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 😳

I will definitely explain that I'm nervous and tell them why

I picked this optician as I took my dc there the other week, they're independent and the optician seemed so lovely and approachable

It was specsavers I went to last time and I honestly think if I tried to go in there again I'd have a panic attack so wanted to change to a completely new one

Are you seeking treatment for your anxiety?

Aside from that putting your head in the sand and avoiding an eye test surely would make you more anxious? Because if there was an issue it's now getting worse left unchecked IYSWIM. At 42 with 2 children you've been through loads worse! You can do this. Definitely see your GP about your anxiety I'm sure you wouldn't want to reflect your anxiety onto your children in the future.

I've tried getting help with my anxiety but got no where 😞 the nhs mental health provision may as well not exist so I just cope with it alone

But you're right, I'd never want to pass any anxieties on to my dc

I have actually now booked an eye test for Saturday. I am nervous but strangely I do feel slightly better now I've taken action

And the best outcome will be hopefully getting new contacts and sunglasses 🤞🏻 and if there was any other issues then at least I'll know and hopefully can get sorted if that's the case

I'm hoping all is ok as I don't actually feel like my vision has changed since last time and don't have any other symptoms that could suggest an issue 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

@ChickensandCows meant to tag you in my last message

Putting a name to something doesn't make it exist - it already does. Far better to know if there is an issue than not. Putting a check up or test off will only make things worse if there is something of concern.

Yes my 16 year old is similar - about -5 both eyes

It seems common in young people now - I honestly think all their screens don't help, as although my eyes are bad now I didn't even need glasses til I was 18 and then they were only about -1

Hi op,how many days,hours have you spent worrying about this?and has it helped?no.it's made you increasingly fearful.
So,stop.
find some help for your anxiety and live in the now.not yesterday,last week or five years ago,that's gone,not tomorrow,next week or next year,these days haven't arrived,there is absolutely no point fretting.love in this very minute.
🌈 it will help🌈

So glad you've booked it. It won't be as bad as you fear. Onwards!

I really need help for my anxiety but there's literally no point going to the gp as they don't give a shit and o probably won't get through to them anyway. even trying to ring them triggers my anxiety 😥

I've thought about booking a private gp appointment just to try and get some proper help, not that I can afford it

Thank you hopefully not 🤞🏻🤞🏻

You poor thing. It's horrible when you have that kind of anxiety.

First of all, try to look at this way: in the highly unlikely event that there was any additional issue with your eyes, it would be MUCH better if it was picked up by the optometrist at an early stage. It's really good that your optometrist is thorough, and that they sent you for further tests to make sure everything was OK. Try to think of that as something reassuring, rather than worrying - you know that if there was a problem, it would be fixed quickly.

Secondly, being short-sighted doesn't mean you're going to go blind. It just doesn't. You're no more likely to go blind than anyone else. Short-sightedness is easily corrected with a decent pair of specs; it's not a disease. Also, your level of short-sightedness isn't at all unusual or extreme. From your optometrist's point of view, you are a completely average, run-of-the-mill client, not a complex case in any way.

Thirdly, the optometrist absolutely does not think you are at fault in any way. You've got the eyes you were born with. To feel guilty about being short-sighted would be like feeling guilty for having, say, curly hair or freckles or hay fever. It's not a character flaw!

Fourthly, reading a lot and using screens is totally normal. Nothing exceptional.

Fifthly, you haven't somehow 'caused' your kids to need glasses.

Thank you

All this has really helped a lot

I've got an appointment at specsavers and I'm terrified in case they're going to tell me something is wrong, my eyes are strained and lately been getting headaches

I'm sure everything is okay I think this is quite common if you need a different prescription 💐

Get it done !