I’ve been to my appointment to see the eye specialist.
This was at my local Eye Centre.
The Doctor referred me back to Opmathology after I seemingly got lost in the system during Covid-19 after March 2020. I had my last round of tests just one week before lockdown here in the UK.
I had the usual eye test. I was the same as I was before. This is distance.
Right eye 3 lines down. Left eye 4 lines down.
This is why I don’t drive.
Then I had the eye drops. They dilute your pupils so the doctor can see into the eye much better than without.
I had photography taken of my eye and then saw the consultant.
He looked into my eyes with the prism light and magnifying glass equipment.
We spoke about the tests I had had all that time ago. He said that the large swelling had disappeared on my retina.
I didn’t realise I’d had any I told him.
I explained that I needed cane training due to the difficulties especially at night and also increased falling.
He didn’t seem to have had any of the results. Not even the random field test I’d had in late 2022 either.
So he agreed that we couldn’t go into any certification without a recent field test so he gave me a yellow sheet to hand in to have an appointment sent to me for 4 to 6 weeks time.
The previous doctor said I was partially sighted.
So just waiting on that now.
All in all the appointment and the staff were amazing as usual. I was out very quickly.
PD 1 A hospital waiting room with blue and light wood chairs in the foreground. Windows are in the background with a large yellow poster with text that reads. Worried about your vision? We’re here for you. PD 2 A hospital corridor with chairs down the right hand side. Above double doors is a sign that reads Orthoptist.
This is an epic blog post. Goes on abit. There’s a lot to tell you, but it Isn’t a rant. (Definitely a cuppa, and maybe a sandwich post)…
My urgent ish next hospital appointment was on Saturday 17th September 2022. 16 days after my meeting with doctor who requested these further tests.
I’ve surely had all the tests. I’ve been in most rooms, in 3 different hospitals, trying to find out the answers to something, sometimes, I don’t want the answers to.
I’ve had flashing tests, tests in the dark, reading tests, colorblind books, sat in different waiting rooms, numerous doctors shining lights through prisms for ages. wires, (yes… wires) drops, on and in my eyes.
One thing though. My eye phobia isn’t half as bad as it once was.
This time someone came with me. He’s visually impaired himself and uses a white cane. I just thought it would be funny to bring him along, which he kindly offered, so everyone would expect him to move when a names been called out to go for a test. They would think ‘oh bugger, it’s catching’, when they saw me get up instead, someone who hasn’t any obvious clues that I’m actually, to the people the waiting room, in THEIR gang.
We spoke about this and had a chuckle.
I absolutely love breaking peoples conceptions and stereotypes.
If we made some eyebrows raise, and a nudge to their mate. Then that’s all good.
He can see the time on his ‘very normal, not at all adapted’ watch.
I can’t.
See what I mean?
Don’t judge people.
Do you know that only 2 to 8% of the people who use a white cane, can see nothing at all?
See? You don’t just get ranty, sometimes long winded, sometimes funny (there will be more at somepoint… It’s gotten abit heavy recently) posts, occasionally there’s abit of sight loss facts too.
Anyway (I’m rambling again)…
I’m more positive this time and have an ‘is what, it is mentality’
I have the usual eye test. I’m still reading the same lines for both eyes. Any lower and I’m guessing, due to fuzziness, blurriness and missing tiny ‘bits’ Any of the above, a few things together, or all three.
“Am I seeing someone today?” I ask?
“No”…
I explain to the woman the whole boring never ending saga of me, waiting on results and waiting to see the main man.
She looks at the screen and sees that I’ve had the tests a while ago and yes, I’m waiting to see the big fella.
Oh believe me lady… I know this fact. She pops a note on the file.
I’m proper on a mission today and not at all being despondent, like I was at the previous appointment.
Then I’m straight into the Visual Field test which is a machine you look into, resting your chin on a blue stripe chin rest (left hand side) for your right eye to look for different sized white lights that flash intermittently, around what is, your peripheral vision.
You have to pop a pirate patch on your opposing eye.
You are given a clicky button. To click when you can see any light flashing on the screen.
If this was a game on the ZX Spectrum in the 80s, it would have been fab.
Takes a good 7 to 8 minutes for each eye to go through the process. When it’s your left eyes turn, you pop the patch onto your right eye and move your chin to a white stripe chin rest. On the right hand side.
It’s not uncomfortable at all. The lights aren’t that bright.
I did notice the difference between my clicking for the left and right eye.
I wasn’t as clicky fantastic, when my right eye was being tested.
Frustrating, as I don’t know if there were just less lights, or the fact there were the same amount and I just couldn’t see them.
Which, if you think about it, is the whole idea of the test.
PICTURE DESCRIPTION #1 Picture of a Visual Field test machine.PICTURE DESCRIPTION #2 Picture depiction of what you see using whilst having a Visual Field test. A grid with central red dot and single white lights appearing.
So after being a pirate for abit, I go find my buddy from the waiting room ‘cos we’ve got to go sit in the long, thin, unexpectedly empty, corridor. You know, the one with the Octopus Fields door in. Bloody Ringo. It’s now in my head… again.
There’s no dilation today. I think that’s because I’m not seeing the eye doc. My eyes won’t be examined today.
I go into a room next to the Octopus Fields door.
There’s another machine and this is for my OCT Disc scan.
PICTURE DESCRIPTION #3 Picture of an OCT Disc scan machine.
This machine has a red outline of a circle on a black background when you look into the eyepiece. Off to the side is a bright blue light in the shape of a cross that you have to stare at so the nurse can get a picture of your retinal disc.
PICTURE DESCRIPTION #4 Picture of what you see looking through the eyepiece on a OCT machine. Black background with red circle and blue cross in top left corner.
Then, very quickly, I’m done. Off for a pint or three.
Now waiting to see someone for these results of why my peripheral vision is dodgy. I’ve no idea when or who that will be with. At all.
My Consultant I’m waiting on, may have retired, just doesn’t want to see me or makes chutney for a living now for all I know anymore…
If you want to read about the OCT Disc scan. I’ve wrote a post about it, as I haven’t had one of these before. Please click link below.
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Picture of myself in cartoon form looking sideways into the distance with hands resting on face.
So. I was really early hanging around the hospital for my appointment.
I was sat under a tree outside with a coffee just pondering stuff like you do.
Eventually went inside and you still have to wear a mask. Didn’t have one, but they have a box of them at reception.
As I was in the waiting room I looked at the board and it didn’t have the main mans name on it.
You can tell what’s coming next can’t you…
Was called for my eye test. They gave me the pinhole glasses straight away this time, which I thought was quite funny. They have obviously read on my notes that last time I needed them to help a little more. I seemed to be on the same lines as before. Although I do keep explaining that the pinhole glasses don’t correct or help the tiny blind spots that make some letters look like others (C instead of O… F instead of R and vice versa) at all.
Then I was sat in the long narrow corridor waiting for eye drops to be popped in. Apparently I was having a retinal scan. Saw the door that had the sign Octopus Fields on it again, (I’ve wrote about this before) smiled to myself and started singing that damn Ringo song in my head yet again.
The drops take about 20 minutes to take effect. They open up the pupil to stay open. Your pupil gets smaller when light shines into it. In dilation, your doctor uses these drops to allow them to see much more of the back of your eye, including the entire retina, the part of the retina called the macula, and the optic nerve.
Had my scan which entails looking into a lens with lines of blue light that take a photograph of the back.
“Am I seeing someone today I ask?”
“yes”. Well at least I’m seeing someone.
Wait to see the fella. While I’m waiting I start to shut down, which sometimes happens from time to time when I’m here. I look around at the packed corridor and feel out of place as I feel I shouldn’t be here. That part of me still believing they must have this wrong, even though I know I cannot see how I really should be.
Anyway. I’m called to go in and the fella explains that he’s looking today mainly at my PED (detachments)
Now, probably because I thought I was going to get answers to tests long gone and the fact I’m putting all my eggs in one basket for the main man that I have yet to see. Right at this moment I don’t want to know. Wanted to get out of there and forget I’d been.
I know what you’re thinking. But I’ve learned that this feeling isn’t all the time. Just disappointment that it isn’t what I thought it was today. I know I should ask questions and not just sit there while that bright light, in a dark room, is being shone in my eyes once again, while the eye doc is looking through his magnifier.
He says he wants an urgent Visual Field test because of the problems I’m having with my right eyes peripheral vision which shouldn’t be compromised with the condition I have.
He explains urgent appointments usually are within the week but it probably won’t be.
I leave my yellow sheet in the in tray and decide i need to debrief with myself and mainly get a grip. So take myself into the main hospital and get a cuppa, sarnie and an orange.
I make a few phone calls and just leave everything I’ve bought sitting there as I don’t want it right now. I’m really annoying myself now by the way.sup0
I suppose a lot of people in my position do the same. I’ve gone on my own again and at least now I’m here and will have a word with myself before I make the journey home.
My follow up letter for my appointment came quickly. It was for 16 days time. (Saturday 17th September 2022) I’ve already wrote about the follow up letter if you would like a read. Please click on the link below.
One Vision Blog 