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Blurred vision in one eye, being sent on emergency appointment to hospital

Posted , 4 users are following.

lb52071
lb52071

Hi all,

I am new to the forums but just wanted some advice.  For the last few days I have had blurred vision in my right eye.  Its a bit like something has steamed my glasses up from the middle to the bottom and my vision is hazy.  This came on after I wearing contact lenses and I thought I had something in my eye.

I went to an opticians today and they can't see anything wrong so are now sending me on an emergency hospital appointment. Two opticians looked at my vision and I could hear them discussing tumours, ulcers etc.  I am now waiting for a call to go to hospital and am petrified!!  I do have crohns disease but that is under control at the moment so not sure that could be a link.  Im actually sat in tears though worried sick!

Any help or advice would be appreciated.  Thanks

0 likes, 28 replies

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  • alison79127
    alison79127 lb52071

    Posted

    Sounds a bit like a retinal vein occlusion. I've had three! When you get to the eye clinic, they will probably take a picture of the retina which will show if it is. I'm still trying to establish the cause of mine - though have found I have a higher risk factor for thrombosis.  If it is -don't panic!  Let us know how you get on and we can talk more if it is a RVO.  Good luck -when is your appointment?  If it doesn't come through quickly, get your optician or GP to fax an urgent request through, or if necessary, go and camp out in A&E until they forward you on to the eye clinic!
    • lb52071
      lb52071 alison79127

      Posted

      Hi Alison,

      Thank you for your quick response and suggestion.  I think the opticians put me into a state with their worried looks to each other then mentions of tumours and all sorts!!  

      I have just had a call from the hospital and said they would see me at 4pm this afternoon.  Just got everything crossed its nothing major.  Trying not to panic but had about 3 meltdowns today.  

       

    • alison79127
      alison79127 lb52071

      Posted

      Hmm...my reply seems to have disappeared. Bit late to tell you not to panic now -you're probably on your way! Glad you got an appt quickly - I have resorted to camping out in A&E several times, even though I probably know more about my eye problems than the poor over-worked medics there! 

      Let us know how you got on.

      (p.s. To help with future meltdowns, have you tried Resue Remedy?! )

  • derek76
    derek76 lb52071

    Posted

    How long have you been wearing contact lenses? When I had them I was OK for about 18 months and then developed an allergy to them. I tried different ways of cleaning them but it did not help.

    I think that their dicussion must have been pretty general as they would have seen any ulcer or tumour in their examination.

    Are you expecting the hospital appointment today? Eye departments are usually quck to respond. If not get yourself to A&E and remember that hospitals have better equipment and more qualified staff than your local optician. 

    Good luck with your appointment and report back to the Forum. 

    • lb52071
      lb52071 derek76

      Posted

      Hi Derek I have had contact lenses for over 3 years.  

      That re-assures me that they would have seen things like that,  Just such a worry especially as I was recently diagnosed with crohn's disease and been handling that really well think this just knocked me sideways!!

      Im going at 4pm today so fingers crossed.  Will let you know and thank you for the advice.

    • derek76
      derek76 lb52071

      Posted

      Sounds like they could not see anything and were theorising between themselves. A friend did have a brain tumor and they told him and sent him straight to hospital. He made a good recovery and was glad he had taken an eye appointment that his wife could not keep. 
    • lb52071
      lb52071 derek76

      Posted

      Hi, tried to reply to both of you but for some reason wont let me! Anyway I'm a bit baffled after my hospital apt. The doctor looked at back of my left eye then said do I have a problem with low blood pressure, which I don't and the she stated ive had a drop in blood pressure possibly whilst asleep which has caused a blockage in back of eye and in turn killed the cells.

      Then was told nothing can restore the sight go see my doctor about blood pressure and i will get a letter to see consultant. The doctor asked a more senior one about still seeing pulse at back of eye and senior one said that's a good thing but then vanished before I could be told why its a good thing!

      I'm very upset that nothing can be done and I was basically booted out the door, have a feeling the staff just wanted to get home!!

  • alison79127
    alison79127 lb52071

    Posted

    This does not sound good enough at all!  Did you see a retinal consultant? If I were you, I would ask for a second opinion - I'm on the Isle of Wight and was not happy with aspects of my treatment and was told I could ask for a second opinion from wherever I liked - Moorfields in London being probably the best choice. I have opted for Southampton because it will cause a lot less stress getting there for a morning appt, and it is a university teaching hospital.  (I'm going there on Friday and they are repeating all the tests -angiogram, photo of the retina etc) 

    don't her when she says nothing can be done to restore sight -if it is a RVO the sight may improve if there is swelling in the macular. (I have had injections in the eye to help with this) but the first two times it happened to me, the sight just restored slowly and naturally.

    please get yourself a second opinion asap - and no meltdowns in the meantime!

  • alison79127
    alison79127 lb52071

    Posted

    Have just reread that you are being referred to the consultant - for your peace of mind, I would push for the appt to be asap.  However, if I am right about it being a RVO, there is no immediate rush -once the episode happens, you will have time to get it sorted and treatment assessed. 
    • lb52071
      lb52071 alison79127

      Posted

      Hi Alison, I just saw a lady who was working in the urgent eye care unit but it was a case of going on about drop in blood pressure and nothing can be done. Just rang opticians and lady there said oh yes can happen you need to inform dvla and get eye test to see if you can drive!!

      Ive now arranged to see my gp who has been great since my crohns diagnosis and my dad said he will pay for me to go private if necessary. Just felt totally deflated to be such a healthy person then in space of year crohns and sight loss and only in 30s.

      Thanks for the info its first reassuring thing ive read since yesterday. I'm going to ask gp about condition you mentioned and see what is said. Will try stop having a meltdown its good to know people out there that I can discuss this with.

    • derek76
      derek76 lb52071

      Posted

      Dreadful that you got such an uncaring person to do the consultation. I'm sure that Alison is right and that better attention will get an improvement in your eye.

       

    • lb52071
      lb52071 derek76

      Posted

      Hi Derek, yeah definitely felt like I was just a number and wanted me out the door because they wanted to get home! Will let you know how I get on, my gp is very good shes already sent my to new consultant on my crohns cause she wasn't happy with first one so my gp is on the ball.
  • alison79127
    alison79127 lb52071

    Posted

    Please don't just accept what was said about nothing can be done! I had my first RVO when I was in my thirties -at the time they put it down to the Pill I was on (it was killing women with thrombosis -so I counted myself lucky I could see the thrombosis!)

    wait to see what the consultant has to say.

    don't panic about telling DVLA - if your other eye is unaffected, you can still drive one-eyed! My sight becomes very poor in my left eye, when the swelling is bad -but the hospital say it's absolutely fine to drive because I've still got good vision in my right eye.  You don't need extra stress at the moment!

    • lb52071
      lb52071 alison79127

      Posted

      Thanks, I was on the pill for years but came off it after my crohns diagnosis and did wonder if any of the meds ive been on have contributed to it.

      I just said to my dad about optician going on about dvla hes not happy with that at all not at this stage of things. Did seem a bit insensitive with it all being so raw at the moment.

      Nice to hear positive comments from you with you having your own issues. I need glasses for distances but left eye has actually got slightly better. I do feel like my right eye became bit clearer this morning but not sure if that's me getting used to the vision in it.

  • alison79127
    alison79127 lb52071

    Posted

    Will be interesting to see if you have had a RVO. - when I had the second one, five years ago, the consultant (who I don't see anymore!) said he couldn't work out why I had it -didn't have any risk factors, so told me it was because I chose to lead a stressful life...!  Eventually, this time, they have admitted that 5years ago I tested positive for a blood clotting factor ( factor VLeiden) that means I am more liable to have thrombosis. So, as you can imagine, I can foresee a battle, once I get my sight sorted this time! If yours is RVO, it may be worth asking them to check for FVL when they do the blood tests -it is a more detailed, genetic test but would be worth eliminating, especially if you are anticipating having children -can have implications with pregnancy.
    • lb52071
      lb52071 alison79127

      Posted

      Sounds like you have had some rubbish health professionals too! Seems like we all have to push for answers.

      Im going to jot these things down that you've mentioned so ive got some more information to hand. Ive been told with crohns if I want a child to do it now whilst that's in remission so got lots to think about.

      Hope you get sorted too and are in better care now changing consultants. I will see what gp says then go from there.

    • lb52071
      lb52071 alison79127

      Posted

      Hi all, still not letting me respond to the thread only on certain names haha! Anyway bit of an update, my GP wants to wait to get letter from hospital but has made a note of it coming and is going to call me as soon as she receives it.

      She said it could be RVO and that although its possible sight may not come back there is a chance some sight could return so that was a lot more positive. Anyway as soon as she has more details we will take it from there.

      Feel a bit better that my GP is on the loop now and knows a letter I coming and I know from past experience she does contact me and keeps on top of things. Fingers crossed some sight returns in the meantime. Oh and she looked puzzled by the drop in blood pressure the hospital blamed it on she said I've had really good blood pressure and my bloods after taking iron have been excellent!!

    • alison79127
      alison79127 lb52071

      Posted

      Good morning, lb

      glad to hear you're sounding more positive! If it is RVO, chances are your sight may restore completely -or enough so that you won't notice any change. After my first two episodes, my sight appeared to be back to normal -with the exception of a blindspot out of the corner of one eye -so I just became more aware of traffic lights etc. was interested to hear about Isabel's experience with Crohn's -my niece is frequently in hospital with hers - and as she's a medic, I've accused her of being a 'secret patient'! 

      Hope you get some answers soon. I'm off to Southampton tomorrow morning for my second opinion -a lovely day of blood tests, angiograms etc. I am so jealous that you have a GP who is on the case. Got a letter from mine this morning, in which he showed he has no idea about me and my family - he didn't realise I've got two adult children living at home, with disabilities! Hohumm...

    • lb52071
      lb52071 alison79127

      Posted

      Hi Alison, oh dear sounds like your gp is useless. Hope you get some answers tomorrow let me know how you get on.

      The crohns is a strange one, I've been pretty ok with mine but always in my head could end up getting worse and going to hospital.

      I've had another change of events lady I know recommended another opticians spoken to them and they are shocked I've not had anything else checked out. Now booked in with them and they said they can discuss consultants with me and have a look in my eye but he was concerned nobody was figuring out why I've had a blockage and have to wait. So I'm off to see them in the morning!

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