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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Swollen optic nerve?

30 replies

Emcont · 12/11/2020 14:47

My DP had an eye test nearly 2 weeks ago and tried Specsavers new thing where they can look at the layers of your eyes.

His showed up to have a swollen optic nerve in one of his eyes with what they called a 'substantial hemorage' - she did say this could be old...

His optician sent a referral to his gp and they have tried to get him an app. They phoned earlier and said as they won't be able to get him seen anytime soon, so he is to go to the main eye hospital's A&E tonight.

Obviously I'm freaking out, (He isn't! As he has no symptoms whatsoever) but I tend to catastrophise and jump to the worst possible options. In this case my mind goes to inoperable brain tumor... thanks Dr Google!

Has anyone been through this or something similar? He is 35 and in good health.

I take it we still aren't allowed to accompany someone to A&E?

I don't really have an AIBU, just want a hand hold really! Thanks Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
Emcont · 12/11/2020 15:28

Anyone? Blush

OP posts:
Pandamanium · 12/11/2020 15:39

Yes - me

Please don't freak out just yet. Are you in London?

Pandamanium · 12/11/2020 15:44

I am pretty sure that if he had had a substantial haemorrhage who would have known about it, firstly.

I have had an inflamed optic nerve for other reasons - however, it probably is not helpful to go into that now.

He won't be able to drive home from the hospital by the way - hopefully someone has told you that. And yes, I think it is only one person in and out.

Basically, he will have his pressure checked, have his eyes checked thoroughly, do a sight test, have some drops, have his eyes checked again and do the colour blindness number cards.

Take food and drink - it can be a long wait, and make sure he bigs up the text on his phone before he goes in (that means he will still be able to read and reply to messages when he has the drops, they really affect your vision).

underneaththeash · 12/11/2020 15:44

If it were a brain tumour OP the swelling would be likely on both optic nerve/discs.

There are several things it could be - including a couple that are pretty innocuous, optic disc drusen for example can cause disc haemorrhages and are relatively common.
I'm not sure that going to A&E this evening is the correct thing to do. Most A&E doctors won't have the eye experience to diagnose and most of the ophthalmologists will have gone home for the day. He's better going in the morning when they'll be more ophthalmologists around. They'll probably put some drops in his eyes, so I'd definitely drop him off and collect.

I would also get back to the opticians and explain the situation. I've managed to get a couple of people appointments by bypassing the usual routes.

Pandamanium · 12/11/2020 15:45

And, massive hand hold for you

Winterwoollies · 12/11/2020 15:45

My other half had this, picked up at an eye appointment. It turned out he had very high blood pressure but the hospital weren’t worried at all, once they’d had a really good look.

Pandamanium · 12/11/2020 15:46

@underneaththeash

It is the Eye Hospitals A and E - not normal A and E I think? They have 24 hour consultant cover pretty much.

Winterwoollies · 12/11/2020 15:47

@underneaththeash for goodness sake don’t discourage the OP’s partner from attending A&E, if you read it again it said the EYE HOSPITAL A&E. Because eyes are so vulnerable, there are special emergency departments for eyes around the country.

AbsentmindedWoman · 12/11/2020 15:48

If you are in the London area, I'd suggest Moorfields. From personal experience, they are brilliant.

Handholding because eye trouble is very unnerving Flowers

Pandamanium · 12/11/2020 15:49

Western Eye are also fabulous in London so please go to either, whichever is closer, but do please make sure he goes.

MumbleBee20 · 12/11/2020 15:58

I have pressure on both my optic nerves, picked up by the optician. I also have astigmatism in both eyes. I was very overweight at the time and it can be a complication of obesity, mostly in women. My blood pressure is fine, though. I had CT scans and it is being monitored. They said I may have to have a lumbar puncture to drain some spinal fluid and relieve the pressure. Google will turn up some really scary results. Try not to look too much into it until he has been seen.

Original poster
Emcont · 12/11/2020 16:04

Thank you so much for the replies!

He does have an astigmatism in the eye that this has flagged up on.

It's Brighton Eye Hospital that he's been told to attend the A&E section of.

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 12/11/2020 16:21

@Winterwoollies asymptomatic unilateral disc disc swelling with a haemorrhage isn't something that can be investigated in an eye A&E.

If the OP's partner goes first thing in the morning, he may be fast-tracked to the appropriate department.

Winterwoollies · 12/11/2020 16:40

@underneaththeash yes but no offence, you’re a random person on MN; using a clinical name for a condition won’t change that. The GP has advised they go to the eye A&E. So morally, it is not correct to discourage that.

Okeydokeykokey · 12/11/2020 16:57

Just a heads up that parking can be a bit tricky down there - there may be some on street parking around the back roads where the entrance is or otherwise there are usually spaces along the seafront, just down from the hospital.

Alternatively, in the evening you may be able to get into the main hospital car park and walk down - it's not far.

Clarich007 · 12/11/2020 17:02

Hi Emcont.
Hope your husband is ok.I had something similar a few years ago and it turned out my blood pressure and cholesterol were raised.All is ok now

underneaththeash · 12/11/2020 17:04

@Winterwoollies How is it morally is if it's the wrong advice. There are no differential diagnosis for a asymptomatic disc swelling with a haemorrhage which could not wait 12 hours if the OP has been waiting 2 weeks.
I think everyone at the moment wants to limit the amount of time spent in a hospital.

Winterwoollies · 12/11/2020 17:21

But you are not involved in this, it’s not for you to say that they should or shouldn’t go... they have been advised by the doctor to go.

Original poster
Emcont · 12/11/2020 18:18

I have since spoken to him and I got it wrong, it was actually a doctor at the eye hospital who he spoke to who told him to go straight there after work as a 'matter of urgency' Sad

He is there now. I'll update if I get one, thank you again for the replies.

OP posts:
BarbiesBeaver · 12/11/2020 18:34

I had this about 12 years ago-I suddenly lost part of the vision in one of my eyes. I was admitted for about a week or so as the blind area increased, and I had an MRI scan, CAT scan and lumbar puncture, along with various eye tests to diagnose the problem. In the end they found it was some infection and was treated with iv steroids and antibiotics. The vision returned gradually after a few months. Hope your DH gets seen quickly.

Frestba · 12/11/2020 19:02

Mine was in both eyes and was too much spinal fluid. All better now after treatment. I hope he gets seen soon. Try not to worry.

EKGEMS · 12/11/2020 22:22

Best of luck to you and your husband! I was once told I had cataracts (left worse than right) and I had a three week wait to see the retina specialist who diagnosed me with a completely different issue.

BadgerWatch · 12/11/2020 22:30

I had something very similar a couple of years ago. After a huge panic and loads of tests it appears it's just the anatomy of my eye. Fingers crossed for your DH.

Haggisfish · 12/11/2020 22:32

Oh crikey. Hope he’s ok op.

TheWickerWoman · 12/11/2020 22:35

I lost the sight in one eye because my optic nerve was damaged/swollen. Never really got to the bottom of why despite weeks of tests and treatment. They got it back after a few months and it was terribly scary at first but you’d be surprised how common it is and also how easy they can treat it.

I’m sorry you’ve got this worry, it was so scary at the time but they will get to the bottom of it.