To be scared of going for an eye test? Grips needed please

[planetme]

I will start by saying I have health anxiety so this really doesn't help

I am due an eye test soon. The last time I went the optician absolutely scared me to death as he said I had a broken blood vessel in my eye. In the letter he gave me it was called a “singular inferior fundus isolated flame shaped haemorrhage” . Everything else looked ok but my prescription had changed a tiny amount so I got new glasses. I was given a letter for my GP to get a blood test, it said the blood test is to rule out diabetes or high BP. Both came back ok and I had to go back to the optician a week later for a field vision test which was also fine.

However it has made me really scared to go again but I know I need to. My glasses are scratched and crappy so I want some new ones plus I would like contact lenses and some prescription sunglasses so I know all being well it will only improve my life if I go! But I guess I'm scared the blood vessel thing is still there or got worse and what this could mean. I also know that eye tests can reveal other issues and the thought of that scares me too

On top of this I'm really short sighted as well ( -8 both eyes) my bad eyesight makes me feel v vulnerable and anxious and i know its daft but I actually feel ashamed when I get my eyes tested as if they're thinking omg her eyes are so bad. I also worry as they're so bad at this age (42) will I end up actually being blind one day 😞 .
So I'm also scared in case my eyes have got worse prescription wise.

I've been wanting to post this for ages and even typing it has made me feel sick with nerves 😳

It's not daft. I'm older than you (mid-50s) and I am also mega short sighted with a similar prescription to yours so I understand your anxiety about your sight and eye health. I've had a high prescription for many years now and it hasn't got worse except for needing varifocals now and my eye health is excellent.
A few years back I went to an appointment and was flagged as having high eye pressure so I go to an eye clinic annually for testing, my eye pressure is normal and I haven't got glaucoma but like you, I was really panicked and anxious (I don't have actual health anxiety though).

You deserve nice glasses that suit you and that you can see properly with and you deserve healthy eyes too - being short-sighted doesn't mean your eyes are unhealthy, they just don't work like other people's do 😊

Try and pluck up the courage to make the appointment and tell them that you're nervous. Chances are that there is no problem but if there is then ignoring it won't help. Sorry for the long reply, I wanted you to know that you aren't silly, I understand how you feel but if you can get through it and go it'll be well worth it. Good luck!

A single flame haemorrhage isn’t a big deal if the blood tests were fine. Sounds like your optician is thorough and cautious.
At -8 it’s important to have regular check-ups. Tell your optician you are nervous and I’m sure they will put your mind at ease. I’m always understanding when people are apprehensive.

Going to the optician isn’t pleasant and some I’ve been to have been pretty uncaring, but mainly do the job well. My adult son hates the bright light being shone in hid eyes, so I’ve told him he has to explain this beforehand as if they don’t know, they cannot help. I also need to go, as I broke my glasses and am now wearing old prescription ones, which I know aren’t good for me.

I’m sorry you have health anxiety, can you get medication to help up you as your fears are hindering you from getting eye care.

With your prescription, you should be seen once a year. Seeing an optician is all about prevention. They can catch anything untoward early and refer you to an ophthalmologist to preserve your sight. Missing optician appointments increases your risks to your eyes.

Don’t be embarrassed about being -8, I am at -16 in my left eye and -12 in my right eye. Hadn’t met anyone with worse eyes than me until there was another patient I ran into at the opticians that was -24 in both eyes! So as alone as we might feel, in reality there are quite a few of us with severe short sightedness.

I think my prescription is -12 or so. There is NO suggestion that I will lose my sight. I’m just stupidly short sighted.
The tests were fine. Your eyes are fine.
But you will see better with new glasses that aren’t all scratches.
Are you having treatment for the anxiety?

Just to add, -8 really isn’t unusual at all

I’m -9.50 in both eyes and actually have a retinal issue called lattice degeneration which makes me more vulnerable than most people to retinal detachment (as well as myopia itself which is another factor), so I completely understand your anxiety about going blind etc. However, try to rationalise it to yourself by thinking that it’s safer to go and have your eye check than to ignore things. Everything should be fine but on the off chance it isn’t they can refer you to the eye hospital and many things can be sorted easily now.

I hate going for eye tests, would far rather go to the dentist. I've been lucky and found a kind and patient optician but I worry about her leaving.
Our local [small town] social media pages are good for asking around for recommendations - could you do this? Would a friend go along with you?
All health professionals have seen everything before, no need to be ashamed.
Please do take care of your eyesight, it is really important!

I'm an optometrist and as PP have said -8 is high, but could be higher, but it's nothing to be ashamed about, you haven't made yourself -8.

However, being -8 you are more at risk of getting problems with your retina which can be sorted out more quickly and easily if you have regular eye exams.

Flame-shaped haemorrhages can sometimes be appear if you're anaemic as well.

My optician said to me once that I was one of the customers who made her job interesting. I have a few different issues including -17 and -15 prescription and also see an eye hospital consultant. She said most of the time the job is very straightforward and a bit boring but she had about 20 customers who had different conditions that she looked after. That definitely made me feel better about how much time I take up.

Thank you that has helped a lot

I don't know why I feel embarrassed...I know it's not my fault but then I wonder if I've exacerbated it by using screens a lot, also I read a LOT and used to smoke. I also feel guilty as two of my kids now wear glasses at 8 and 15 😞

But I'm glad I'm not completely out of the ordinary

Just wanted to say I feel exactly the same as you, absolutely hate visiting opticians.
Sorry I can’t offer any advice just wanted you to know you are not the only one.

Thanks so much for all the replies

They've all really helped x

DH is -10 and similar age to you. His optician said they weren’t concerned as it stopped worsening a few years ago. I do always stress when I go that they’re going to tell me something horrific but at the end of the day, better to know if there’s an issue and get it sorted out than leave it and regret it later. I suppose, think about what you’d tell your kids if they said what you’ve said here and you’d probably tell them it’s understandable to be worried but better to go than not.

I’m so sorry you feel this way! I think it’s really an unspoken truth that everyone has a “thing” they’re afraid of that they feel they shouldn’t be, but I also completely understand that your health anxiety makes this so much worse. But there are a few things that I would love for you to know before going: your eyesight (even if it has worsened) is not your “fault,” your eye doctor is NOT going to judge you for your eyesight, and your eye doctor most of all wants to do whatever they can to help you. The last thing they would want is for you to be afraid of coming back, or for you to not get things that would make your life better! (Non-scratched glasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, etc).

Maybe talk to them and tell them that what happened last time scared you (more than) a bit and I’d imagine they might tell you what @alocasia said: that they wanted to be very cautious and thorough about it, because you don’t mention any other signs of diabetes or high BP.

But you are not at fault for anything here, not the state of your eyes and not your anxiety. It sounds like you have a doctor who is very motivated by your health, so I’m sure he would want you to feel safe coming in to see him. You deserve to have the things you need for your health and to feel as safe/unafraid ad possible. Oh, please do talk to them your fears that yoir eyesight is badly enough to eventually go blind. They can explain what causes and doesn’t cause blindness really well, and maybe that can help with your dealings of fear and guilt over it.

I wish you the very best of luck, and you’re being very brave by going back again. I hope it goes well and you get all the things you need (new glasses and also some reassurance).

@planetme I used to be -7 but when I was about your age it changed, I think because my close vision changed as I got older, I'm 49 now and wear -5.75

Three of my five kids wear glasses too but our optician recently told me about a new type of lense (contacts and glasses) that can halt the progression of myopia, we're looking into it

Just coming back to this to say thanks for all the replies

It's helped but I'm still really scared tbh and so I haven't booked one yet. But I will do, I know I'll feel better for going. But I know if I book one I'll worry endlessly in the run up to it 🤦‍♀️ it's almost like I am afraid of the fear as well

It's Ridiculous

I am 42 years old 🤦‍♀️

I used to work in an opticians, I still get nervous going for a sight test, OP.
I have MS, vision problems are very common with my condition the MS has affected my optic nerve in one eye.

Aww I can totally understand you being nervous
And I hope your eyes and sight remain healthy x

Well I've bit the bullet and I'm booked in on Saturday 🤢

Good luck for Saturday 👁

OP it might help if you explain beforehand that you're feeling anxious. I did with my optician and they've been brilliant. They explain everything to me in language that I can understand which helps to put me at ease. They also made a note on my file so that they remember for next time. It makes the whole process much better.

@planetme my 17 year old is -6.50 and - 5.50!

That is a concern because she will likely get worse.

Hi, I completely understand your anxiety, OP. I recently had an eyetest. I thought my eyesight had got worse as my contact lenses and specs were not working like they used to. I was -8 right eye and -7 in left. I too had been for a long time and was worried about the deterioration. Anyway, to cut a long story short, the optician put a lesser power lens in both eyes and I could actually see much better! It was crazy! She said my eyes were getting 'better' not worse. I'm 59 and have always been short sighted. I ended up with a -5.75 in my left eye and -7 in my right.

If you can get to choose some new glasses at the end of it, maybe focus on the ‘reward’ of that to get you through the bit that you’re not looking forward to?

I love choosing new glasses, they’re an expression of my personality.

Also, when you’re there, check out the ads and photography for eyewear. It’s hilarious. The way they set up shots to ‘hero’ the glasses is often quite incongruous.