Swollen Optic Nerve? Optometrists or anybody in the know please

[DandyPearlSheep]

Hi all,

I went for a routine eye test the other day after starting anti depressants and feeling the effect on my eyes.

Had OCT scan and optometrist mentioned something about blurring of the nerve... at this point I went to total pieces as I am suffering from severe health anxiety and panic attacks.

She explained with me being short sighted and quite a strong prescription this could be the reason. She then did a second scan on my eye and mentioned that I have a tilted disc and this could be the reason my optic nerve looks blurred/swollen on the original OTC.

She mentioned sending the images off for a second opinion. It has been 4 days and I've heard nothing but in the meantime I have gone to actual pieces.

I have nearly carted myself off to A&E on several occasions since.

Can anybody share any information about what they think? Praying this is something innocent because Google is currently terrifying me.

Lots of love xx

Opticians are pretty good at telling you when you need emergency care. I think you should ring them and ask to speak to the optician who examined you, explain that you're freaking out and can she explain if there's anything you need to be frightened about and what, if anything, you should do.

I’m not a medic of any sort but my DH has an eye condition so I’ve sat in quite a lot of consultations about scans etc. He’s very short sighted, and therefore has a longer eyeball. This commonly causes the optic nerve to join at an angle hence the tilt. It means some of his scans look a bit off.
long story short is that what you describe is very probably normal for someone very shortsighted.

The only other thing I’d say is that the optometrists at the opticians are the front line service for NHS eyecare. With DHs issue and also an injury I had, A&E were pretty useless and the GP/111 told us to go to the opticians. They don’t have the kit or expertise that the optometrists do.
if the second opinion sheds any doubt then the optician can refer you for further investigation.

The optometrist will have sent your referral with all the relevant information. The hospital will call you back according to how serious they think your condition is.

If it was an emergency it would be very obvious to the optometrist and you would have been sent straight away.

Stress can cause optic nerve swelling. But I would contact the opticians and ask them if they can chase your referral, or if you have to do it yourself they can give you a phone number.

Symptoms to be worried about are severe headaches, nausea, vision problems that the optometrist would have picked up on. So please try not to worry too much, they just want a second opinion and are not overly concerned.

I had this a few years ago - with a much less knowledgeable optician than yours it seems!!

My optic nerve was seen to be swollen - I was referred off to opthamology at the hospital who in time were very clear that this was linked to my strong prescription and discharged me.
Hopefully that reassures you.

I've been at the opticians before and they have told someone to go to A and E right there and then without delay. The fact they haven't with you means it's not urgent. They are brilliant at dealing with serious things like brain tumors seen via the eyes so they know what's serious and what isn't.

Thank you so much for your reply- I really appreciate it 🙂🙂 the optometrist did explain that if she felt she needed to I would be going to A and E that evening..I kept asking over and over does she think I have a brain tumour and she justified why she thinks I don't. I think I am just in a terrible state of despair at the moment as my anti-depressants are amplifying my anxiety in these early days. Hoping it gets easier soon 🥰 xxx

Thank you so much for replying. This really helps! As it pretty much confirms what the optometrist said. I just think my rational mind has up and left recently. I am currently signed off work with severe anxiety and I've been having panic attacks around the clock. I am also suffering with insomnia due to nocturnal panic attacks so I genuinely don't feel my head can absorb information as it should 🥲 xxx

Thank you so much for replying. This really helps! As it pretty much confirms what the optometrist said. I just think my rational mind has up and left recently. I am currently signed off work with severe anxiety and I've been having panic attacks around the clock. I am also suffering with insomnia due to nocturnal panic attacks so I genuinely don't feel my head can absorb information as it should 🥲 xxx

Thank you so much for your reply. This helps massively. My husband has just said the same. He has just said surely they would have been in touch by now if they were worried about what they have seen. I have had a terrible 5 weeks of severe anxiety and panic attacks. It has all been incredibly overwhelming and I did wonder whether this would have had any impact on my eyes because I have had terrible tension headaches which seem to be easing now. Xxx

Thank you so much for your reply. This helps massively. My husband has just said the same. He has just said surely they would have been in touch by now if they were worried about what they have seen. I have had a terrible 5 weeks of severe anxiety and panic attacks. It has all been incredibly overwhelming and I did wonder whether this would have had any impact on my eyes because I have had terrible tension headaches which seem to be easing now. Xxx

Thank you so much for sharing. This is really reassuring. I keep flip flopping between reading good stuff about it being only one eye and then reading that can be bad as well.
Would it be terribly rude of me to ask which medication you are on if you don't mind sharing? I'm recently on high dose propranalol, diazepam and citalopram. Feeling totally overwhelmed with it all the minute but it seems to be calming the panic so I'm going to keep going with it 🥰

If it was serious you’d be in the hospital I have an OCT test and was sent straight to the eye pavilion for further testing as I had severe swelling to my optic nerves they thought something was pushing it like a tumour or fluid. Thankfully it’s just my optic nerves I suffer from bad hormonal migraines so only now take the mini pill but when I’m on my cycle I get the migraines then the slightest disruption to my hormones I get a migraine and it’s causes my optic nerves to swell xxx

Thank you so much for your reply. I did ask the optometrist if she felt it was a brain tumour and she said no! But my crazy, anxious mind at the moment cannot see past it. Anxiety really is the devil! I do truly believe I would have been sent straight away if they worried about something so serious 🥰 xxx

Thank you so much for your reply. That must have been so scary. I am so glad all was OK- well not the migraines of course but I am glad it was something treatable. This really reassures me so thank you for sharing 😘 xxx

Panick attacks are the worst, I've had that sort of anxiety and I know how terrible it is. Stay away from Dr Google, it won't tell you anything helpful and will just encourage you to spin out.

Find something to do to distract yourself - I took up knitting, gave me something to do with my hands and all that nervous energy and helped me focus without taxing my brain

Thank you so much for your reply ❤️ that's it- the panic attacks alone have been absolutely awful and then to have this worry is just making it all ten times worse.
I am going to try and keep myself busy as you said to try and focus my mind. Hopefully all will be OK 🥰 xxx

Dd (age 25) had this at the optometrist last week. She’s been getting headaches so went for an eye test. They told her her eye nerve was swollen and blurry and she has to come back in a year’s time to make sure it’s not got worse. They took over an hour checking it and said she needed glasses and must wear sunglasses too.