Dilated eye examinations
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hello I wonder if members could give an opinion on the following. I am a female age 71 and have mild glaucoma in the left eye. During the last 10 years or so I have add 2 cataract surgeries, laser treatment the the glaucoma eye which did not bring down the pressure or at least not enough. I am on Adopt twice a day in the just the left eye. I have also had pvd in both eyes one after cataract removal and the other 2 years after. All this time I lived in Greater London and was under the care of well known eye hospital (not sure if I can mention the name). At each checkup I had the usual pressure checks eye examination together with photograph of back of eye and dilated exam and field tests every 6- 12 months. I moved house 3 years ago and now attend local hospitals eye clinic. It is really busy and appointments are often not available at the time the doctor says to come back. I should have been seen in January but am only just going tomorrow. At the clinic they do eye pressures and the doctor examines your eyes and field tests but not dilated exams or photos. I do have a photo taken every 2 years at the opticians when I go for new reading glasses and at the last one 2 months ago was told the photo was ok. My question is are glaucoma patients supposed to have dilated exams and photos or has something changed . I am concerned about not having these checks but don't want to complain. I certainly can't afford to go private. I was intending to ask tomorrow if there was a reason why these tests are not done. I realise the eye clinic of general hospital may not be so sophisticated as an eye hospital. I am also going to ask about what medications I should not take. I know steroids are a problem as I found out that nasal steroids for rhinitis caused a rise in pressure which came back down when I stopped. With arthritis and other health problems which might require medications I would like to know what I should and should not take. I can't take nsaids and also wondered about amitryptiline (sorry wrong spelling) which I have been offered for pain and has a glaucoma warning. Any advice would be helpful Thanks so much.
0 likes, 12 replies
lester90053 libralady13
Posted
The best advice is to get another opinion from a good opthalmologist.
libralady13 lester90053
Posted
Hello Lester90053 and thanks for replying. I am going to ask tomorrow why it is they don't do the tests mentioned. I know which hospital I was under when in Greater London. Fortunately they had an outreach clinic at our local hospital . We were really lucky . I must say that treatment and tests we have had for other problems in this area have been very good. If you are supposed to have yearly dilated exams and photos then this must apply to everyone who attends this clinic not use me.
libralady13 lester90053
Posted
Sorry meant not just me at the end of the post
micheline16004 libralady13
Posted
Hi,
What does PVD mean?
Thanks.
libralady13 micheline16004
Posted
Hello micheline16004 Thanks for your reply. PVD stands for Posterior vitreous detachment. It is common and affect people as they age. You get symptoms of flashing and floaters which take a time to go but when the detachment completes the symptoms go. However because these symptoms also can indicate possible retinal detachment it is imperative that you see an opthalmolgist immediately to make sure. I did this both times and it was just pvd.Hope this helps You can look it up on line.
Guest libralady13
Posted
I would consider finding a different doctor who has a little more time to be thorough. That being said a dilated eye exam would not be necessary every time. It has no effect on checking your IOP. Also sometimes it depends on the doctor, at our office we would not do photos and Visual Field both in the same year if the patient is stable and consistent with their meds. We would typically do a 6 month checkup (no dilation) to check IOP, then 6 months later a full (dilated) eye exam with visual field. But like I said each doctor is different . Most important thing is to have a doctor you trust and feel comfortable. Best of Luck
libralady13 Guest
Posted
Hello k51095 and thanks for your reply. As explained not sure I could see another doctor is any case you never see the same one twice. I have no complaints about the actual clinic and staff, just concerned that dilated exams and yearly photos are not routinely done. I thought all eye clinics did the same obviously not. Tomorrow I do have a visual field check and usual pressure check and undilated exam. Will ask tomorrow why these tests are not done. I agree with you only need photo dilation and visual field test 6 - 12 months according patient.
vanessa23 libralady13
Posted
HI, I like you have glaucoma in one eye, dont know how far out of london you havemoved but i have an hour trip down to the eye hospital , but its specialist knowledge your getting from them.A Yearly photo of your eye is ok because they will be able to see with slit test the back of your eye.Its also not good to not be seen in the time scale they say.Maybe you should let the london hospital have another look if traveling is possible,i know from personal eperience i would not go back to my local hospital now and MF 's have told me so too, so a little surprised they let you go to your new local hospital. Medication for pain relief sounds a bit harsh, there must be something on the market you can take i am lucky i can have co codermol which i need when my eye gets painful
Good luck and i hope it all gets sorted
Vanessa
libralady13 vanessa23
Posted
Hello Vanessa23 and thank you for your reply. First of all with regard to medication when I mentioned that I could not take nsaids only paracetamol it was nothing to do with eyes I was talking about painkillers for arthritis. I also have IBS and gastritis so cannot have anything that will upset the digestive system. Cocodomol give me awful constipation and spaces me out. We have moved 200 miles away from London so travelling there is at least 4 hours away and would involve having to stay overnight in a hotel. My husband has health problems and does not really like travelling that far and we only do the journey very occasionally to see family. I am under the NHS and as said could not afford private treatment. I don't think I could be seen down south anyway on nhs as we are out of area. I expect you can guess which London hospital I am talking about did not want to name it in case my post got deleted. It has a london hospital and outreach centres at local hospital within greater london. I have been to both.We do have an eye hospital in the city here but not sure I could get referred .Am going to ask tomorrow why photos and dilated exams are not done.
libralady13 vanessa23
Posted
Hello again vanessa23. Meant to say the time scale problem has been going on for over a year. My last 2 appointments have been 4 months late. I phoned every month and was just told there are no appointments. Apparently there is a problem in this part of the country with too many patients to be seen. It is wrong but what can I do really. I must admit I was concerned when we moved having to leave MF's but assumed I would be ok. There is as I mentioned to another poster an eye hospital in the city. I assume that you only get referred there if you are in the area or maybe need specialist help.
vanessa23 libralady13
Posted
oh bless,it is out of the question going to mf ,would your gp be able to refer you due to problem in number of people who attend outpatients at local hospital to theeye hospital.ts really sad but i find you have to really put yourself out to get what you want in this day and age, im 56 and definietly have seen a change in the nhs, but why should we haveto consider private.
best wishes
Vanessa
libralady13 vanessa23
Posted
hello again. yes,I agree why should we have to go private. I am nearly 72 and have a few health problems and all I want is the best that the NHS can provide. Sadly things are changing and they seem to be at breaking point. I feel for the doctors and nurses.There are 2 what you might call local hospitals here one about 20 mins drive and the other a bit longer. Harder to get there by bus. I do miss buses and trains down south. It occurred to me this afternoon that when we first came here that I was sent to the other hospital but was eventually transferred to the one I am at now as it is a bit nearer to us. I might ask about the facilities at the other hospital although I imagine they will be much the same. Will try and post again and let everyone know what they say. Not looking forward to it though as it takes so long. I have to have field test this time and I f ind it hard because of neck arthritis to sit forward. Thanks for your interest.