Concerns about foggy vision in one eye.

[Candypen75]

I have dry AMD in both eyes, according to Specksavers. My right eye seems fine at the moment but things through my left eye seem blurred, as if my spectacles are fogged up. I can't read with my left eye. A nice optician, on a retest, found I had the wrong lenses, so they were changed, but the left eye is still blurry. He referred me to hospital, for reassurance but the appointment isn't until 12th December. Should I be worried?

[Macular_1]

Hi Candypen,

May I suggest that you ask your optometrist at the opticians what they think is wrong? About 10% of people with dry AMD do develop wet AMD.

If your optician suspects wet AMD has occurred, you should be 'fast tracked' into a hospital eye unit and ideally you should get an appointment within 7 days and no longer than 14 days. Wet AMD can be treated if it is caught early.

The 12th December is too long if wet is suspected.

If you would like to discuss further, please call the Macular Society helpline on 0300 30 30 111 (9.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).

Best wishes

Macular Society

[Candypen75 in reply to Macular_1]

The optician doesn't think it's wet but was referring me to hospital for reassurance. Both opticians wondered if there was a bit of fluid but then presumably discounted this. I just wondered if this blurring was typical of dry AMD.

[Candypen75 in reply to Macular_1]

Thank you for your advice. I have received my pack fro the Macular Society and in the booklet there is a photo of what AMD looks like. The blurring is similar to mine and so is probably just a natural progression of dry AMD. I will take further action if things change.

[rosyG]

If you are near an eye department with awn A and E I would just turn up and ask to be seen- If your eyesight is blurry it needs investigating as soon as possible as early treatment gives better results

[Ayayay80]

Hi candypen75

Blurred vision can be the result of various conditions and should be checked out, sooner rather than later. Just to stress this point, I was dignosed by my opticians with dry AMD in both eyes and was told to come back in a years time, not being referred to an opthalmologist. Yet 2 months later, having got a referral to the eye clinic from my GP, I was found to have wet AMD in one eye and the necessary treatments were given. Whether wet AMD had been present 2 months earlier or had progressed very quickly - I shall never know.

However, don't worry yourself silly as it is so easily done. It could just be a refractory error, in which case you still have not the right lens in your specs, which however is unlikely. Dry eye (not dry AMD), which can affect one eye more than the other could also cause it. But there is no point in guessing the cause. You need to have it investigated.

Good luck!

[fed12]

Please try and get an appointment as soon as possible. This may be easier said than done. My optician was very lax about referring me (urgently) to an eye clinic. I don't think she knew much about AMD. I have had an ophthalmologist recommended to me whom I shall visit in future,.

At all times seek help and advice from the Macular society. Visit A&E or GP for urgent referral to an eye clinic. In my experience wet AMD develops v quickly. It took a month from when I noticed something was wrong to getting treatment, because pf delay in diagnosis and referral to eye clinic. BUT as said above don't panic, it may not be wet AMD; but don't wait till Dec. 12th to find out. You just have to nag everybody. Hope this helps!

[Candypen75]

Thank you all for your care and advise. I have managed to get an earlier appointment at a different hospital. It's still a month away but if I feel there is any change in my situation I will go to A&E

[silkysoft]

Hi Candypen75, I went to Specsavers first because they could give me a quick appointment. My vision in my right eye was blurry and I thought I just needed new contact lenses. First the optician said I had slightly high pressure in my right eye 27 and he would refer me to Newmedica a partner of Specsavers who are funded by the NHS to help reduce the * eye clinic queues . Apart from that my eyes were healthy . The contact lense check up I was told I did not need any change in prescription. I knew there was something wrong with my vision so I went to a small optician and paid £80.00 for an eye and contact lenses test. This optician said I had narrow angles which was causing the light to bend differently from normal and that I needed my contact lenses changing from +3.25 to + 2.25 he also gave me a leaflet about narrow angles which warns if the eye turns red.has pain or makes you feel sick get to A & E as fast possible as the angles can suddenly close . I went berserk with Specsavers when I realised how they had put my eyesight at risk by failing to find this during their examination,Specsavers eventually re-immbursed the £80.00 . I had IOL lenses replacement to right this problem at Newmedica ,done very quickly within 6 weeks , left my right eye with wet macular , although nobody admits this is possible. I do not wish to frighten or upset you if have an appointment with a consultant then fine if not ,maybe a second opinion would not go amiss.

Silkysoft

[10plantlover]

Why a hospital and not a retinal specialist