Eye test - what to expect...
Eye test - what to expect...
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Discussion

jimothy

Original Poster:

5,151 posts

266 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
Off for an eye test later, at my local hospital. I'm not sure what its called, but its a nasty one from what I hear, and one diabetics are meant to have regularly. They put drops into your eyes to make the blood vessles swell up so they can see them better. I've been told not to drive, and that I'll need sunglasses as I won't be able to see cos everything will look way too bright.

Has anyone ever had one of these before? What can I really expect, will I be able to see when they're done etc...

Cheers.

bjwoods

5,018 posts

313 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
Its only a couple of drops, to dilate your pupils, to let them get a better look inside.

B

bigandclever

14,359 posts

267 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
You'll have drops put in your eyes to dilate the pupils - this might sting a bit, but won't hurt. After about 15 minutes, 2 photo's are taken of your retinas. And you'll have a regular eye exam and sight test ("Oy, Mr Magoo! Over here!" that kind of thing. All thing should be over in 45 minutes.

Your vision will almost certainly be blurred for a few hours, but you shouldn't feel any actual discomfort.

simpo two

92,718 posts

294 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
Atropine, if they still use it. Everything will seem very bright afterwards!

I expect they're looking for glaucoma - much better to find any problems early. Good luck!

tinman0

18,231 posts

269 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
Isn't this the proceedure where they take the eyeball out to check the back of it?

jimothy

Original Poster:

5,151 posts

266 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
tinman0 said:
Isn't this the proceedure where they take the eyeball out to check the back of it?


Chim_Knee

12,689 posts

286 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
tinman0 said:
Isn't this the proceedure where they take the eyeball out to check the back of it?
Yeah... I heard that they dropped someones eye once and it rolled under a filing cabinet. When they eventually found it, it was covered in dust and they just put it back in!!



I've had the drops in the eye thing done a couple of times, also had the pressure test thing where they press on the eye. No big deal, in fact - the biggest issue is you working yourself up in to a state to be honest.

pdV6

16,442 posts

290 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
My boss has these fairly regularly & just makes sure to walk to the eye hospital rather than drive.

docevi1

10,430 posts

277 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
I've had it done as well, not that pleasant the first time (I was a young lad then) as I couldn't really see for hours afterwards - everything was a complete blur and I couldn't see the TV, read anything. The second time I expected the same but my eyesight was fine the moment I walked out of the room and I could see/read everything.

Expect a slight discomfort and I'd try and get someone to go with you, if you do get blurry vision like I did it's nice to have someone beside you - I certainly wouldn't have liked to be walking through the town trying to get the bus the first time.

Davel

8,982 posts

287 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
I have it done each year as I'm diabetic too.

It's really not a problem but the drops sting a bit at first and they often puff some air at your eyeball to test for something that I simply can't spell - glaucoma?

Anyway, it's just a little uncomfortable and they take a photograph of your eye (retina) for comparison.

It really is nothing to worry about - you big girl!

p.s. Take sunglasses because everything is very bright and a little blurred for a while afterwards.

>> Edited by Davel on Monday 25th July 11:04

jazzybee

3,056 posts

278 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
I have it done regularly too, being diabetic. Don't worry about it, just be prepared to have blurred vision for a couple of hours. Can be a little disorientating, but not painful. Not easy to walk either - I would say get someone to drive you too and from the clinic.

jimothy

Original Poster:

5,151 posts

266 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
Just got home from having it done. Not to bad at all, stung a little when the drops went in, and now things are a little blurry if the lights too bright. Got a lift home with my sunglasses on so that was ok. Managing to use my computer with no problems.

Thanks for all your reassurance guys!

scared but happy

24,147 posts

258 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
My wife is diabetic and has this done sometimes twice a year. The new digital cameras do not have such a bright flash as the old analogue ones and therefore don't hurt your eyes as much. Most of the time you are just sitting about waiting for the drops to take action. Oh and as others say don't forget to take a GOOD pair of very dark sunglasses also remember you will be a bit dis-orentated(sp?) so be prepaired. Lasty you MUST go with someone otherwise they will not let you go (and give you a bollocking)!! The effect can take quite a few hours to wear off so you can forget watching telly or reading for a while.

added: just read your post. See not that bad was it? eh?

>> Edited by scared but happy on Monday 25th July 13:38

bilko2

1,693 posts

261 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
I went for a highstreet test the other day. Nothing to do with being diabetic as i'm not.
What was strange was this machine that blows a puff of air onto your eyeball. Really quite a shock, although funny to see other people having it done.

Glad everthing worked out

-DeaDLocK-

3,368 posts

280 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
jimothy said:
tinman0 said:
Isn't this the proceedure where they take the eyeball out to check the back of it?

voyds9

8,490 posts

312 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
simpo two said:
Atropine, if they still use it. Everything will seem very bright afterwards!

I expect they're looking for glaucoma - much better to find any problems early. Good luck!

Not atropine nowadays, usually tropicamide. Same effects only quicker and certainly don't last as long.

telecat

8,528 posts

270 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
The "Puff" test is to check if your eyes are leaking.

968

12,439 posts

277 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
jimothy said:
Off for an eye test later, at my local hospital. I'm not sure what its called, but its a nasty one from what I hear, and one diabetics are meant to have regularly. They put drops into your eyes to make the blood vessles swell up so they can see them better. I've been told not to drive, and that I'll need sunglasses as I won't be able to see cos everything will look way too bright.

Has anyone ever had one of these before? What can I really expect, will I be able to see when they're done etc...

Cheers.


As someone else has said, they'll put some drops in your eyes to dilate your pupils, which allows them to look at the back of the eye more closely, to makes sure there are no signs of diabetic changes to the retina, or any other diseases which can affect the retina.

The puff test (isnt done in the hospital normally) is to check the pressure inside the eye, not to check if the eye is leaking!!

scorp

8,783 posts

258 months

Monday 25th July 2005
quotequote all
-DeaDLocK- said:

jimothy said:

tinman0 said:
Isn't this the proceedure where they take the eyeball out to check the back of it?




Ive never been to have anything done to my eyes, and with that picture in my head, i never will