Swollen optic nerve?

[Emcont]

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

Fingers crossed for you.

I have swollen (or very scarred depending on whether my illness is active) nerves from 2 decades of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (excess brain fluid). A condition mainly found in women who are overweight and of child bearing age (I was neither) When first noticed by my option there was always the worry of brain tumour.

I wouldn't worry. They also do tend to take eye things very seriously due to them being windows to the brain and having the ability to be permanently damaged very quickly.

I've had it twice but in both eyes. First time i went to the opticians as I had had an unusual and awful headache for weeks and then developed double vision. At 3 different points I went to my doctors and they said it was a tension headache. The opticians sent me straight to a and e. It turned out to be idiopathic intercranial hypertension (too much fluid on the brain).

I'm not saying that's what you husband has as a) I'm not a doctor and b) you said he doesn't have any symptoms but I thought I'd share my experience just in case. It was very scary at the time, I looked up a lot on the internet and found a lot of very worst case scenarios. In actuality it was easily fixed with a lumbar puncture and a short course of pills. It reoccurred once but I knew the signs, caught it early and didn't need the pills second time. It hasn't reoccurred in 4 years now. Long story short please don't panic and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you both.

I hope you it turns out that you are worrying about nothing. My husband was referred to Moorfield Eye Hospital urgently as they spotted a large shadow at the back of his eye and it turned out to be either a scar from a previous head injury or a birthmark, but was very worrying at the time. Of course I had goggled it and come up with all the worst case scenarios!

@Emcont just wanted to check in and see if you are OK? Still hand holding if you need it.