Hoping for some reassurance! Eye test and referral to eye hospital.

[SerialNameChanger2114]

i know I’m being unreasonable for posting in AIBU, but hoping someone may have had similar.

i went for a routine eye test today (Sunday) at specsavers.

They advised some swelling to my optic nerve in one eye, and have referred me into the eye hospital.

the eye hospital have already rung me with an appointment for Wednesday. (They offered Tuesday but I couldn’t make it work with childcare/uni)

i’m absolutely terrified. No headaches or anything massively untoward has been going on. But for the eye hospital ringing me same day on a Sunday and I’m thinking the worst.

(And I work in healthcare and should know better than to panic, but eyes are not a speciality subject of mine)

Im genuinely so stressed it’s now given me a headache! Arghhhh!

Thanks for reading/Sorry for posting in AIBU

A very similar thing happened to me. Routine eye test and they thought my optic nerves were swollen. The optician said “I’m going to give you a letter and you need to take this do your GP as soon as you leave here to be referred”. I went to the eye hospital in a similar timeframe, like you I was panicking but after some tests it turns out it’s just drusen, which I think is calcium deposits that mimic swollen nerves. I always look out for threads like this now and have seen it happen a lot and it’s always been something harmless, I guess they need to be cautious. Good luck OP, sending positive vibes!

@Arghxbdhgd Thank you! It’s so easy to think the worst!!

It could be optic neuritis - look it up. I've had it. Do you ever have eye pain or strange vision in that eye ?

Optic neuritis can happen in perfectly healthy people.

Aww try not to worry, my friend had this recently. It was okay, she had a scan at eye hospital and was reassured and discharged. I completely understand how your mind spirals into overdrive though x

I don’t think so! I had really bad tinnitus a few years ago, and had a CT head with contrast to rule out anything untoward then, but no, nothing. I had glasses for VDU use but never really had any problems with my eyes until today.

I've been referred to eye hospital on multiple occasions as have lots of dodginess going on in them. Opticians and opthamologists tend towards a 'best to check it out' mentality. More often than not it's either nothing or something that can be treated with drops.

Even if it is something they can so so much Nowdays it's just miraculous and I say that as someone who has had keyhole surgery on one eyeball, laser surgery, replacement parts and every type of eye test known to man.

My eye test at Specsavers resulted in me being referred back to GP for dangerously high blood pressure, my nerves were swollen, they pointed out the issue on a scan (not sure of the word used), went to GP who said my blood pressure was normal.

Contrary to a PP, I would advise not to look anything up! It won’t allay your fears as it will list all possible causes and will do nothing to allay your fears (goes for any symptom, not just yours)

Eye clinics always see people really promptly where I live. I work in a hospital and the eye clinic always offers next day appointments even for fairly non-urgent things. I wouldn’t read too much into it.

I’ve got several things wrong in my eyes. One was an inflamed optic nerve. Not sure if I’ve still got that but it’s not made any difference to my sight or any other part of me.
I did notice at my last check up ( major hospital eye clinic) how quickly they were seeing people ( so many staff) and my next appointment was arranged the following day. They’re making a big effort to catch up after Covid, apparently.
Try not to worry, you’ll get a very thorough eye exam.

I was told by Boot's to go immediately to the eye hospital with a letter. I did. I waited 5 hours at the hospital and was out of there within 30 minutes of being seen with absolutely nothing wrong with me. They told me that opticians are VERY cautious nowadays and most of the people in the waiting room were in exactly the same position as me.

I hope that your appointment has a similar outcome.

Oh OP. Try not to worry.

Its very likely that it’s nothing to worry about. And if it is the chances or it then being life changing are slim.

@FAQs depending on how long ago this was and if you have got any other symptoms like tiredness, headaches etc it may be worth heading back to the GP. Swollen optic nerves can be a symptom of intracranial hypertension. I have this and have lost count of the times HCPs up to a very senior level and opticians have muddled it with raised blood pressure - including one who, when I was admitted with severe deterioration in illness, said I didn’t have the condition as my blood pressure was fine and tried to get me to leave A and E. I don’t want to worry you and you can ignore me but through I’d share.

One of the DCs was given an urgent referral for this reason. I had a sleepless night but it was an abundance of caution - nothing wrong and the eye hospital said they have a lot of referrals from over cautious opticians. Hope it is nothing worrying.

A High Street opticians got alarmed at the broken blood vessels in the back of my eye.
Had an immediate referral to hospital.

Shit effing scared.

Consultant took one look and asked ..."Did you visit one of those High Street opticians?"

I said "yes."

He asked "which one?" ( thought it was odd as the optician would have been named on the referral.)

I replied , then he said " next time, visit a proper ophthalmologist, not an optician."

There was an ophthalmologist in our town but he closed down due to all the opticians that sprung up.

I now, don't really trust any of the famous High Street chains of spectacle dispensers.

A famous one told me that I had a slow growing cataract in my left eye yet a subsequent test said it was in my right eye!
Was told I'd got a lazy eye. News to me at 58!
No one has ever told me that.
Got new glasses that were the wrong prescription.

Don't trust any of them.

Are you in the UK? As if you are this seems pretty unlikely.
People here don’t just go to an Ophthalmologist of their own volition in the first instance - they’re nearly always referred by by their optometrist or GP.

I know it’s easier said than done but please try not to stress. This happened to me, and the hospital examined me and then again a month later. No change, and no other symptoms. Apparently you can just be born with it a certain shape and it just looks like a swollen nerve. The dr also told me that get a lot of these referrals now due to people having OCT scans. But better to be safe than sorry.
hope it goes well for you

Thank you. Obviously I woke up stressing again 🤦🏼‍♀️

Your positive post have helped x

Similar happened to me. Routine eye check-up, and the optician thought he could see some damage to my retina. Referred to the eye hospital. Went in, had all the bells and whistles, and they concluded it was just natural wear and tear. This was perhaps 15 years ago now, and I've not heard a single mention of it since. So whatever it was hasn't worsened at least.

I think with improvements in technology, they're able to see more individual differences than before. For example, 2 years ago, I learnt I have a birth mark in the back of my eye! I was able to look at it on a computer screen and everything!

I had this, routine eye test but she wouldn't complete it as swollen optic nerves. She referred me to the hospital for within a month but as soon as I got home I got a call from the hospital asking me to come in (this was June 2020). I go same day, had a lot of tests done, MRI scan the next week. I was diagnosed with intercranial hypotension. It sucks but it's manageable. I had a lot of headaches and changes in vision and tinnitus.

There is such a host of things it could be, I know it's scary but they may just be trying to be over cautious. Let us know how it goes 💗

Hello, just updating incase it happens to anyone else.

i was told it’s Drusen, and they aren’t worried for the time being, although he mentioned changes in both eyes. He did say I may need glasses in the future.

thanks to everyone that calmed me down! X

Glad all ok! Eyes can be such a worry. I was sent to the eye hospital after a routine eye check showed dangerously high pressures, indicating glaucoma. Turned out I have funny shaped retinas that give off high pressure readings, all totally innocuous 🤷🏻‍♀️

“Don't trust any of them.”

An optician saved my sons life last month despite the first consultant making the wrong call. Turned out he needed emergency neurosurgery.
if they send you - go.

It’s such a relief to read your update! I’ve been referred to the hospital too after a routine eye test this morning. I can’t help but assume the worst! Everything was perfect apart from some ‘fuzziness’ around my optic nerve. She was rather evasive when I questioned her further 🤷🏽‍♀️. She did keep stressing that it was just precautionary so I’m hoping it’s nothing to worry about.

I asked at boots last week how many referrals the optician makes to hospital - clearly it’s dozens each year per opticians. Emergencies are rarer but not unusual.