AIBU to be terrified of the optician :(

[madcatsforever]

I have a long standing phobia of opticians, something about how close they have to get, in a dark room and you're trapped in the chair triggers a genuine panic in me. I'd rather see the dentist 20 times over!

So here's the problem, I am hugely short sighted and use contact lenses which I get posted to me every 3 months. My eye test is 12 months overdue so the opticians won't post me any more lenses until I have the eye test - meaning I HAVE to go this month.

Is it a weird phobia? Any tips to get through this 20 minute appointment so that I can get my lenses?

Feels so ridiculous to be so scared of it, would they think it was odd if I asked for a female optemitrist?

No, they wouldn’t think it was odd at all to ask for a woman.

Tell the optician that you are nervous and they should try to make it as un-scary as possible.

If there are a few opticians in the practice you could always ask the receptionist who they would advise you to see in your circumstances.

Ah sorry to hear you feel like this - I am an optometrist! Lots of people get anxious coming for their eye test, Id definitely prefer a nervous patient to let me know so I could take extra care over them. Asking to see a female is totally fine and an almost daily request, and I agree with above poster tell the person booking your appt that you are anxious. Where I work they would chose which optometrist to put you in with based on that - choosing the most sympathetic.

Other small things can be done ie having the door slightly ajar so not feeling trapped and not quite as dark. Also the bit where we get really close is called ‘direct ophthalmoscopy’ and that can be done a different way where we use a microscope and essentially a magnifying lens (called a VOLK lens) then we’re not as close

I realise it’s not easy to get past a phobia but it’s not missing out on important eye health checks for (which I realise you know) It will be over before you know it 💐

Thank you both ❤️

@Allsizes8to14 you sound like a lovely optometrist, I know it's not a rational fear and is no reflection on opticians, it's just something that I really struggle with so every couple of years I end up in the position where I'm forced to go.

I'll try to go in there this week and see if I can grab someone to have a quick chat privately and see what they suggest 😐

Contact lens optician here. As PP says, it is a regular request to ask for a female optician. There is no reason you can't take a friend with you either if that makes you feel more comfortable. People often bring people in with them. But do bare in mind the room is fairly small so stick to one or two not the whole family, it got very warm and even I felt claustrophobic with me, the patient, the husband, mother in law and 3 kids!

It is an important part of wearing lenses to come in for regular checks and sight tests so please do phone up and explain when you book your appointment. I can safely say they will be very pleased you are booking and be happy to make some little accommodation like a female optometrist as chasing up overdue patients is really frustrating.

Op im terrified of the opticians too! My old regular lady optician left now they have locums in. I was expecting another lady as my relative who also goes had a lady. Mine was a man a very lovely optician. My eyesites very bad and deteriorates very fast (due to using my phone too much!) I explained to him how scared i was of the optician and he couldnt have been kinder. He asked if i wanted the door left open and everything. Bite the bullet and explain your fears. Ask for a female if that makes you more comfortable and good luck.

I love the opticians! For pretty much almost all the reasons you hate it. It gives me almost an ASMR sensation.

@itstheprinciple... Any chance you can take my eyeballs and get them checked over then as I've chickened out of doing anything about it again today. #TotalWuss

I used to work in an opticians, well I worked for every high street chain over the years, and it was very frequent to request a woman for all sorts of reasons.

(As an aside I once worked in a store in Brighton. One of our opticians admitted that he had met his boyfriend after an eye test got out of control and a blow job ensued)

DH had one patient so worried she actually fainted He got her a cushion and sat on the floor next to her, chatting, until she felt able to get up again. She kept coming back for many years, having well and truly broken the ice!

madcatsforever I really would if I could!

Last time I went I couldn't speak, when they ask all the questions 1 or 2 etc eventually cried and couldn't explain why - I don't even know how either of us managed to get through the examination but the result was I ran out as soon as I had my prescription and now I feel even worse about going back because that was over 2 years ago and I've worried about it and obsessed over it for so long 🤦‍♀️

You do them checking to see if your vision has changed but you can buy lenses off the internet, usually much cheaper too.

Tell them! They can’t help if they don’t know you have a phobia. Yes ask for a female optician, yes take a friend, yes leave the door open, take a stress ball - all ok to do.
Last time I went it was all done with the light on - so not sat in darkness. (That was a year ago and a well large chain). You aren’t the first nor will you be the last person to have this phobia.

@looselipssinkships - you can if you have the prescription from the opticians, I do have it but it's too far out of date. The health checks are important no online retailer should be selling lenses without up to date checks, I know I need the checks I'm just crap at facing my fear 🤦‍♀️

@madcatsforever

Could you get someone to go in with you?

I always used to go in with my kids. There is usually room to sit.

I used to laugh at my kids and tell them they looked like the BORG from Star Trek ... (With all the weird stuff on their head.)

Laughing with them, used to calm them down, and put them at ease...

YANBU to be scared of ANYthing. So don't feel bad.

@Bargebill19, I'm glad I posted here to find others with the same difficulties... In real life I've never heard anyone say they don't like eye tests. Lots of people I know are terrified of the dentist yet I find that much less stressful!

If it helps, I used to work at an opticians and our optometrist was lovely, really kind and gentle. The patients loved him. As others have said, taking someone with you might just put you more at ease. If they know you're nervous they might be able to add a bit extra time to your appointment.

Please don't buy your lenses online unless you really are hard up. High street opticians can't support their running costs on just the sight test and contact lens appointment fees. That's why so many independent practices have been forced to close.

A surprising amount of people are frightened of eye sight tests, and for a while host of different reasons. But opticians understand and can and will help. But you do need to tell them first.
I suspect people feel silly as it’s a painless test unlike some forms of dentistry. But a fear is still a fear regardless of the reasoning behind it.

Our optician used to do home visits where possible