The diabetic eye test

[Lucyr]

34, blue eyes, and no drops needed here. My pupils dilate quickly enough after each photo without them.

 

[Felinia]

I ask a neighbour to take me and bring me home, having got stung the first time by ordering a taxi. £60 for the 7 mile journey there, waiting time and 7 miles back. I realised afterwards I also got charged the 14 miles from his home base to me, and back.

 

[kevinr]

A Diabetic eye test I haven't had one of those for well over two years I guess they haven't missed me otherwise they would have been in touch plus I found out why I have no feeling in my feet I have got Neuropathy what ever that is I was told that I have to be careful when walking round in bare feet but I hate wearing slippers in my flat or when I walk on the lawn in the garden.

 

[rebrascora]

I was told that I have to be careful when walking round in bare feet but I hate wearing slippers in my flat or when I walk on the lawn in the garden.

You are taking a real risk in not protecting your feet, especially when you already have neuropathy. I am pretty sure you will "hate" losing a foot more than wearing slippers/footwear. Just not worth the risk when your foot health is already compromised. I am also pretty sure there will be surgeons who hate amputating people's feet and certainly telling people that amputation is necessary, must be a really onerous task!
The neuropathy means that the blood supply and nerves are already damaged in your feet, so you are at increased risk of infection if you do sustain and injury to your feet and because you have reduced sensation, you may not realise that damage/injury had occurred until infection sets in. A minor injury like a bruise, cut or splinter could quickly develop into a serious infection.
Please reconsider wearing slippers indoors and footwear outdoors.

 

[grovesy]

I have blue eyes, and it takes about 6 hours for my eyes to get back to normal after having the drops.

 

[kevinr]

Thanks for putting me straight Rebrascora in future I shall be wearing my crocs when out in the garden and my flip flops in my lounge even though I hate wearing them.

 

[kevinr]

I ask a neighbour to take me and bring me home, having got stung the first time by ordering a taxi. £60 for the 7 mile journey there, waiting time and 7 miles back. I realised afterwards I also got charged the 14 miles from his home base to me, and back.

Wow felina that was a costly taxi ride £60 for a 7 mile journey was the taxi gold plated I would have kicked off big style if that had happened to me. Where I live the taxi from my flat to my hospital use to be £20, a distance of 5 mile but since Covid kicked in the same journey now costs £40 I simple refuse to pay that for a taxi and now I use my bus pass to the hospital it's cheaper. A friend I know he once got a taxi from Edinburgh to Doncaster as he wouldn't travel by train and that cost him about £650 it would have been cheaper to travel by rail.

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks for putting me straight Rebrascora in future I shall be wearing my crocs when out in the garden and my flip flops in my lounge even though I hate wearing them.

So pleased you have reconsidered. I was concerned that my post may have been a bit too "close to the knuckle". We try to be as up beat as possible about managing diabetes on the forum, but it is important to understand the risks and why certain advice is best adhered to.
I am a little concerned that you are using Flip Flops if you have limited sensation in your feet as there could be the risk of tripping. If your feet get hot, maybe something like sandals would be a more secure option.

 

[kevinr]

Thank you Rebrascora consider it done I shall start to wear sandals I just need to buy a pair which will be this week

 

[JackyAM]

My daughter had her retinopathy test today. She’s only 15 so not legally old enough to drive anyway, but we had a very interesting conversation with the woman who did the test. She didn’t put any drops in my daughter’s eyes at all, which of course pleased her greatly, and said that up to about age 21 you can just about get away without using the drops. She also said because my daughter has brown eyes she was reluctant to give her drops - apparently the more pigment you have in your iris, the slower they dilate and contract. So if you have blue eyes they probably go back to normal much quicker, which presumably means you can see again sooner too. I’ve never heard that before! Shall we have a poll on what colour everyone’s eyes are and how long it takes them to be able to see again after their eye test and see if there is any truth in that statement?

Yes, according to the nurse who did mine I didn't really need the drops as I have wide enough pupils anyway, she said it's really for older people who's pupils are really small, but the NHS being what they are decided everyone should have the drops just to cover themselves.
That said I was a bit sensitive to light after, but not badly so (it would explain why I am quite sensitive to light normally too)

 

[kevinr]

When I had my eye test about 2 years or maybe longer I had drops put in and my eye sight was fuzzy for about 10 minutes but it did clear. The eye sight test I need as I am sure my eye sight is changing I have noticed that when I look through my view finder on my camera it's not as clear as it use to be I keep my camera's in tip top condition they are cleaned twice a week so it's not the view finder. The other thing I need to do is try and see my podiatrist as my toe nails are bent under my toes but not my big toes as I haven't got any nails on them I had them removed when I got a bad infection in them it's a wonder I didn't loose my toes.

 

[Barfly]

I just had mine and I wasn't adversely affected at all. No difference from after the appointment to before it. I always have been a bit weird though....... Incidentally I didn't drive, the lovely Jane did the honours for me.

It is a condition of the appointment you do not drive, and it is medically authoritative, the same as if your doctor has told you not to drive. To do so afterwards, within 4 hours leaves you open to prosecution as you would be breaking the motoring legislation, and your insurance would be null and void.