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Original poster

Eye test and have now been referred to the hospital

54 replies

PinkJam · 09/12/2019 14:52

Hi,

I wonder if anyone has been in a similar situation or can offer some advice.

I went for an eye test and the optician said there was problems with the optic nerve in both eyes. They said it needed an urgent referral to the hospital and to take a letter to the GP. I have been to the GP and the doctors surgery have referred it but my appointment isn’t until early February.

I just wondered if it was normal to wait this long and also what the issue could be? I’m very scared that it could be something serious.

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 10/12/2019 09:33

Has your doctor done any other tests ? Bloods etc ?

An initial consultation would be about £150/200 - could you pay that ?

Original poster
PinkJam · 10/12/2019 11:26

@notapizzaeater No they haven’t done any other tests. That is a lot of money and I can’t see why I would need to go private. An urgent referral should surely not take 2 months!

OP posts:
DarlingNikita · 10/12/2019 11:32

I was also going to ask if you were near a big eye hospital with an A&E. If so just walk in.

Original poster
PinkJam · 10/12/2019 14:44

Thank you everyone for your help. I have spoken with the optometrist and someone is going to call me back as soon as they can.

OP posts:
FairytaleofBykerGrove · 10/12/2019 15:25

If it makes you feel at all better I was at the eye hospital today and they said there was no evidence of any swelling or any other problem and sent me packing.

girlofthenorth · 10/12/2019 22:27

Hi OP - As another poster suggested Your symptoms sound very similar to mine when my intracranial hypertension was diagnosed. If it is this is a benign condition but may need medication. Big hug for you and hope you get the answers you need asap.

Satwatchinganotherswimlesson · 11/12/2019 07:09

Hello, I’m going through exactly this at the moment and I’m equally terrified. I’m a little
Further down the line. My optician referred me straight to the eye hospital and they saw me within 2 weeks. One dr has said I’m
Fine, one dr has further concerns and the final dr thinks it’s my normal anatomy! I have paid to see a neurologist privately (£250). I’m also not symptomatic and it was picked up on a routine eye exam. The neurologist did say that opticians are being very over cautious now as they was a big legal case last year. This is all a bit jumbled as my head is all a little jumbled. Basically you are not alone, I totally get your feelings and I’m with you! Where I am now is waiting to see a specialist that just deals in optic discs but it’s so specialised finding one is tricky.

Dontdisturbmenow · 11/12/2019 11:43

There are 3 types of referrals. Standard, urgent and 2 weeks wait. The latter is for any risk of cancer or similar. Urgent can be very urgent but not risk of cancer, or just need to be seen a bit sooner then standard but not immediately.

It is common for primary care provider to consider something to be urgent when upon review at triage is deemed not to be urgent. In this instance, the hospital can change the grading.

I would still call the hospital though to enquire that the late date is due to an ophthalmologist down grading it.

Original poster
PinkJam · 11/12/2019 13:06

@FairytaleofBykerGrove I’m glad it went well for you Smile and hopefully they will tell me the same.

@girlofthenorth Thank you, I will Google it. And thank you so much for the kind words Smile

@Satwatchinganotherswimlesson Thank you for understanding Smile It is very scary isn’t it, especially as I am not experiencing any other symptoms.

@Dontdisturbmenow No it hasn’t been downgraded, it was urgent and the GP should have pushed for an earlier appointment.

OP posts:
Original poster
PinkJam · 11/12/2019 13:11

So basically I rang the opticians back as many of you suggested and they were really frustrated that the GP surgery had accepted such a long wait for my appointment. The original ophthalmologist wasn’t in but I spoke to another one who checked the report etc and said it was urgent and I should have been given an appointment to be seen within 72 hours. They were really supportive, understanding and helpful and said they would fax a copy of the report themselves to the hospital and then chase them up. He did so and then the hospital card to book me in and now I have an appointment for tomorrow. The ophthalmologist even called me back to make sure that the hospital had rang me. So really grateful to the opticians but angry that the GP surgery were not fussed.

OP posts:
stripeypillowcase · 11/12/2019 13:19

glad to hear that pink
good luck tomorrow!

Satwatchinganotherswimlesson · 11/12/2019 13:44

That’s great news you have an appointment. You’ll probably need someone to drive you as they may dilate your Eyes (just some drops). You won’t be able to drive for 24 hours post drops. Take some sunglasses as it helps when you come out. Keeping everything crossed x x x

AngelaScandal · 11/12/2019 16:11

Your optician sounds amazing. Best of luck with it

Goldwispa · 11/12/2019 16:16

Take letter to your eye casualty

danni0509 · 11/12/2019 16:17

Sorry to ask this, are you overweight?

SleepWarrior · 11/12/2019 16:18

That sounds much better!

Perhaps a sign to change GP surgery too...

danni0509 · 11/12/2019 16:18

Sorry I didn't read the full thread, I've seen it has been mentioned already, I only read your opening post.

I asked because it sounds like iih.

user1469525654 · 11/12/2019 16:21

I have had exactly the same and was also given an urgent referral because blurring of the optical nerves can indicate tumours and intracranial hypertension. But it certainly wasn't in my case it was just a congenital thing I was born with. So please don't assume the worst, I did and I drove myself mad with the worst case scenario. It might well just be something that is normal for you

Tinselette1940 · 11/12/2019 16:22

OP I hope it all goes well for you tomorrow. How frustrating that your gp surgery did not get you an urgent referral but well done to your optician.

Keepaddingpets · 11/12/2019 16:26

@danni0509 I'm curious why this matters.

danni0509 · 11/12/2019 16:33

@Keepaddingpets over 90% of patients with intercranial hypertension are obese

www.iih.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24

Satwatchinganotherswimlesson · 11/12/2019 16:44

Sorry to jump on this thread: user1469525654 how did they finally come to that diagnosis? One of the Drs I have seen thinks it’s tilted discs but it’s never been picked up before.

squee123 · 11/12/2019 17:02

good luck tomorrow OP. So glad your optician is on the ball

Sprinklemetinsel · 11/12/2019 18:49

Good luck tomorrow! Thank goodness you didn't wait!

Original poster
PinkJam · 11/12/2019 19:45

@stripeypillowcase Thank you Smile

@Satwatchinganotherswimlesson Thank you very much for the advice, much appreciated Smile

@squee123 And @Sprinklemetinsel Thank you both Smile

@user1469525654 I really hope that it’s just something I was born with. But just glad I can get some more info tomorrow because I was even more scared when thinking I had to wait until Feb.

@Boscoismyspiritanimal Thank you! I am really impressed with the opticians. It’s the big chain as well so would never have expected them to be this helpful.

@Tinselette1940 Thank you Smile I know, I think I should make a complaint to be honest about the GP surgery. Someone else might have just accepted it. And who knows if it could have got worse in the meantime. It could have been someone vulnerable who didn’t want to cause a fuss and just waited until Feb.

And thank you to everyone for being so helpful and supportive. If I hadn’t posted on here I wouldn’t have felt brave enough to chase it up.

OP posts:
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