AIBU to push for an urgent eye appointment after vision loss?

[Dolliesdolciness]

Posting for a handhold. I have a branch retinal vein occlusion in my eye. This has resulted in some loss of eyesight, which is permanent. I’ve been attending the macular clinic at my local hospital and each time they have said it’s stable, and no treatment needed.

I last went in April and I’m definitely due another appointment. The thing is, it’s happened again and I’ve lost more of my eyesight. My understanding is that I should definitely be seen. I’ve rung them twice and each time they’ve said they are way behind with the appointments.

I don’t know what my AIBU is but I need to be seen and I don’t know what to do. To give you a complete picture, I’m on my own. DH died last year and I feel a bit pathetic. Any advice and support would be welcome. Thank you.

Could you contact your optician in the morning? They can (I think all of them?) make urgent referrals into the eye hospitals - perhaps they can help?

Otherwise it's asking the macular clinic to put you through to a manager and ask them to arrange for you to be seen immediately to preserve your sight.

Have you explained the situation so they know its urgent. Do you have your consultants secretarys email or contact pals if none of that works

Get an emergency appointment with your optician, tell them exactly your history and that you definitely feel it has gone worse. (If possible, go to your previous optician who has your records).

They will be able to a) look at your eyes, do scans etc to see what is happening and b) they have the ability to make an emergency referral to the appropriate clinic at the hospital to get you seen as urgently as is needed (ie same day if needed).

An official referral from an optometrist who has actually examined you eyes will definitely speed up the process.

I am an optometrist and this is the correct thing for you to do (don’t listen to anyone who says go to your GP - that will not help you).

Hope you get seen soon.

Handhold here OP, but am not qualified to give advice, though it sounds as though you really need to be seen asp. Perhaps ring 111 for advice? If they think its urgent they will get you seen quickly. Someone who knows what to do will be along soon. In the meantime I'm here if you need to talk.

Another vote for seeing your optician- they can do referrals- urgent if required I think.

Go to any optician ASAP. Presumably you don't have an eye hospital nearby?
And keep trying the secretary for the consultant.

I hope you see (pardon the pun) someone soon! X

Yes! You absolutely should be able to get an urgent appointment. How worrying for you.
Im wondering if you might be able to use a different route to see someone? I think you can get an emergency appointment at any high st optician. They don’t charge for this. They then refer you to an emergency appointment at the nearest eye hospital if they think it’s necessary. (We did this when my son scratched his cornea, and another time when a blood vessel in my eye burst)

I’m wondering if this would be a way of getting a professional to advocate for an urgent appointment for you?

good luck

Agree with others who say go to your optician. The optometrists there can make direct opthalmology referrals, as far as I am aware. Your GP is another option. Sorry you're going through this, and sorry for your loss, too.

Basically be a bit pushy, even if it feels out of character. Good luck x

Thanks everyone. Part of my problem is, I haven’t got much fight left in me. As I said, I feel a bit pathetic. It’s part of my grief.

I’m going to call them again tomorrow morning and try and be a bit more pushy. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try the opticians.

Thanks for the replies. I don’t feel so alone with this.

Do you have a pushy friend or family member who might be able to go with you to optician? If not, it might be worth making a note in advance of what you want to say, I'm case you feel a bit meek at the appointment and would otherwise underplay it.

Like a short chronology of your diagnosis, previous treatment, last appointment, new symptom, attempts to get an appointment, current concerns, and what you want to happen next. Then if you feel a bit deflated at the appointment you can read it out or even hand it over?

You don’t have time for grief right now. Sorry to be harsh. If you are in a big city you may have eye casualty. Or maybe just a regular A&E

I hope you get what you need by calling.

If they're still unhelpful then say "I would like you to record on my medical records that I have now called 3 times reporting that I have lost further vision and your clinic has refused to give me an urgent appointment".

A friend did similar when she was being fobbed off and suprise surprise they found her an urgent slot.

Could you possibly get to Moorfields? Or local equivalent?

Do you not have a local emergency eye hospital. Or dept in a hospital for emergencies? I would call your gp too. You need to go ASAP.

That’s a great idea. Thanks.

You're not pathetic at all, you're grieving & feeling vulnerable. But I'll bet you're so much stronger than you think.

Id go straight for your optician tomorrow morning.

Best of luck to you OP. I hope you can get this sorted quickly.

Unless you are actually going to A&E tonight, go and get some rest now OP. Hope you sleep well and feel ready for the day when it comes tomorrow. Good luck with getti g the help you need.🌸

You could phone the Primary Eyecare Service on 0300 303 4922 (be prepared for a bit of a wait as it can get very busy). Initially they will triage your symptoms then a qualified opthalmologist will call you back to ask questions about your symptoms and situation - if they feel that it warrants an urgent appointment, they will make one for you with an optician in your area, but not necessarily your own optician. I had to do this when I had the symptoms of a suspected detached retina (thankfully it wasn't) but I got seen very quickly.
Alternatively you could phone 111, which can make an appointment for you at your local A&E so you may get to see an opthalmologist there more quickly - my sister did this at our local hospital last week and was seen within a couple of hours.

Hope this helps and best of luck in getting it sorted quickly.

Find your nearest hospital with an eye department and go there via A and E. I’ve done this many times with retinal issues.

Hi OP, if you are in London, then Moorfields eye hospital accepts walk ins for eye emergencies. This is most definitely an emergency. Hope you get checked over soon

Have you actually taken on board the comment made by @LegoEmergency? The advice of an optometrist, outlining exactly what you need to do? The optician's is the place to go. They will examine you and make an urgent referral to a hospital and have the facts available to do so. Going to your GP is literally a waste of time. They don't have the necessary equipment to examine you or expertise to refer you. They will tell you to get an emergency appointment with an optician. Likewise calling 111, going to A&E and telling the hospital off - all a waste of valuable time.

Another vote for a trip to an optician in the morning . Please do take heed of our advice, some of us do know what we’re talking about, I promise. I wish you the best of luck tomorrow, it must be a terrifying time for you.

Don't bother with the GP, it’s not something they’ll be able to help with. And don’t call the hospital again at least until an optician has looked at it.

Ideally, I need to be seen in the macular clinic. The clinic that I’m under and has been monitoring my condition regularly. They have my history and they are the ones who can actually offer me some treatment.

I am very grateful for all the other suggestions. Thank you. 111, the GP, A & E and the opticians are really just an assessment route. The macular clinic is where I need to be seen and treated.

I can’t be bothered to type out anything else, but read what I said in your 3rd reply.

There’s no point asking for advice if you’ve already decided you will just do again what already hasn’t worked twice though.