Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy

BC

Hi,

I was just wondering how often people get this done and where you get it done?

I see my consultant privately and he sent me to an eye specialist a (good) few years ago for my first eye checkup. He reckons that I don't need to see the specialist to be screened, I should only need to see him if there is a problem. He says that some GPs & opticians will do screening for diabetic retinopathy and I should check with my GP.

I was just wondering what other people do. How often do you get checked? Where do you go?

graflynn

I think the recommendations are every 12 - 18 months to be reviewed. Your GP would be a good place to start in finding a good "eye doctor". Surely, he/she would know of one.

tbh

my consultant does this every six months - if I'm thinking of the right proceedure? Squeeze the stingy drops in your eye which blind you for the day before standing uncomfortably close shining a light in your eye? (that's the technical term )

chilli_pepper

tbh wrote: »

blind you for the day

thats the one:cool:

ElBarco

I think I get it done every 18 months. I love trying to find my way to the bus stop afterwards.

DrIndy

bring sunglasses and don't drive - they do wear off fairly quickly.

tbh

I got pulled by the guards outside St. Vincents at the bus stop there, because they thought I was on drugs

DrIndy

tbh wrote: »

I got pulled by the guards outside St. Vincents at the bus stop there, because they thought I was on drugs

Thats classic!

wonder what its like outside the mater or st james's?

graflynn

I just had my screening yesterday. And the sunglasses worked a treat. I even wore them for about an hour when I got home. The sun seemed very bright and painful without them.

I was glad I didn't drive but if I remember correctly - one time I had it done in the mater and they gave me drops afterwards to reverse the dialation because I said I was driving. That would be handy - I had to cancel my previous appointment because I didn't have a driver to pick me up.

DrIndy

graflynn wrote: »

I just had my screening yesterday. And the sunglasses worked a treat. I even wore them for about an hour when I got home. The sun seemed very bright and painful without them.

I was glad I didn't drive but if I remember correctly - one time I had it done in the mater and they gave me drops afterwards to reverse the dialation because I said I was driving. That would be handy - I had to cancel my previous appointment because I didn't have a driver to pick me up.

glad the tip worked! Your eyes are not able to contract normally to bright light so you get dazzled in the same way you are when driving in the dark and meet someone with full beams on.

BC

Thanks for all the info, and the sunglasses tip!

I've made an appointment, its a morning one and I need to go into work afterwards. How long before I'll be able to see properly??? I had it done once years ago and remember the drops but I don't remember much else.

tbh

BC wrote: »

Thanks for all the info, and the sunglasses tip!

I've made an appointment, its a morning one and I need to go into work afterwards. How long before I'll be able to see properly??? I had it done once years ago and remember the drops but I don't remember much else.

about two hours, in my experience.

dubtom

I just got done in James two weeks ago.Although they told me not to drive because of the drops,they didn't give me any on the day. Just took 2 pictures,5 mins total. Just yesterday they sent me an appointment for my next one in june 2010.

mike65

Had mine done today as part of the six monthly chat, a have a tiny spot which he noticed last time - 18 months back, its not changed and is not connected to a vein so he's not too concerned (a watching brief). Having been a diabetic for 32 years I'm sort of waiting for the moment that something is found that needs work