Advice from opticians appreciated

[Tiggiwinkle]

My (adult) DS2 was diagnosed with Wet Macular Degeneration about 5 years ago. It was discovered that he had virtually no sight in one of his eyes at a routine eye test-he had not noticed because the other eye compensated apparently.

We went to Moorfields who made the diagnosis, but no cause was found-toxoplasmosos was ruled out. He was discharged as no treatment was available, on the understanding that he goes back immediately if he has any problems with his other eye and that he has regular eye tests at the opticians.

Up to now he has had yearly checks, but when I rang our opticians (Specsavers) yesterday they said he was not eligible for an NHS test because he was on two yearly recall.

I queried this and the receptionist spoke to the optician who confirmed that he was not eligible.

Is this correct? He is very short sighted in his "good" eye anyway and it seems to me that they should be keeping a check on his vision more often than once in two years. Especially since Moorfields said the WMD could affect the other eye at some stage.

Sorry this is so long-any advice much appreciated.

Hopeful bump

Another bump

Usual recall as an adult at the opticians is 2 years under 70, unless diabetic.
The optician can choose to recall yearly because of risk factors but needs to justify this with an applicable code to the NHS and he needs to ask his own optician about this.
Have you changed opticians as he was previously checked yearly?
Could he ring and leave a message asking for the optician him/herself to ring him and mention Moorfield's advice previously given.

WMD comes on very suddenly and could well happen between a yearly check anyway.He would have been issued with a grid to self moniter his non affected eye and any sign of change would have an emergency hospital appointment.He could also get an appointment with his optician under the NHS despite the 2 year recall if he has symptoms or signs causing concern inbetween his normal recall.

my son has macular degeneration, he's only 8, we discovered it when he was 6 when it was wet in one eye. This has only just been found out to be apart of another condition called Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum....bit of a mouthful. Anyway, sorry to wander off there, if your hubby has nearly no sight in one eye and his sight is less than 6/6 in the other I would get him an appointment with an opthamologist and get them to test him and sign a CVI form then send that (or they may send it themselves) to your local council which will register him partially or severly sighted, my son has just been registered severly sighted impaired. I'm sure your hubby should be entitled to free NHS eye tests etc, here's a that may help:

www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/Documents/Benefits_of_registering.pdf

@Allspice

You need to have vision quite a bit below 6/6 to qualify to be registered visually impaired, even if one eye sees little.

Normal guidelines are 6/18 if you have peripheral vision problems and worse than thay if you don't.

That doesn't sound like that is the case here.

@TiggiWinkle

I understand the comfort that a yearly check up would bring but BattyCat has it right, if it's going to happen it's pretty unlikely to happen the week of your check and symptoms will qualify you for an uregent eye check or a visit to an Eye Department.