Hi there
I was diagnosed with GCA in March this year, I know GCA can affect the eyes, luckly I have not been affected in this way but does anyone know if I should have more regular eye tests than normal? I wear vary vocals and have my eyes tested when I think I need to change my glasses.
Since I assume you are on prednisolone you should have regular eye tests even if you don't think you need new specs. It was recommended that patients on pred got a test on the NHS every 12 months rather than the usual 2 years but someone said last year that this had been changed as being unnecessary. That's a matter of opinion! But an eye test isn't that expensive and the things they can find make it worth every penny in my book. The eye specialist I saw here in Italy (opticians here can't measure eye pressures so I have to go to the hospital) said "Every 6 months" when I asked her how often I should go! She did admit they like to be on the safe side - no wonder I had to wait a few months for a routine appointment.
Pred can increase eye pressures, especially in people with a family history of glaucoma so regular tests are needed for that. It can also cause or increase the speed of formation of already existing cataracts. Of course, for patients whose GCA affected their vision a regular check remains a good idea even if the symptoms have gone altogether.
Hi notnice,
I go every year, also wear varifocals, in fact it was optician that picked up my raised glaucoma levels and beginning of cataract (both now sorted, first by following reduction of Pred, second by operation). mind you I am a bit paranoid as I only have the sight in left eye anyway!
Even if you have to pay, then the sense of well-being over-rides any cost involved. If you have GCA diagnosed, and prescribed Pred then you should get the eye test free. Local conditions may apply!
Hi DL, I am very sorry about mentioning the name of an optition putting you in an awkward position, I do not think at times.
Hi DorsetLady, sorry to hear about your sight that is not good, so glad you got it sorted, was that due to GCA? Thank you for your reply, I will be making an appointment on Monday. I am over 60 so I do not pay for the test. Could I ask your opinion of Specsavers? I was not too impressed with the optician I went to last time and was thinking of trying them.
Hi notnice,
Don't worry about anything. Not a problem, I'm quite happy to tell anybody my story, as regular subscribers to this forum know all too well!
FYI I lost my sight (right eye) due to 2 GPs in my then surgery not diagnosing PMR initially or then later, GCA. In fact it was my optician who was so worried (unfortunately after sight was lost) that he told me to go to local A&E, where an Ophthamologist confirmed GCA.
I obviously stayed with that optician, who later down the line, discovered the glaucoma and cataract and referred me to the eye clinic at local hospital.
I have always gone to a independent optician rather than a chain. I wouldn't like to say they are more competent, but I personally think you get a better overall experience. You are more likely to be treated as a person, not a name and number, and the after sales service is better. Personal opinion of course, and I like to support the local businesses when I can. However, it would sound that your experience differs!
Can't comment on Specsavers, the only two people I know who work for them do so in Christchurch, NZ. Not much help there then!
Hi DorsetLady, thanks for your reply, yes it does make scence going to an independent optician I used to go to one where I used to live he was very good. Yes it I have only lived here six years and seen a local optician once so perhaps I should shop around a bit. You have been through the wars with your eyes poor you, glad it is all sorted now.
I'd advise against Specsavers. I took my independent optician's prescription to them, lured by the snazzy frames, but the varifocals they gave me were impossibly bad ( and they were supposed to be the top of their range). The gradations between the vision levels was so marked that I had to keep dipping my head. They were good about refunding after trying two adjustments though.
I get broken blood vessels in my eyes quite regularly - I have GCA - and have seen my independent optician three times in the past year about this and each time she has given me what is effectively a full eye test with prescription alteration or update comment each time so I would definitely stick to an independent.
Hi Maria40, thank you for your reply, you did get a bad deal with
them and it seems the independent optician is winning so far.
Now I know he maybe had his reasons but my (wonderful) independent optician told me that actually the independents can often match or even better the "offers" from the chains if you are a not-entirely-bogstandard-run -of-the-mill patient. I wasn't - and my experiences of the chains have been very poor and so have those of my daughter. She was persuaded by either SS or VE to have reactolite lenses - they were useless and to add insult to injury they didn't fit one lens perfectly centred so she couldn't see properly. It had happened to me too. We both had horrendous headaches and blurred vision. I was lucky, the lenses were big enough for my lovely optician to cut them down for small frames. Hers had to be ditched - the chain had insisted they were the right prescription so it couldn't be their fault, end of story. The specs he did for her were far cheaper than the chain's offer.
He told me that the chains and their "special offers" are using older lenses - that's why they are "cheap". Believe me, they ceases to be cheap as soon as you need thinner lenses as I do. He also offered me a money-back guarantee for variofocals in case I couldn't cope with them. I didn't take him up on it, I still have a few pairs of single-vision specs and manage fine but I'm short-sighted so if I need to read something I just take them off.
My dream is to have cataracts - then I'd only need reading glasses...
Hi sorry reply is late, oh dear both you and your daughter had a bad time with glasses, I hope things are good with you both now. I have looked around and found an independent optician that does NHS work as well so I am going to book an appointment with them.
Good luck - I hope they are as good as my wonderful chap in Scotland was. It was a wrench leaving him behind so I travelled from the north of England to Perthshire for several years. Then I came here to Italy...
Talk to your regular optician and explain your situation he or she will help you with it. I went to see my optician and she checked my eyes over and put me on six month checkup. My father had glaucoma in his life.
Hope this help
LM
Bloodshot eye
Eye pain 
GCA Eye Pain
Red eye
