Worried Sick, waiting to call optician. - Macular Society

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Worried Sick, waiting to call optician.

ramsayn profile image
14 Replies

Hi, just found this site as is I’m waiting for my opticians to open.

50 yr old male, noticed some jaggy lines on my car display last week, put it down to being tired or my varificals. Noticed it again on my computer screen last night and realised I wasn’t wearing my glasses.

A few google searches and some left eye right eye tests and I’m pretty sure I have Wet MD, not slept a wink and ready to throw up. Right seems fine, but left sees wavy lines on the grid test, subdued colours, especially green and in the dark it’s vision is noticeably poorer.

Seeing as it’s holiday season what can I do, where can I go to ensure the prompt treatment that everyone recommends.

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ramsayn profile image
ramsayn
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14 Replies
Macular_1 profile image
Macular_1

Hello Ramsayn,

So sorry to learn about your eye problems. Hopefully the optometrist at your opticians will be able to find out what is wrong.

If he/she detects wet macular degeneration, you will be fast tracked to a hospital eye unit for further test and treatment if appropriate.

The following link is to your essential guide for wet AMD and gives the timescales that should be followed;

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

The second link as follows gives information about treatments;

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

If you cannot get to see an optometrist, you can present yourself to your nearest hospital eye unit A&E.

Finally, if you are diagnosed with wet MD and would like a chat, please call the Macular Society helpline in the New Year on 0300 30 30 111 (9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).

Best wishes

Macular Society

new2AMD14915 profile image
new2AMD14915

Hi Ramsayn, when I first saw the signs, age 49, I went straight to Specsavers. The optometrist knew what it was and sent me to eye casualty at my local hospital. He phoned through first which helped. Within a week I had seen 4 healthcare providers and had my first injection. Ring Specsavers and tell them you feel like you are losing your sight and they will see you today. Good luck, Shirley x

yotboy profile image
yotboy

I had exactly the same problem that you are experiencing. You have already been well advised by others to get to an optometrist or eye unit (Hospital A&E with eye unit) TODAY. Never mind the holiday! I went the optometrist route and was sent immediately to Moorfields where they confirmed the optometrist diagnosis. Treatment followed.

The advice for eye defects is always the same. ACT quickly. It will not go away.

I have a (non eye related) history of being 'blokeish' and thinking things will go away 'if I just get a good night's sleep - and other like excuses! Don't fall in to the same trap!

Good luck, and let us all know how it goes.

ramsayn profile image
ramsayn

Been to the optician, instant referral to the eye clinic, appointment is 10am tomorrow. Absolutely fantastic service.

Optician ran all his tests, he couldn’t see any sign of bleeding or fluid build up, he hopes it’s a macular pucker, so fingers crossed for tomorrow.

yotboy profile image
yotboy in reply toramsayn

Great stuff! You are now in the 'system.'

carolineJames profile image
carolineJames in reply toramsayn

Thinking of you . How did it go?

ramsayn profile image
ramsayn in reply tocarolineJames

Hi, so I went along to the hospital on Saturday and they did a full eye exam. The Doctor looking after me thinks it’s something called Paraforeal Acute Middle Maculopathy, but as she’s never seen it before she wants the Dept Head to check my scans on Wednesday. They don’t think it will get worse, but hopefully get that prognosis confirmed soon.

carolineJames profile image
carolineJames in reply toramsayn

Excellent!

Rosalyn-helpline profile image
Rosalyn-helplinePartner in reply toramsayn

Dear ramsayn,

It may be worth coming up with a list of questions in advance to ensure that you establish all the information that you need.

E.g.

1.Which condition have I been diagnosed with?

2.Why am I developing it at this age?

3.What is the prognosis?

4.Is there treatment available for it?

5.If there is treatment available, will I be offered it? If not, why not?

6.Is there anything that I can do to help protect my eyes?

7.What do I do if I notice any sudden changes in my eyes?

8.Are you going to continue to monitor my eyes at the hospital? If not, why not?

Just to make you aware, the impact of the diagnosis of any eye condition and indeed any stage in the process is generally compared to experiencing bereavement. Individuals frequently go through very similar feelings and responses and in no set order. We do have a free telephone counselling service. Please contact us for further details if this is of interest. We need the individual’s verbal consent in order to be able to refer them. It takes a counsellor a maximum of a week to make the initial call. Our counsellors are fully trained and the majority have sight loss themselves. Sessions consist of approximately 6 of around 45-50 minutes each. I am copying a link to our booklet Emotional impact which references the counselling service:

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any further help. The Macular Society helpline is open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday on 0300 3030 111.

Alternately, you can contact us via:

help@macularsociety.org

Kind regards,

rosyG profile image
rosyG

great to hear you have an appointment - don't worry if it does turn out to be wet AMD- the injections make a great difference and, whilst unpleasant, don't hurt as much as a flu jab- I wish I'd known that as didn't sleep before my first one

Let us know how you get on

RP1944 profile image
RP1944

Glad you are in the system. If it is wet Amd the injections do help. Have had ten over a three year period.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Happy New Year.

IvyRose2 profile image
IvyRose2

Try not to worry as much can be done to help you. I've been going to my local Gloucester eye clinic for five yrs now, having injections on and off. My eye sight has remained stable with the excellent treatment. It is good to lead a healthy lifestyle to with healthy eating and exercise. Protecting your eyes with sunglasses too.

kevinaki profile image
kevinaki

It's up to YOU to save your good eye..........

susanTL profile image
susanTL

So sorry. Hope optician open by now. They will refer you to your GP who in turn will refer you to an eye hospital or the opthalmic dept of your local hospital. If you live near London itry to get referred to Moorfields or the Western Eye Hospital. It's a cumbersome procedure bt you need to get to an NHS specuiialist. If it's any comfort I was diagnosed with wet AMD in 2006 and got immediate treatment (lucentis injections) ;and the condition only started seriously to cramp my life about 2 years ago whenI was 85. . I had to give up on reading print, but the kindle came to the rescue as do my PC and above all my ipad and iphone where you can adjust texct size and wallpaper to suit. So You have plenty of time still.

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