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Original poster

Any Opticians/Ophthalmologists about?

43 replies

Wysterias · 28/02/2023 10:58

Hello,

Before I take things further, please could anyone advise if an Ophthalmoscope with the bright light be used on a patient that has had their pupils fully dilated please? Thank you

OP posts:
RainyReadingDay · 01/03/2023 09:59

amberedover · 01/03/2023 09:35

@RainyReadingDay oh dear ,that sounds awful .No wonder you're feeling down .
I'm being assessed for peripheral laser iridotomy and I already have cataracts .And horrible floaters .Feeling nervous now .

Oh no I didn't mean to make you feel nervous. The peripheral laser iridotomy was a very straightforward and pain free procedure that sorted out the glaucoma without fuss. 💐

It was the macular hole that caused all the damage.

AnnaMagnani · 01/03/2023 10:19

amberedover · 01/03/2023 08:26

having recently been told that i have v narrowed drainage channels in my eyes i'm probably seeing connections where there are none and of course i'm no expert but ...
dilating pupils where someone has narrowed channels can increase the pressure in the eye

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a serious eye condition that occurs when the fluid pressure inside your eye rises quickly. The usual symptoms are sudden, severe eye pain, a red eye and reduced or blurred vision. You may feel sick or be sick (vomit). Immediate treatment is needed to relieve symptoms and to prevent permanent loss of vision (severe sight impairment).

The concern is only if you have acute angle glaucoma which is a tiny minority of people with glaucoma.

DH has glaucoma and it's vital he has his pupils dilated otherwise he can't have tests and treatment.

underneaththeash · 01/03/2023 10:40

amberedover · 01/03/2023 09:30

@underneaththeash no it's ok ,I wasn't thinking that dilating pupils could cause
narrow angles .

I was wondering ,in a previous post ,why mine weren't spotted in eye tests carried out a few months earlier .Perhaps because the eye tests were for glasses only ?

Not in the U.K. How narrow are they?
we don’t currently refer unless they’re very narrow as the chance of progression to a type of glaucoma is slim.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
euff · 01/03/2023 10:50

I'm sorry about the experience you had. Can't offer any helpful advice. We used to have to see an ophthalmologist at the hospital for DD. I would dread getting the head guy. He was absolutely awful particularly when a teenage girl with severe special needs was brought in by a carer. No problems when seeing other ophthalmologists.

amberedover · 01/03/2023 10:50

@underneaththeash description is VH grade1 and 270 closed .

amberedover · 01/03/2023 10:52

the 270 closed is re left eye .

Craver · 01/03/2023 10:54

Yes, pupils are dilated to increase the view. It's normal to be a little bit uncomfortable & you can feel blinded for a while. I suspect that's why they normally suggest you don't drive.

underneaththeash · 01/03/2023 11:02

amberedover · 01/03/2023 10:50

@underneaththeash description is VH grade1 and 270 closed .

That’s very closed. There are some eye conditions which can lead to the angle becoming more narrow. But it’s absolutely worth contacting the last practice who saw you and explaining what happened. They will review the notes and explain if it was missed - in which case it is a learning opportunity for the optometrist involved, or can explain was the result was a few months ago.
They probably won’t be able to tell you the gonioscopy grading, which is your 270 number (most optometrists aren’t trained to do it).
If you had an OCT done it may also showthe configuration of the angle.

Original poster
Wysterias · 01/03/2023 11:57

Craver · 01/03/2023 10:54

Yes, pupils are dilated to increase the view. It's normal to be a little bit uncomfortable & you can feel blinded for a while. I suspect that's why they normally suggest you don't drive.

Thank you. Yes I know its uncomfortable. It was the first time I had it done three weeks but for some reason it was way more intense than last time. I wasn't remotely nervous or anxious about the appointment so it wasn't that.

My point is... Last time it was bearable, uncomfortable and unpleasant but bearable. This time is was unbearable and I couldn't physically look where he wanted me to look with the large scale of the light he was using. I tried to say I was struggling. I then felt very sick, fainted (blood pressure ⬇️ etc) and then fainted again afterwards. I had an excruciating migraine intensity headache for the rest of the day. It wasn't just a bit uncomfortable!

This wasn't normal for me and I felt absolutely fine prior to the appointment. Had eaten and drunk enough.

Obviously next time I am now going to anticipate it being awful which I didn't before and so will have anxiety added to the mix.

If it was just anxiety, I could accept me being a wimp. But this was physical and I don't understand why it had such an effect on me? The doctor wasn't horrible. It wasn't until the nurses came in he actually seemed to take me seriously. They even asked him "what had he done to me?!"

OP posts:
Original poster
Wysterias · 01/03/2023 11:59

The doctor was horrible that should read.

OP posts:
foxandbee · 01/03/2023 13:22

OP sorry to jump on your thread. Specsaversavers do OCT scans, but no eyedrops are given. Does this matter in terms of the effectiveness/accuracy?

Reason I ask us I had one a couple of weeks ago which picked up a macula pucker. Optician just said to go to them straightaway if I noticed anything odd about my sight, but I am just wondering if it should be investigated further?

chezpopbang · 01/03/2023 13:27

foxandbee · 01/03/2023 13:22

OP sorry to jump on your thread. Specsaversavers do OCT scans, but no eyedrops are given. Does this matter in terms of the effectiveness/accuracy?

Reason I ask us I had one a couple of weeks ago which picked up a macula pucker. Optician just said to go to them straightaway if I noticed anything odd about my sight, but I am just wondering if it should be investigated further?

You don't need drops for an OCT scan

foxandbee · 01/03/2023 14:04

Thank you chezpopbang that is v reassuring.

amberedover · 01/03/2023 16:00

Thank you @underneaththeash .Are you not in the UK ? Or did you mean that the existence of acute angles aren't regularly checked for in the UK ?

I'm worried that I've brought this condition on myself through long term medication with an SSRI.

And @Wysterias I'm really sorry to have hi jacked your thread .In my defence
a) a thread I started a few days ago got no replies
b) I did wonder if you too might have undiscovered acute angles in which case dilating pupils can cause problems and some of the symptoms you describe .
But I think you've previously had the pupils dilated and not had those symptoms .But apologies anyway .I do hope you can get this sorted .

Original poster
Wysterias · 01/03/2023 16:11

euff · 01/03/2023 10:50

I'm sorry about the experience you had. Can't offer any helpful advice. We used to have to see an ophthalmologist at the hospital for DD. I would dread getting the head guy. He was absolutely awful particularly when a teenage girl with severe special needs was brought in by a carer. No problems when seeing other ophthalmologists.

Thank you Euff. Yes I quite understand that situation as my daughter has severe learning difficulties so any HCP being impatient with her doesn't get to see her twice! Thankfully a rare occurrence!

OP posts:
Original poster
Wysterias · 01/03/2023 16:12

amberedover · 01/03/2023 16:00

Thank you @underneaththeash .Are you not in the UK ? Or did you mean that the existence of acute angles aren't regularly checked for in the UK ?

I'm worried that I've brought this condition on myself through long term medication with an SSRI.

And @Wysterias I'm really sorry to have hi jacked your thread .In my defence
a) a thread I started a few days ago got no replies
b) I did wonder if you too might have undiscovered acute angles in which case dilating pupils can cause problems and some of the symptoms you describe .
But I think you've previously had the pupils dilated and not had those symptoms .But apologies anyway .I do hope you can get this sorted .

No need to apologise!!

Hope you get the answers you need!

I've never heard of that.. Another thing to investigate 😅

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 01/03/2023 16:27

No, I’m in the U.K. usually optometrists look at the angle using a slit lamp technique called Van Herrick - this is your VH1 reading.
you can also grade the angle using an OCT.

your other measurement (270) is a gonioscopic measurement and described how much of the angle is closed. Most U.K. optometrists don’t do this as they’re not trained and it’s difficult to imagine interpret the readings unless you’re doing lots of them. Optometrists with a extra glaucoma qualification have to do it as part of their role. Tbh I find it quite difficult to interpret.

amberedover · 01/03/2023 16:59

It does all seem like very advanced physics or something Smile

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