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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Blurred vision - Doctor or Optician

56 replies

Merryoldgoat · 12/07/2021 21:57

I honestly don’t know who I need to see - can anyone advise?

I’ve been having blurred vision on and off for a few days now - it comes on at different times of the day and I can’t seem to find a trigger. I don’t have a headache with it.

I have high blood pressure which is controlled and I don’t wear glasses.

Who should be first port of call or does it not matter?

OP posts:
Jellybeanlovehearts · 12/07/2021 21:58

GP

Helenluvsrob · 12/07/2021 21:59

Optician.

dementedpixie · 12/07/2021 21:59

Optician would have more equipment to examine the eyes. When did you last get your eyes tested?

Mooserp · 12/07/2021 22:00

Does your hospital have an eye casualty dept? When I had blurred vision I was directed there

Hobnobswantshernameback · 12/07/2021 22:01

Optician

MegaBeach · 12/07/2021 22:02

Eye casualty is optimal if there’s one nearby. They literally saved my life.

weeme02 · 12/07/2021 22:02

Opticians, gp would tell you to go to the optician first

Holothane · 12/07/2021 22:03

Forget both a and e preference an eye hospital, this happened to me 22 years ago, detached retina, good luck.hugs.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 12/07/2021 22:03

Optician has the machinery/technology to photograph & analyse around your eye balls. They will soon tell you to see your gp or get a referral to an eye hospital or specialist. If you usually have a wait for a GP appt book one asap so if the optician says you need a referral by your GP it's already booked on the system.

LadyLolaRuben · 12/07/2021 22:04

Optician they're the specialists with the equipment and skills and are able to refer you onto other specialists if required

MrsFin · 12/07/2021 22:04

Optician. They can get you a quicker apot to gp if needed, or refer you to hospital.

KatherineOfGaunt · 12/07/2021 22:05

Do you see any lights or shapes? I had an aura migraine last autumn for the first time, which was blurred vision and a kind of arc of light on one side of my vision that gradually intensified. I had no headache, just felt off.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 12/07/2021 22:05

@dementedpixie ages ago - maybe… 6 years?!

@Mooserp there’s an eye unit at my local hospital but no eye casualty as far as I can see.

I’ll book both then as I need to see the GP for meds review in a month and can bring that forward but can probably get to an optician this week.

OP posts:
MouldyPotato · 12/07/2021 22:05

If special eye hospital is available I'd go there.

MouldyPotato · 12/07/2021 22:06

If not then GP

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 12/07/2021 22:07

@KatherineOfGaunt

A) love the user name
B) no - I’ve had lots of migraines in the past and some with aura - this is different

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 12/07/2021 22:07

[quote Merryoldgoat]@dementedpixie ages ago - maybe… 6 years?!

@Mooserp there’s an eye unit at my local hospital but no eye casualty as far as I can see.

I’ll book both then as I need to see the GP for meds review in a month and can bring that forward but can probably get to an optician this week.[/quote]
Should really get a test every couple of years

Onewomanbadtan · 12/07/2021 22:07

Optician. They're the eye specialist, often no wait and they can get you straight to an eye surgeon if required by direct referral.
Our local eye casualty is actually referral only now so it may be a quicker entry depending on where you are.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 12/07/2021 22:09

@dementedpixie I know - it’s been a tough few years and it just slipped my mind.

OP posts:
AlCalavicci · 12/07/2021 22:11

I would certainly go to the optician first partly because as PP has said they are specialist in eyes they have all the right equipment and cameras to be able to do details scans and also generally speaking you'll get an optician's appointment so much faster than doctors so they will be able to spot any issues quickly and refer you on to the doctors or hospital

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 12/07/2021 22:13

All booked with Specsavers for Wednesday - thank you all.

OP posts:
Mary46 · 12/07/2021 22:39

Good luck op. Hope it goes ok. I had mine checked last week blocked tear ducts. But agree best to check these things. I went optician not gp.

Darkstar4855 · 12/07/2021 22:46

Definitely optician. They can do some basic checks and then refer you on to the eye clinic.

If the GP is anything like our local ones they’ll just tell you to go to A&E where you’ll wait hours just to be referred to the same eye clinic.

Shoppingwithmother · 12/07/2021 22:53

I’m an optician. An optician is definitely the right choice. A GP will not have the equipment to look at your eyes, and an optician will get you to the right place quickly should it be necessary.

Specsavers wouldn’t be my first choice though…

Toomanyradishes · 12/07/2021 23:01

Ignore the comment above about specsavers some opticians are snooty about them but the reality is they have the same training, they are held to the same standards with the same consequences and often have the most up to date high tech equipment. Yes they like to get normal patients in and put but ive also seen them take 2 hours or more to be thorough and do extra tests etc and write a referral when needed so dont let it worry you