Im 60, so I dont know regarding age. All I can say is optician knew all about it, was very thorough and because of my age I didnt pay as it was 2 weeks afer my birthday. All the best.
I've always found opticians pretty thorough. If you tell them it's to do with hydrox they will check your retinas carefully. It's a sad fact that NHS resources are overstretched, so waiting times are horrible.
Unfortunately, it is all your decision. You don't want anyone to force you to do anything do you?
VeronicaF, I went to specsavers I'm not being dismissive, honest . I got an appointment the next day, got told my eyes were fine, all on the NHS, except I paid £10 to have the retinal scan that the NHS doesn't pay for ( but no real need to have this ). Many of these types of opticians have the most up to date technology, more so than some hospitals.
They have been exellent. My dry eyes became even more dry a few months ago , they checked them again and wrote to my GP with a suggestion of different eyes drops, available on prescription, which have done the trick.
The optician will do exactly the same checks as the NHS. If anything is picked up, you could then always choose to wait and have a recheck at the hospital.
+1 for Specsavers. If they’re like Australia, they have the latest equipment and can photo the. Back of the eye/retina. If I’d have waited to see a “proper” eye doctor, I’d never have started, because I’d still be waiting for an appt
Hi Mmrr, How do you qualify for free eye test? I know some opticians regularly have promotions. Unknown RA alone doesn-t qualify for anything free other than outpatient treatment.
I'm in Scotland so entitled to a free eye test every 2 years (16-60 years old). I'm not sure if this applies to the rest of the UK. Specsavers retested me a few months after my initial test, free because I am on DMARDs.
Hi, I've been on hydroxy (along with other drugs) for year's. I have an eye test every year and last year had to see a specialist. All was well and I was told it takes at least 5 year's to affect the eyes and even then once stopped the eye's will go back to normal. Hydroxychloroquine is probably one of the less harsh drugs used for RA and for me has caused no issues at all!!
Hi woodstar, I believe the damage that can be done to the eyes by taking hydroxychoroquine is irreversible. I’ve been taking it for six yrs now with no problems as yet. I get my eyes tested every yr locally but having my first “big” test next week at the hospital 😬
You are right Caza, damage caused by hydroxychloroquine is irreversible. You need to keep a close eye on your vision and act quickly if you think things aren’t right. , Download an Amsler chart and use it regularly or you can pay for a scan.
My optician has the same machine they use in the hospital eye department. My optician is also in an area where he can refer patients directly to hospital consultants.
Thanks, I went & had them tested at the hospital last Thursday. I had no idea that it would take over two hrs & that they would put drops in my eyes. No one told me that I wouldn’t be able to drive 😡. Infact my vision was blurred for three days & one of them was sore & bloodshot. The good thing is that I’m sure nothing would go undetected. So I feel happier having had it done. She told I would now have it done yearly. I get the results in two weeks time 🤞 It’s difficult isn’t it, when I stop taking I can’t walk & I don’t have any problems with taking it but the eye 👁 thingy is a worry 🤨
I feel overwhelmed quite often and how do we know what’s best if the so called experts can’t tell you what’s best!!
Good suggestions in other replies here. Get required and necessary tests from Opticians
Get Physiotherapy referral done and wait once in you should be able to access service, in meantme any chance you can go and see a recommended private Physio for a few sessions? I know they are expensive but really good ones are Really beneficial.
Unfortunately the NHS is overwhelmed. We are going to have to understand that with all the specialist drugs & treatments ...not just for RA....people are now needing , we are either going to have to wait for all the Appoinments/tests etc, or take some decisions for our own health management......using people like pharmacists & opticians to advise us,
.
The average GP has very little knowledge of the use of RA drugs, so he is only being sensible in not advising on something that could go against what a rheumatologist advises. The best route there is a phone call to your Rheumy nurse. I know that will take time, but at least she will have more up to date information than a GP & probably speaks regularly to your rheumatologist for input.
I didn't know for instance that SpecSavers have an audiology department. A friend used to wait weeks for her hearing tests at hospital-....at SpecSavers she gets an appointment the next day. The audiologists have the same qualifications as those who work in the NHS. .....she is very pleased with their service.
Regarding physio you can download a form from the NHS site which you fill in with a fairly detailed reason why you need physio. You post it off to the address in your area given on the form-and if your reason meets the criteria you are given an appointment without having to see your GP for a referral.
I expect there are other services available on the NHS which can be accessed......and although we are used to just getting a referral & waiting, , if we want our treatments sooner we are going to have to do some searching around to find out what is available.
When I was prescribed this medication the rheumatologist told me it would take at least 4-6 weeks to kick in. Is it possible to confirm that with your doctor? If you start now, by the time your eye check rolls around it'll just be kicking in. I started mine right away but had my eyes checked about 3 months later.
hi veronica its your eyesight got to be sure what you decide ten weeks for physio seems long time for you suppose i am lucky here in salford hospitals at the drop of hat very lucky met someone from the sticks she was spellbound at the size of hope hospital she had been sent to someone for hip i think
This is a summary of the national screening guidelines for hydroxy produced by the royal college of ophthalmologists. You will see that they say that baseline screening should take place within the first 12 months of taking hydroxy.
Retinopathy is from hydroxy is very rare. Go to specsavers, they can do the same test, give you the all clear. it is a med that takes time to work, waiting is just wasting time. If I were you, I'd go ahead.
As soon as they said I was going on hydroxy I booked an appointment with our independent optician. Walked in carrying my leaflets and he looked and went 'Hydroxychloroquine?' He knew all about it and even said the leaflet info was out of date.
Go and get them tested even if for your own peace of mind.
Veronica, i've just been reflecting. It's 4 months now since you were diagnosed, and during that time you've had one week on Sulpha. And you've done lots to help yourself too with diet and lifestyle. But it doesn't sound if that's really working 100% for you, so for 4 months your disease has been left unchecked.
I know how scary it is to make decisions to try these drugs, and how easy it is to find reasons to delay. However, don't over think things....once this disease starts causing erosive damage that's permanent.
Hi, I took hydroxy for a number of years without hair loss or eye problems. Unfortunately hydroxy didn’t work for me. I’d go to your local optician too if I was you some even come to your home if you can’t get there. The only thing that has ever messed big time with my eyes was diclofenec I completely lost my peripheral vision and had no idea where the floor was, it dilated my pupils and was a bit scary until I stopped taking them. If I was you I wouldn’t wait 6 weeks go get them checked at opticians and start your hydroxy we are all different you won’t necessarily ever have a problem with your eyes due to this drug.
I have recently been prescribed Hydroxy, I went and got an eye test at Specsavers early Sept - although others actually had better deals on .........
The optician said once I had started to take it, that I should look at straight edges of things such as a bookcase/Tv/ computer screen (whilst off) and if the edge looked wobbly then it would probably be the Hydroxy, but then he did say that Prednisolone could also have an effect and on your eyes and would be more likely to. I went for the eye test before I started to take it - and haven't had any visual issues so far. Optician was brilliant.
Apparently, opticians also have emergency appointments for those on prescription drugs, so if you think you have an issue you should be able to see an optician that day - some sort of NHS agreement scheme cant remember what he said now. He also gave me a chart with squares on to look at for wiggly lines.
Rheumy suggested the eye test and also said that I would get an NHS test yearly at the hospital.....I haven't had an appointment through for that as yet............................
I too got my eyes checked by an Optician before starting HCQ. I too got an appt within a couple of days. And as others have said it was nothing new to the Optician. She was very good and explained all the background as to why it was important to get your eyes tested annually when on HCQ. I was also shown the retinal images she had taken.
your right, although I have helped myself loads, the RA is creeping in new places, I had a few really good weeks but its come back ten times worse, and now going into my knees, I have not had it there before now
my diet has been a bit wobbly lately,creeping back to old habits
that might not have helped
but had a salad today
I feel as if someone has given me a good kicking
and my stiffness this morning lasted hours, so much so I was on the phone to my mum
about 10am and my arm left arm got stuck in that postion
I feel not as bad tonight as I did, but I know its getting bad
so know I need to start this drug before it gets out of hand.
I went in Specsavers today but they had 3 weeks waiting
and then another opticains said they wouldn't do it until hosptail has checked
so I am going to try boots
Thank you everyone
the GP gave me steroids but I really don't want to take them, not if I can help it
so will get an optican to give the okay to start -H med
also GP is going to write a letter to push my up the que with Physiotherapy
I somehow missed this post Veronica. The latest guideline by The Royal College of Opthalmologists recommends that all patients planning to take HCQ long term, ie over 5 years, have a baseline examination in a hospital eye department ideally within six months, but definitely within 12 months of starting therapy with a colour retinal photograph and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans of the macula.
My brother in law is presently a Specsavers Optometrist & in his 40 odd years of practicing he's only had to refer 2 people who were on HCQ, both had been on it some considerable time. I can't say exactly how long but both were earlier on in his career. Both of the aforementioned tests are available at Specsavers meaning despite the recommendation by the RCO recommendation you can avoid the wait to be tested at hospital so you can start HCQ straight away, no need to wait until you're tested. All Specsavers stores should have the SD-OCT equipment but if you choose to be tested at another Opticians check before booking your appointment.
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Why am I more sick on MTX then when I first started? does it build up in your system?
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