GET YOUR EYES CHECKED

lensworx

lensworx

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Mark
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Hi all.

Well I thought I would post this as with what I am going through at present I would like to point out and just give everyone else a good kick in the right direction and maybe help someone at the same time.

How many of us really take as much care of our eyes as we should?
How many of us really keep to the recommended guide lines for getting our eyes checked?

to be frank I for one keep my camera equipment better looked after than ever I have might sight.

NOW IS THE TIME TO CHANGE.

After not seeing a optician for nearly 4 years I decided to go for a routine check over as my glasses had seen better days, This was a few months back.
After a normal checkup I was asked to go and see someone out our local eye hospital as he had picked up on something that he was not sure about.

Anyway a few months on and after having just about every test under the sun I am now going through treatment and they are trying to save my sight.
After only a single consulation I was informed that it was a good job I went when I did, and if they cannot get on top of the issue quick then there is very good chance that I will end up blind on BOTH eyes.

At 28 years old you do not expect to be told there is a good chance you could go blind
so for everyone on here that is either too busy or thinks that there is no problem so why bother going ---- THINK AGAIN.


Mark
 
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Sorry to hear of your problem Mark, hope it works out well for you - personally I and SWMBO have checks every 6 months, including a variety of in depth machine tests. Well worth it and done via a painless monthly standing order.
 
Sorry to hear about your eye sight, I need to get my glasses fixed, thank you for reminder
 
I hope things turn out ok for you Mark and i have been meaning to go for a test myself and your post might just give me the push i needed.
 
I hope all works out for you Mark all the best, i will make that appointment
 
I hope to goodness it doesnt turn out that bad mate.

Personally I now go yearly especially as the company pays for it. I drive for a living and knew my right eye had changed, luckily just a prescription change due to getting older. I wont have laser although I'd love the results purely on the fact that if it goes tits up your stuffed.

Fingers crossed m8
 
I really hope it works out for you Mark.

I get my eyes checked quite regular as they've never been tip top.
 
hope you manage to get it fully sorted.
thanks for the reminder- its been ahem, 12 years since I had mine done. will phone tomorrow.
 
Good luck Mark.

My eyesight is fine, I went just last week.

It's my eyelids I can't control, they want to do their own thing.

From him........'Just-down-the-road'...:thumbs:
 
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Sorry to hear about the possible issues, but the brighter side is that you have a fighting chance of getting it sorted now.

I've got a really good opticians (a local one - not a big chain) and that really makes quite a difference with the personal touch too, ringing me when i've not been for a while!
 
I have a problem with the wind in the eye's test. I know it sounds silly but last time it was done I had a racy heart. My opticians are not very sympathetic about this.
 
LouiseTopp said:
I have a problem with the wind in the eye's test. I know it sounds silly but last time it was done I had a racy heart. My opticians are not very sympathetic about this.
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so change opticians, find one that is more understanding ;)


Nearly time for mine to be done again, I do get them done every 18mths or so as a I already need glasses for reading/computer work, the usual middle-age onset weakness, but yes I agree, everyone should get their eyes regularly checked, even if there is no history of eye conditions in the family.
 
Yv said:
so change opticians, find one that is more understanding ;)


Nearly time for mine to be done again, I do get them done every 18mths or so as a I already need glasses for reading/computer work, the usual middle-age onset weakness, but yes I agree, everyone should get their eyes regularly checked, even if there is no history of eye conditions in the family.
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I'm with Specsavers and I don't know of any better one's. Dolland and H are so expensive.
 
LouiseTopp said:
I'm with Specsavers and I don't know of any better one's. Dolland and H are so expensive.
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I have been using Tesco for the last few years, they have been excellent, the opticians are very nice and a good range of frames at reasonable prices should you need them. Also, try local independents, they will be no cheaper than D&H, but may offer a much more personal and understanding service. Vision Express too
 
I don't think the independents are *that* expensive, but you do definitely get far better service.

I had a contact lens trial with mine and they wanted to see me put the lenses in, so I took my rings off to wash my hands. I accidently left them there. I went in around 8 months later to have one of the staff ask if i'd lost anything (knowing me it could be anything!)

So it turns out that it was the rings (which i'd thought had been nicked from somewhere as I take them off for showers/hand wash etc), and they'd recognised my face - just couldn't remember my name.

And that was after around 8-9 months.
 
We all went for an eye test a while ago and my wife was instructed to go to the hospital straight away as she had very high pressure in the discs behind her eyes. She has been diagnosed with a condition called Idiopathic Intercranial Hypertension (IIH for short) which is high pressure in the fluid surrounding the brain and it squeezes the optic nerves and can lead to blindness. Thankfully our trip to 'specsavers' was timely and the optician noticed the problem in time. She does have lots of problems with vision still but at least she can still see and is getting the correct treatment.
 
Sorry to hear about your news, blindness is the one thing I couldn't cope with. My hearing is becoming quite bad in areas with lots of background noise but that's something I can deal with.

As for eye tests, I've not had one since I was 16, now 31. I was attacked by a gang of lads 3-4 years older than me at a school disco and then started getting headaches. Doctor thought it was my eyes so had a test done and no issues. Turns out they think it might be slight brain damage.

I suppose it's not just eyes, but anything medical should be checked at least yearly. If it was up to me the everyone would have a complete medical each year including blood tests for cancer etc. catching things early has to be cheaper in the long run.

Only issue I do have with my eyes is I can get a 'glitter effect', usually after coughing etc. Just looks like lots of bits of glitter floating around in there.
 
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Hope the treatment works for you Mark and that things don't get any worse. Good that you went when you did and they spotted the problem.

Reminds me its been a few years since my last test - really need to go again and get new glasses.
 
LouiseTopp said:
I'm with Specsavers and I don't know of any better one's. Dolland and H are so expensive.
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Aren't eye test charges a much of a muchness?

I only ever get the eye test in the optician and never buy my glasses from them as they work out about half the cost online.
 
lensworx said:
Hi all.

Well I thought I would post this as with what I am going through at present I would like to point out and just give everyone else a good kick in the right direction and maybe help someone at the same time.

How many of us really take as much care of our eyes as we should?
How many of us really keep to the recommended guide lines for getting our eyes checked?

to be frank I for one keep my camera equipment better looked after than ever I have might sight.

NOW IS THE TIME TO CHANGE.

After not seeing a optician for nearly 4 years I decided to go for a routine check over as my glasses had seen better days, This was a few months back.
After a normal checkup I was asked to go and see someone out our local eye hospital as he had picked up on something that he was not sure about.

Anyway a few months on and after having just about every test under the sun I am now going through treatment and they are trying to save my sight.
After only a single consulation I was informed that it was a good job I went when I did, and if they cannot get on top of the issue quick then there is very good chance that I will end up blind on BOTH eyes.

At 28 years old you do not expect to be told there is a good chance you could go blind
so for everyone on here that is either too busy or thinks that there is no problem so why bother going ---- THINK AGAIN.


Mark
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This just reminded me to book an eye test. Worrying news for yourself, but you're in the best hands now the medical world can achieve some amazing results these days. My partner has conical cornea and is at the eye hospital frequently and they really do their best. Hope you hear some good news soon.
 
Best of luck to you and hope it all sorts itself out.

Ever since I was found to be short sighted I get eye tests done once every two years through Boots. I also wear contact lenses so that is a once a year check. So there is never a year goes by where my sight isn't checked over to see what is going on.
 
Hope you get things sorted Mark.

Tesco offer free eye-checks, and I've used them in the past :)
 
I've never had an eye test is that a bad thing? (50+)!
 
Thanks everyone for the kind words.

All being well they can stop it before it courses any more damage. Damage / scaring has already been done but at present it is only on the outside edge of the retina and not coursing much of an issue. They thought that I may have been Retinitis pigmentosa as this is what it looks like at the back of the eye. After a number of tests they found there was an active infection that is the underlying course of the issue.

I just wanted to make everyone else aware that you cannot be too careful and even if there are no physical problems or known issues within a family is does not mean that there is nothing laying in wait.

Thanks again
 
As someone who has been an insulin dependant diabolic since I've been 25 (a mere 27 years ago) I've always been aware of the risk of losing my sight and so I know only too well that one's eyes are the most valuable thing that you own, bar none. I could live ok'ish without an arm, a leg, maybe the odd foot but losing my eyes? You're having a laugh.

Anyone reading this who doesn't get them checked regularly is playing with fire.

Just DO IT.
 
4wd said:
I've never had an eye test is that a bad thing? (50+)!
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Well it may not be a good thing. You could have a problem with your eyes other than needing glasses which the optician may spot. But you also may need glasses but not really realise it.
 
Wow, sorry to hear about your eye sight issue that would come as a great shock to anyone. I hope the operation goes well and there will be no future problems for you.

I really do need to go and get mine checked again, this is just the kick I needed. Past 6 months my eyes have been feeling rather 'sticky' for lack of a better word and I sometimes feel things are OOF. Definitely going to get them checked out, although the last time I went in and went through to a hospital for a good check they said my eyes were fine but better safe than sorry!
 
4wd said:
I've never had an eye test is that a bad thing? (50+)!
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Same here.I don't want them trying to sell me reading glasses for £70 that I can buy in the £1 shop.Maybe that's why they give free eye tests.:thinking:
 
kestral said:
Same here.I don't want them trying to sell me reading glasses for £70 that I can buy in the £1 shop.Maybe that's why they give free eye tests.:thinking:
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..or maybe they will detect problems other than those with your vision that indicate another underlying problem that needs proper medical attention. You are under NO obligation to buy spectacle even if they say you need them, you can just ask for a copy of your prescription and walk away.....
 
My 'independent' opticians always sends me a letter to remind me to book my next test. If I haven't called back after about 10 days they then phone me to see if I want to book one.

Lots of people are also entitled to free tests so it is worth checking to see if you are eligible. If not it shouldn't cost more than about £20.
 
Had a similar experience some 4 years ago, lost sight completely temporarily, everything was blurred, the pain was unbearable etc etc. Living on my own 25miles from doctors made it pretty impossible to do much about. When I eventually made t to the opticians months later he did the tests, told me I needed much stronger glasses, the checked my pressures, went white as a sheet and sent me straight up to eye casualty.

Turns out I have Iritis, but because I did nothing about it it caused Glaucoma. The damage is now done and I can no longer do anything useful with my left eye. Fortunately my right eye is (now) pretty damned good, although some situations I can no longer see in at all which severely restricts where I can work and what I can do.
 
To the OP really sorry to hear about your situation.

My friend is also my optom and so I hear all sorts of stories about things they pick up.

I have to have checks or I get a yelling at.
 
Yv said:
..or maybe they will detect problems other than those with your vision that indicate another underlying problem that needs proper medical attention. You are under NO obligation to buy spectacle even if they say you need them, you can just ask for a copy of your prescription and walk away.....
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Exactly. I never buy glasses from the optician, I go for eye test only.
 
Yikes sorry to hear that.

I guess I've been blessed with great eyesight and I try to hold onto that, eyes get tested through my work every 3 years, and make sure I use eye protection.

Really gutted for you mate for such a young age.
 
kestral said:
Don't they give you the hard sell if they give you a free eye test.
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I did once have an optician wheel out his glamourous Saturday girl in an attempt to flatter me into buying expensive frames "oh Matthew they look fantastic on you" and so on. That was quite amusing.

For glasses I tend to buy online from hong kong, haven't spent more than £8 on a pair of glasses in ages. I used to spend around a hundred when I still bought in store and I see no difference in quality between my hong kong specials compared to the uk built expensive ones.

I do hope the op is on the mend now.
 
Are the Hong Kong ones for distance or reading? are different strength lenses available left and right eye ?
 
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