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Original poster

Opthamologist told me migraines are only caused by chocolate, wine and hormones...

64 replies

Loupenny25 · 01/04/2023 14:40

I've had migraines for all my adult life, about 5 years ago I discovered I have one slightly long sighted and one slightly short sighted eye (at least this is my understanding of it). Wearing low prescription glasses has helped my migraine frequency and severity, twice the migraines have increased and I've had my eyes retested and prescription adjusted which has helped.

Migraines have ramped up again so booked an eyetest. Before the test the opthamologist asked me why I'd come in and I gave the explanation above.

He then said, "look migraines have nothing to do with glasses or your eyesight, you must be just having headaches. Migraines are caused by three things, chocolate, wine and hormones".

To be honest I was so shocked I didn't really know what to say. I sort of managed a "look my migraines are a big part of my life, I know about migraines, my glasses help my migraines".

He doubled down again on how I was wrong, glasses cannot help migraines only cutting out chocolate and wine will fix a migraine.

We ended up going back and forth 4 times including me saying I think he was over simplifying a complex issue and that my dr disagrees with him. Eventually I said I didn't want to go through my whole migraine history, glasses help ME and would he please just test my eyesight.

He then did the shortest, snappiest and rudest eye test of my life before declaring my eyes were fine and only a "tiiiiiinnyy" change to my prescription. It was like he felt I was faking about my eyesight or something utterly stupid like that.

By the end of it I was literally on the brink of tears (I can't bear confrontation) and left without ordering new glasses as I didn't think he'd actually tested my eyes properly. (But still paid for the test - stupidly to be honest but I thought I was about to cry and just wanted to get out of there).

Now I've come home and put my big girl pants on I want to phone the branch manager (it's a big UK chain) and complain. But I'm struggling to verbalise exactly why the interaction was so wrong/upsetting. I also wonder if he would have told my husband to just cut down on the chocolate and wine!

OP posts:
Original poster
Loupenny25 · 01/04/2023 14:41

Apologies for the massive breaks in post, mumsnet keeps doing this to my posts!

OP posts:
bellac11 · 01/04/2023 14:43

I would say, only based on my own experiences that glasses and eye strain cause headaches

Hormones (in my case) caused migraines

They are very distinct different experiences.

Thankfully during peri menopause my migraines have more or less vanished although I still get aura and vertigo but I did used to have migraines a few times a week and was disabled by them

Malarandras · 01/04/2023 14:47

Ophthalmologists are not migraine experts, I don’t think. So I wouldn’t necessarily believe what he is saying fully. I’ve suffered migraines and neither were caused by wine or chocolate. Hormones - possibly. Most likely stress and exhaustion for me. I would complain as it sounds like he was unprofessional. If you ask for an eye test he should be doing it properly.

Spendonsend · 01/04/2023 14:48

I get migraines. They can be triggered by looking at zig zag patterns, flashing lights, being out of breath, hormones. So the optician is wrong.

Heroicallyfound · 01/04/2023 14:49

You’re absolutely right and his knowledge and manner are both shit. You’re well within your rights to complain if you can be bothered (sometimes I think it’s not worth the stress to complain!) or if you want to push them to get the eye test repeated with someone else for free.

btw if you can’t bear confrontation that suggests some emotional dysregulation. You might want to look into Curable - there are also emotional roots to migraine and the app talks you through the science and solutions.

wonkylegs · 01/04/2023 14:50

I think whether or not your eyesight causes your migraines is not the point here it's his attitude which was totally out of order.
I wouldn't hesitate to complain in this situation

Btw he's wrong there are many triggers for migraines www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/causes/
Mine are stress combined with hormones and when my RA is flaring also bright lighting can trigger in certain situations and I have general light sensitivity

MrsMorton · 01/04/2023 14:51

I don't think ophthalmologists work in opticians, they're doctors so have more training.

Optometrists either do an apprenticeship or have an optometry degree, to be honest when I last had my eyes tested, the bloke hadn't even heard of loupes (magnifying glasses dentists and jewellers use) and I've not given them a lot of credibility since.

sounds like a dick, migraines are hideous and you didn't deserve to be spoken to like that.

Pixiedust1234 · 01/04/2023 14:53

So he was nitpicking and arguing instead of doing his job? Surely it doesn't really matter why you were there, you wanted your eyes testing.

I would definitely complain about how uncomfortable he made you, how argumentative he was over a medical condition that has already been diagnosed by a GP, and that you felt he hadn't done the eye test properly due to his prejudices (only he knows for sure what they were ) and you want to be refunded. The whole experience sounds awful!

VeryApple · 01/04/2023 14:53

In one way, it doesn't matter if he was right or wrong about migraines. He could have just said his piece and then asked if you still wanted to go ahead with the eye test, and done it normally and calmly. You weren't asking for an amputation or laser surgery, it was just an eye test that you're perfectly capable of consenting to.

Eye tests can be quite awkward, uncomfortable experiences anyway, with unusual close physical proximity to a stranger, and sometimes make me feel vulnerable even if the optician is really nice. So it's a shame he soured the atmosphere when he didn't need to.

Mistymoonsinastarrysky · 01/04/2023 14:55

My migraines are triggered by dehydration, stress or travel sickness. I’ve never had one triggered by cheese, chocolate or wine in the past 50 years of having them 🙄

Fenella123 · 01/04/2023 14:56

That would be news to my MALE other half who used to get horrific migraines triggered by a mix of stress and random chance - he certainly hadn't been breakfasting on wine and chocolate before he had to flee a ghastly work meeting to throw up and then lie down in the dark!

That guy's patient manner sucks - what's wrong with,
"I'm not aware of any connection with eyesight, but let's test you and make sure you have the right prescription for you, madam"?

Honestly.

Original poster
Loupenny25 · 01/04/2023 14:58

Heroicallyfound · 01/04/2023 14:49

You’re absolutely right and his knowledge and manner are both shit. You’re well within your rights to complain if you can be bothered (sometimes I think it’s not worth the stress to complain!) or if you want to push them to get the eye test repeated with someone else for free.

btw if you can’t bear confrontation that suggests some emotional dysregulation. You might want to look into Curable - there are also emotional roots to migraine and the app talks you through the science and solutions.

I couldn't believe he just kept doubling down and in such a confrontational and dismissive way. Especially as my responses were mainly look let's agree to disagree and get on with the eye test now.

I'm not normally such a wimp (though still a bit of a wimp) but just got a lot of horrible shite going on in life at the mminute so it felt like the last straw on a very fragile camel.

OP posts:
Avarua2 · 01/04/2023 15:00

My migraine triggers are hormones, poor gut health and bright or flourescent lights. Wine and chocolate (sugars) can contribute to the hormone and gut health triggers.

For me, realised that unsoaked chia seeds were causing gut issues and migraines! All stopped when I started soaking them properly before eating them.

JusDroppedInToSeeWhatConditionMyConditionWasIn · 01/04/2023 15:00

Well he's an optician, not a neurologist so not a migraine expert. He's overstepping his role.

I have migraine that can be triggered by bright sunlight and intense exercise, so he's talking shit.

Dreamysaurus · 01/04/2023 15:01

He sounds like a pleb. My migraines are caused by light / sunlight

Greybeardy · 01/04/2023 15:01

fwiw, it's very unlikely to have been an ophthalmologist if it was an eye check in a high street chain.

Original poster
Loupenny25 · 01/04/2023 15:02

MrsMorton · 01/04/2023 14:51

I don't think ophthalmologists work in opticians, they're doctors so have more training.

Optometrists either do an apprenticeship or have an optometry degree, to be honest when I last had my eyes tested, the bloke hadn't even heard of loupes (magnifying glasses dentists and jewellers use) and I've not given them a lot of credibility since.

sounds like a dick, migraines are hideous and you didn't deserve to be spoken to like that.

Oh I don't know, I thought that's what his polo shirt said... but I was there for an eye test after all!! 🤣

OP posts:
Coastalvenues · 01/04/2023 15:06

That's awful

mdh2020 · 01/04/2023 15:08

I get migraines if I eat eggs.

Notegoat · 01/04/2023 15:09

Flickering lights and strong smells for my mother. Sorry you had such a bad experience.

SouthCountryGirl · 01/04/2023 15:17

I've had migraine on and off for some 19 years. Used to get asked if I'd had my eyes checked recently. (I'm under the eye hospital and usually get seen every 12-18 months)

I've never really worked out my triggers but I know not eating / drinking, bright lights, cheese and alcohol can trigger them)

KatnissNeverdone · 01/04/2023 15:21

DD has started to get migraines very recently and the first thing our GP has suggested is getting her eyes tested.

Babdoc · 01/04/2023 15:30

Ophthalmologists are consultant eye surgeons and based in hospitals. As doctors, they have covered neurology in their training, and will know the causes of migraine.
The chap annoying you with his rudeness and ignorance is presumably an optician, ie not medically qualified.

TheVanguardSix · 01/04/2023 15:32

Honestly, it’s a shame that we’re forced into having our eye care handled by the likes of Specsavers/Boots. I seem to be wearing a ‘Please Give Me The £300 Varifocal Hard Sell’ sign on my forehead whenever I go for an eye test. My eye tests always turn into a strategic kind of escape room experience; how to leave Boots with my eye prescription AND a full wallet, sort of thing. They ALWAYS push the most expensive option on me. I have to emotionally prep myself for an eye exam… like a pre-colonoscopy emotional and psychological Moviprep: No exploding backside, but all of the angst that comes with it.

confessionstoday · 01/04/2023 15:33

Well my son has suffered from migraines his whole life. He doesn't eat chocolate or drink wine and it can't be his hormones when he's had them since he was a baby.