Eye scan for Hydroxy, do I need a report?

[Niao]

Just started Hydroxy and am due to get the scan of my eyes at the Opticians on Saturday, the Rheumatologist did tell me to start the med before the scan.

Stupidly, I forgot to ask whether I was supposed to ask the Optician for a report, and if so, what do I do, do I have to send it on, or will the Optician? Or do I just have to phone, or in fact not have to anything? Just that at any scans I've had for myself in the past there have never been any print outs of results.

I will try to phone the Rheumy Nurse tomorrow, but just in case I can't get through.

Any advice much appreciated.

[allanah]

I just tell the optician that the rheumy sent you and could they gave results or send them to you. I generally get a letter a week later so I must have been lucky x

[Niao in reply to allanah]

Thanks allanah, will do that now I know I have to. Just when I was booking the appointment the lady confused me a bit by saying they never give results in writing but she probably just hadn't come across thus before.

[allanah in reply to Niao]

Just point it out to the optician as they are health care professionals and deal with this request regularly eg diabetics etc . Ask them how they send results. Xx

[Niao in reply to allanah]

Will do. Xxx

[Boxerlady in reply to Niao]

My rheumy department just asks if I've had an eye test, they don't ask to see anything. My optician did mention that she'd be happy to provide one if required - she just said to email her and she'd send it to the department but they didn't seem interested. I get the impression that they assume that the optician is the expert and will flag up any issues which makes sense to me.

[Niao in reply to Boxerlady]

Thank you. My Rheumatologist was adamant I had one. I'd just paid to have one 3 months before but he said I must have another! He didn't say what I was to do with the results and that could be because, as you say, he doesn't expect anything unless the Optician flags up an issue.

[helixhelix]

As long as the optician keeps a record then really not critical. I go to the same optician so never bother with printed reports. I just make sure they refer back re any changes (of which there were none in 8 years of hydroxy...).

All my rheumy want to know if that I have been to get checked.

[Niao in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you, that is what I'd hoped. Really reassuring too.

[KittyJ]

I’ve never got a report or had to report back to the hospital after yearly eye checks and I’m sure the opticians don’t either. My rheumy usually asks if I have had them though when I see her.

[Niao in reply to KittyJ]

Thank you. Yep, I thought this would be the case.

[Garnacha]

Hi I was told to make sure I mention to the optician that I was on it & id need my eyes checked annually, when I last spoke to the rheumatologist in November & said my last eye check showed my eyesight had slightly deteriorated he said that it’s normally after 5 years of being on hydroxychloroquine for it to have any effect on eyesight, I wasn’t told I’d need any report or offered any report for the rheumatologist x

[Niao in reply to Garnacha]

Thank you. Mine told me to have a scan in addition to the regular test to look for specific pigment related issues because if there were any problems already I couldn't go on Hydroxy, and that this would need to be checked yearly. X

[Garnacha]

Hi Niao, I’m not sure what the scan involves, when I go to Asda opticians they always carry out as far as I’m aware a thorough examination, I can’t remember them all but it does include the pressure test & peripheral view test & looking at the back of the eye etc, I’m guessing if the ophthalmologist didn’t say there was a problem that hopefully you’re ok x

[Niao in reply to Garnacha]

Yep. I'm not too sure as I haven't been to the Optician yet for this particular reason, but I know that when I went last year fir my regular eye test, I was offered a new additional scan for a little extra cost and am imagining this is what they want me to have, Rheumatologist was a little vague, hopefully the Optician will know more what's expected. Could well be that your Optician already has been including this all in your checks. X

[Garnacha in reply to Niao]

If you’ve got an Asda’s opticians near you give them a call, their eye tests are very thorough & all of the above I mentioned are included with their standard test & very reasonable too, I also have to add the staff that work there are brilliant & very helpful x

[Niao in reply to Garnacha]

Thank you, I'll certainly consider it! I've been with Specsavers for about 25 years now and had thought they were quite good, but it couldn't hurt to look into Asda. I can tend to be quite lazy with things like that sometimes! 🙂

[hatshepsut]

You should be attending an opthalmology clinic if longterm on hydroxychloroquine. Ther is new NICE advice, that you should get a yearly scan to check that there is no damage.

The first scan is for comparison

[Niao in reply to hatshepsut]

Thank you, yes that is what the Rheumatologist told me, that if he didn't have the first scan he would have nothing to refer back to which makes total sense. I just was unsure as to whether I needed to update him with the results, or in which way to do so.

[hatshepsut in reply to Niao]

I've never had to have a report.....just make sure I get tested

[Niao in reply to hatshepsut]

Thank you hatshepsut! That's what I'd hoped.🙂

[rounder]

I never had to send a report to rheumy, just get the annual scan done at the opticians.

[Hidden]

Just let them know your Rheumy needs a copy of the results