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Specsavers Eye Test and Hospital Retinopathy 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.
scottwatters

scottwatters

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Other Type
Hey folks,

After getting diagnosed with T2 Diabetes a couple of weeks ago (now being tested for T1), I got told to book an eye test and let them know I had diabetes. I was due a test anyway, so booked the Specsavers' free test, and added in the notes that I have diabetes. I noticed though that there's a second option, including an OCT scan for those with diabetes/glaucoma etc, but I left that for now.

Once I had booked that, I then got a letter through from the hospital letting me know I had a retinopathy test booked for July. I think this is the one with the eye drops? (which I'm dreading, I hate things going near my eyes!)

I got told that the optician would need to do a different type of test due to diabetes, but I was wondering if this test is the same as the retinopathy test. Am I going to need to do two tests with eye drops, or is the optician's test something different (other than the usual eye test)?
 
Last time I went to Specsavers, they took a photo of the back of my eye, like you have for the Retinopathy test, but without eye drops, and they don’t get a hospital expert to look at it. That was part of he free test. Then I paid £10 to have the enhanced check, which still didn’t involve drops, where an optometrist had a good look round the backs of my eyes. I opted for theirs because our normal screening service was suspended due to the Covid backlog, and I just felt happier having some sort of check up.
The Retinopathy test with eye drops sends the photos away to be looked at by a hospital department, who may spot something that an ordinary optometrist might miss. In our area, some GPs send you to a special clinic (ours does) and some have Specsavers arrange the photos, but they still send them to the hospital. That’s where it gets confusing as to which is an Opticians check, and which is the 'official' Diabetic check up.
 
Robin said:
Last time I went to Specsavers, they took a photo of the back of my eye, like you have for the Retinopathy test, but without eye drops, and they don’t get a hospital expert to look at it. That was part of he free test. Then I paid £10 to have the enhanced check, which still didn’t involve drops, where an optometrist had a good look round the backs of my eyes. I opted for theirs because our normal screening service was suspended due to the Covid backlog, and I just felt happier having some sort of check up.
The Retinopathy test with eye drops sends the photos away to be looked at by a hospital department, who may spot something that an ordinary optometrist might miss. In our area, some GPs send you to a special clinic (ours does) and some have Specsavers arrange the photos, but they still send them to the hospital. That’s where it gets confusing as to which is an Opticians check, and which is the 'official' Diabetic check up.
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Is the enhanced check the OCT scan?

Yeah it was very confusing, as I had booked the Specsavers test, then got the letter two days later, and wasn't sure if I would just be repeating it. I only wondered, because I'm meeting friends after my test next Saturday (Specsavers), and didn't want to be roaming about town not being able to see because of the eye drops!

Last time I had eye drops, I remember not being able to see much, and I ran right into the wall, though admittedly, I was about 3 years old.
 
The specsavers enhanced test is the oct scan. It’s a 3D image rather than just the photo you have for retinopathy, so it can pick up more things, but it is just reviewed by the optician not by the hospital. You don’t get drops with the specsavers one but you do sometimes have drops with the hospital one. I have both the specsavers oct scan and the retinopathy test from the hospital annually
 
I had drops at a Specsavers one recently but this was due to having a PVD (posterior vitreous detachment) and the local Specsavers do the NHS checks for this, the drops sting a bit initially but then it’s all fine, just take sunglasses with you in case as it dilates your pupils. Even if it’s not a sunny day I would recommend sunglasses! Think people are affected differently by the drops but my pupils take a good 24 hours to go back to normal!
 
Yes the retinopathy screening is a different check, so it’s worth having both (though I’ve never added the fancy OCT extras).

And +1 for taking sunglasses and not driving 🙂
 
@scottwatters I too am recently diagnosed (6 April). Was pretty crook & emergency admission to hospital with DKA. In for 9 days. Advised to have eye test done 6 weeks post discharge. Had that done @ SS’s. Offered extra test but was £35 so left it. No eye drops needed. Had retinopathy test on Thursday past & got the drops, & yes, boy did they sting, but it only lasted 90 seconds top. Told not to drive home due to change in vision from drops. How long after your diagnosis of diabetes did you have your eye teat? Just asking, as my ophthalmologist questioned the date of my diagnosis. He said it required a 6 week window from diagnosis to have a test done, but that is probably if you have been put on meds. I’m on 2 orals and insulin. My eyesight was really blurry for nearly 3 weeks. Frightened me a bit. Good luck with your retinopathy test
 
Hi! I am new to this forum but a long term Type 1. Am I reading this right that besides the DVLA tests more diabetic opthalmology checks are being outsourced to this inept organisation? If so it is a truly backwardstep!
 
@ SuperBee. Just wondering why you are referring to SS's as unskilled and incompetent? Four years ago the branch I attend, picked up a very rare disorder in one of my granddaughter's eyes. She was then referred to the eye specialists in hospital for treatment. The hospital were very impressed that the optician had picked this up at a routine test. Have you personally had a bad experience with them? As a family we have used SS's for many years without any issues, and have always had an excellent professional service from them.
 
There's a pretty ancient appropriate saying about the curate's egg which apparently, was 'only good in parts'. (Few folk today would immediately know what a curate might be in the first place ..... )

So, the saying applies equally to life itself, in the 21st century AD !
 
Being brought up Methodist, I'd never particularly heard of one before a programme entitled 'All Gas & Gaiters' was on telly - good grief, just looked it up, 1966 - thought I was younger than that! (I only remembered Derek Nimmo being in it ..... doesn't time fly?)
 
Robertson Hare (?) as the Archdeacon with a very dirty laugh, Mervyn somebody as the Bishop (played the old gentleman inThe Railway Children film), and John Barron (CJ in Reggie Perrin) as the Dean.

Edit, not Mervyn somebody, William Mervyn!
 
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SuperBee said:
Hi! I am new to this forum but a long term Type 1. Am I reading this right that besides the DVLA tests more diabetic opthalmology checks are being outsourced to this inept organisation? If so it is a truly backwardstep!
Click to expand...
Why?
My last county outsourced them all.
They gave me a list of local approved opticians.
Full check carried out, looked at by the optician with me, went through all my questions, no rush at all.
The images uploaded straight away to my NHS eye hospital, and the official letter sent to me a few weeks later.
I moved to a new county, all in-house at the NHS, straight in, straight out, not really able to schedule any time to talk, I manage a quick look at the images, but that's it. Letter a few weeks later.
Don't get me wrong, the NHS are good,just over worked, and don't realise some people are actually aware of what can happen.
Local opticians do know their customers, and like to talk if you are interested.
 
Matilda-Rose said:
@ SuperBee. Just wondering why you are referring to SS's as unskilled and incompetent? Four years ago the branch I attend, picked up a very rare disorder in one of my granddaughter's eyes. She was then referred to the eye specialists in hospital for treatment. The hospital were very impressed that the optician had picked this up at a routine test. Have you personally had a bad experience with them? As a family we have used SS's for many years without any issues, and have always had an excellent professional service from them.
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I am genuinely pleased that things went well for yourselves.

I used SS some years ago and found the frames were not of reasnoble quality. Being diabetic I had my next annual eye test elsewhere and found the prescription wasn't totally right and matched the one of two years earlier.

I know two people who have tri-annual DVLA eue tests. They felt that compared to previously that whilst the visual acuity test was fine the "fields" felt rushed and pressurised. It could be our local branches but but I always feel people should have choice!
 
I didn’t mean any offence. Just wondered why as I’ve never had a problem. Yes, there are a good choice of opticians to go. I’ve just sent my driving licence to DVLA. I hope I get a 3 year licence. Do you have any experience of this? Thanks
 
Yes, I have been on three year licences since 1984 (showing my age here). Prior to that I had one to 70! The system was changed some time previously but I had been unaware of it. Despite being a member of Diabetes UK (not sure when it changed from British Diabetic Association) I had stopped reading Balance as I felt a disconnect from it. The DVLA felt I should have known but didn't say how in those pre-Internet days. It took a fair while to renew as they approached my GP and consultant, and sent me to the test centre to read a number plate. Renewals have taken very variable times from 5 working days to three months so don't hold your breath!
 
@SuperBee Yes, I’ve been told there is a backlog. I just hope they return my passport and a letter saying I can drive until my new licence arrives. Am I right in thinking they are free?
 
Matilda-Rose said:
@SuperBee Yes, I’ve been told there is a backlog. I just hope they return my passport and a letter saying I can drive until my new licence arrives. Am I right in thinking they are free?
Click to expand...

Yes they are. Unless you have been advised not to drive by a doctor or the DVLA you can continue to drive. You can check your licence here:

www.gov.uk

View or share your driving licence information

Find out what information DVLA holds about your driving licence or create a check code to share your driving record, for example to hire a car
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
 
SuperBee said:
[Yes they are. Unless you have been advised not to drive by a doctor or the DVLA you can continue to drive. You can check your licence here:URL unfurl="true"]https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence[/URL
[/URL]
Click to expand...
I applied for my over 70 licence on line on a Wed pm and received it on the Sat, just a week ago. I couldn't believe it after reading of the delays from people here.
 
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