. Is this a normal expectation?

You should be able to have an eye test, but there may be no point as surgery or replacement glasses need good stable blood sugars before they can happen

 

[JimG]

I'm still a bit unclear why, if the issue is about cataracts and if you have been having routine screening, presumably at an eye clinic, the eye clinic is not referring you to a hospital optician to look at the cataracts if yhey say there is an issue. Certainly a prescription for glasses may not be appropriate, but I would want my eyes to be checked for the cataracts.

 

[rebrascora]

I am not sure that retinal screening technicians can refer you for cataracts. I think it has to come from an optician.

 

[JimG]

I am not sure that retinal screening technicians can refer you for cataracts. I think it has to come from an optician.

After retinal screening, if they have mentioned cataracts I would have thought that there had been contact with a doctor at least. At least that's how it ran with me and I ended up seeing the consultant.

 

[Leadinglights]

I think it can very much depend on where you live as a while ago they couldn't get a good image for the retinal screening but there was no mention of that in the report. My optician feels it is not bad enough to do anything about just yet but when it does they would do a referral to Spa Medica.

 

[AllieTee]

Thanks for all the replies. It may have been a communication issue, as I really don't need new glasses. I just wanted confirmation of the cataract via the optician. My blood sugars ARE raised but are coming down. I totally understood their rationale in terms of creating a prescription that would probably change further down the line. I think I'll opt for a different optician.

 

[SB2015]

Thanks for all the replies. It may have been a communication issue, as I really don't need new glasses. I just wanted confirmation of the cataract via the optician. My blood sugars ARE raised but are coming down. I totally understood their rationale in terms of creating a prescription that would probably change further down the line. I think I'll opt for a different optician.

When they picked up my cataracts at screening they advised me to go to an optician. The optician confirmed the cataracts and sent a letter to GP who then referred me on. The only check on BG was at point of surgery as they want BG in range to do any surgery.

 

[Deb_l]

If your retinal scanner has completed your scan without issues, then I would guess your cataract isn't too severe so don't panic. I had to go back for a different retinal scan (in my right eye) when my cataract was quite advanced.

When I was first diagnosed with T2, I was due a sight test a couple of months later. My prescription had changed but the optician asked how I was dealing with the diabetes, i.e. did I plan on reducing my HbA1C or was I just going to ignore it (she was that blunt). She said, if I planned on reducing my HbA1C, there was little point wasting my money on a new prescription and advised me to come back in six months.

Are you newly diagnosed with T2? If not, I'm not sure why they would be querying your BG levels now. If you're not happy, change opticians.