To think that my concern about my eyesight is reasonable and the doctor is probably just sexist

[KittensSchmittens]

I found out at a routine optician appointment that I have lost some of my field of vision in one of my eyes. My mother has glaucoma so they have referred me to the hospital to further tests.

I went back in for the results of my mri today, which was thankfully clear. I had the initial eye appointment in January, so it's been a long worrying wait to get the results as some of the things that cause vision loss are potentially very bad news. I'm very relieved.

As there's no obvious cause for why I've gone partially blind in one eye, I asked the consultant what he thought the issue was and he suggested that I seemed very stressed and maybe the vision loss was caused by stress. To be fair I have been stressed - about the vision loss, not before!

I've had the impression throughout the process that, first of all the consultant didn't believe the vision loss was real, then when it was clear on the tests that it was real (optic disc pallor and optic nerve atrophy, apparently), that I was foolish to worry about that and that I had in fact stressed myself blind.

I'm very relieved today that nothing sinister has been found, but also slightly pissed off that I've been made to feel like a silly woman for being concerned about my sight?! AIBU to think that this is a bit shit and if I were a man I would have been taken more seriously?

I don't know if they would have treated a man differently but I would be furious if I was made to feel I was silly to worry about my eyesight. Eyesight is a precious thing .

My father had limited vision because of glaucoma, beginning in his early 20s. Then at almost 60 he went blind through an unrelated condition. He spent the last 20 years of his life registered blind.

Because of this and the fact I've been very short sighted all my life I've always stressed about my eyesight. And then a few years ago I had a vitreous detachment which caused tears in the retina and I had to have laser treatment to seal these.

I'm lucky I've got a wonderful optician who is extremely tolerant and helpful over the worries I have over my eyes. And if she has referred me to the local hospital eye department they have been very good.

If stress really does damage the eyes I would have lost my sight years ago.

I'm really sorry you had such a poor experience OP.

That doesn't sound right at all - can you get a second opinion? My dad is blind in one eye due to glaucoma - largely due to Covid interrupting the treatment he was having to manage it - you shouldn't take any chances where there is a family history of this.

Can you ask to be assessed by someone who is less dismissive?

You're right to be concerned. I wouldn't be happy if my vision had just changed and I was told it was nothing. That being said I was really unsure whether my vision had changed or if it just tiredness. (In short, my eyes shake which causes fatigue) I made an appointment with the optician who told me it was just tiredness and nothing to worry about

Thank you for the replies and I appreciate the validation of my concerns. I have another test booked in to check my retina and after that they will make a plan for monitoring the situation presumably. I'm only 40 and my eye pressures are normal, so I think the consultant doesn't think it's glaucoma. He said most likely a 'functional problem' with the optic nerve. I have no idea what that means, but I suspect it doesn't represent an actual diagnosis and I'm being fobbed off slightly. I'm just annoyed because it's not like a broken leg, the eyesight that I've lost is gone forever and isn't coming back.

Surprised they didn't somehow link it to being associated with your last period.

I wouldnt just automatically jump to the conclusion its because you are female.

OP you have no basis for suggesting the doctor was being sexiest because of what he said - dismissive, incompetent, not through - yes. Please don’t go there as it doesn’t do anything for women.

What you have been through is awful and glad you are getting a second opinion from a competent doctor.

The consultant - or another consultant - should be checking for "normal pressure" or "low tension" glaucoma - this is a REAL thing: I have it. Just because your pressures are normal doesn't mean you don't have glaucoma. The consultant should be considering that and discussing it with you.

@toomuchfaffI'm going back in 2 months, so there's still time...

@hidingmystatus he hasn't discussed any possible diagnoses with me at all, except when pressed, he said it might just be a functional issue with the optic nerve which could be due to stress.

That's pretty poor, @KittensSchmittens . I'd push him, and if he isn't a good bit more useful, ask for a second opinion.

Exactly. It’s a ridiculous take

Why is it? Is the idea of women’s health not being taken seriously new to you? Lucky you.

"Functional" means unexplained physiologically. It used to be called "MUS" - medically unexplained symptoms. He is implying, in terms he hopes you won't pick up on, that your problem is psychogenic. I couldn't say if his attitude is driven by sexism, but I don't think he has been anywhere near thorough enough and imo you need to be looked at again. Was this at an eye hospital? If not, do youi have one in your area/region? I would press for a more expert opinion.

I had loss of eye sight also in one eye and after years of tests consultant told me it was 'exhaustion'! I felt the way you do. Issues have come back/got worse and so I'll start the whole process again I guess!

Where is the evidence that the treatment or tests or diagnosis have been based solely on sex? It's still an ongoing matter anyway, it's not even finished yet.

I take it the MRI was off your head and neck to check there was nothing in or around your optic nerve?

I would just keep pushing for the tests hopefully they will find the problem.

@BarbaricYawp how could optic disc pallor and optic nerve atrophy be psychogenic? My OCT scan shows significant thinning. I have consistent blind spots on the visual field test. I literally can't get my head around that.

@MigGrilyes, it was an mri brain and orbits.

There is something called Normal Tension Glaucoma, which I would have thought they should be considering. I’m pretty sure glaucoma is normally a diagnosis made from considering 3 factors, raised IOP, cupped discs & field loss, & also takes family history into account. It’s good that the MRI is normal. The consultant you saw sounds rude & dismissive, is there anyone else you could see?

Apparently pressures are normal, cups are small, but I do have VF loss. I don't know that there is anyone else to see. It's a specialist eye clinic at the local hospital. You see whichever ophthalmologist is available that day.

Also if I've somehow managed to stress myself blind, why would it be only in one eye and the other one completely healthy.

Are you being deliberately obtuse?

The OP reports feeling dismissed and that the doctor was suggesting symptoms might be psychosomatic. This combined with the very well documented problem of medical misogyny is concerning.

As is your dismissive and defence approach just because the OP suggested it might be a factor.

maybe have a think about why you are so invested in a women you don’t know being wrong about her own experiences that you haven’t witnessed.

What on earth are you going on about. Plenty people both male and female have issues with the health system. Plenty people will go to see more than one specialist if they dont like the responses of the first one. It's not just women. Is there a single thing that people like you dont try and make into a battle of the sexes.

Well, quite. It's not quite clear from your post who this consultant is in your diagnostic journey - was he interpreting the MRI only or is he "your" ophthalmology consultant? Either way, you need closer attention imo. Personally, I wouldn't wait 2 months. I realise provision varies in different areas but my inclination would be to try and get a referral to a specialist eye hospital.