Eye checks and PMR

[Floridafan]

I understood that if I’m taking Prednisolone I am entitled to have a NHS eye check once a year, which has been the norm for me for nearly four years now. I went for my eye check last week and the optician said I should have my next eye check in two years time. When I queried this she said she was happy with my eye pressure and that I only had signs of a very small cataract so she wasn’t worried about anything. When I said that I would prefer to continue with yearly checks she told me that the NHS were a bit funny about that now (whatever that means, I suppose it could be to do with cost to the NHS). Has anyone else been told this please?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It was the case but, as far as I know, the entitlement was removed some years ago and it is down to 2 yearly. In fact - I'm surprised you got annual ones so long.

I don't get any automatic eye tests here - which disturbed me rather, opticians are not allowed to do anything except test your vision and sell specs. Anything - even a considerable change in prescription after some years - means they want you to see an ophthalmologist which means a hospital appointment. I can only get pressures done by going to the hospital.

I am assured by the eye specialists here that if pressures are going to be raised that will happen relatively soon and once you have gone for a while without, it is unlikely to happen. That has been the case for me.

I'd assume that if you are worried about ny symptoms you can use the MECS option

primaryeyecare.co.uk/servic...

[Floridafan in reply to PMRpro]

The above link is very useful to have, I shall keep that for the future in case needed. Thank you

[Koalajane]

the last time I saw my optician she said a year

[Rose54]

Hi

I have been seen yearly due to being on Steroids but when l phoned to book appointment was told it was two yearly. I did get emergency appointment that day .

He said NHS only find 2 yearly now unless you have a request from GP.

He did put done GP request on my paperwork.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I’ve just booked my annual test -14th September- (been off steroids for 6 years) -no query from opticians- but that may be due to the following-

Been going to them for at least 20 years, so they know my full GCA history,

I am mono-sighted,

and I’m positivity ancient (75) 🤔.

PS -I probably don’t need annual check as “good” eye had cataract replaced (8 years) -but I will still request them….and pay if necessary.

[jinasc in reply to DorsetLady]

nhs.uk › nhs-services › opticians › free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers

Free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers - NHS

Free NHS eye tests. You're entitled to a free NHS sight test if you: are under 16. are 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education. are 60 or over. are registered as partially sighted or blind. have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma. are 40 or over and your mother, father, sibling or child has been diagnosed with glaucoma.

This link is interesting there is much more to read.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jinasc]

Hasn't come up as a link ..

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

try this - jinasc is this what you meant?

nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticia...

[Bcol]

I've been getting mine yearly and in fact was referred up the system and have had 6 monthly ones since PMR and Pred. I'm also over 70!!

The NHS recommends every two years unless - see below

Your ophthalmic practitioner or optometrist may recommend you have an NHS sight test more often than every 2 years if you

are a child wearing glasses

have diabetes

are aged 40 or over and have a family history of glaucoma

are aged 70 or over

[123-go]

"...a bit funny"_ not a clear explanation from a professional.

I question your optician's view that you don't need a yearly appointment as your cataract is small at the moment; some develop very quickly but perhaps she's identified yours as slow-growing. It's very frustrating!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

I took it to mean that the NHS were being a bit funny about reimbursing the cost of the test to the optician. They are businesses after all.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

me too!

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I see, but there appears to be a lack of standardisation in length of time between appointments in different areas and perhaps different opticians; a question of who is raking in the most profit perhaps. 🤔

[piglette]

It is recommended that you have your eyes tested every two years doesn’t matter who you are. The NHS will pay for certain categories in England. If you need a check more often than every two years the ophthalmologist can tell you. Mine asks me to come every year and I get it for free. I believe the rules are different in Scotland. I am not sure about Wales and Northern Ireland.

[Booklist]

I had an eye test yesterday. I had cataracts removed from both eyes last November and had a thorough eye test after that, but have felt recently that I'm just not seeing very well. I explained about being on Pred now, and that it can cause blurred vision. I also find that my left eyelid drops when I am reading. I had a thorough eye test again and came away with a new prescription for reading glasses, and peace of mind. At no time did anyone suggest that I would have to pay for the eye test. I do hope you can get this sorted out quickly.

[SheffieldJane]

I would feel like auditioning a few more opticians. This is just too important. Prednisalone can speed up the growth of Cataracts, you could develop Cranial GCA that can be spotted by a well equipped Optician. Glaucoma can develop. You can have rapidly changing prescription requirements. You need a special optician, even if you have to pay a bit. It costs me £60.00 every 6 months, he keeps slides of my eyes and is very on the ball. He stands between me and the anxiety I have experienced since diagnosis and I heard DorsetLady’s story.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

I don't think the role of the optician in cranial GCA is quite as great as you think SJ - they will only see if the optic disc is enlarged and pale as a result of longer term reduced blood flow to the optic nerve. You could still have cranial GCA elsewhere in the head.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

agree…..can only see the effects of complications within the ophthalmic artery on the optic nerve.

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

My “Simon the optician” talks a good talk and has referred me at the first sign of anything odd, but yes I know really there is no 100% insurance. My GCA is in my armpit and was found by pure fluke.

[PMRCanada]

Here in Canada (Ontario), I’ve had my eyes examined by an optician every 2 years (although I do have to pay for the exam but can claim it as an expense on my income taxes).

This exam is VERY thorough (at least with my optician), pressures and images taken), lengthy review and discussion. Glad I recently had my appointment because although there was no cataract detected, vision and optic nerve good, she noted a narrowing at the front of my left (poor eye - 20/200) and has referred me to an ophthalmologist to review and possibly perform a laser procedure to avoid pressure building in that eye. No charge for the impending appointment or any procedures they perform.

Ever since I was told about the possibility of GCA I’ve been very diligent about exams, especially because I basically only have vision in one eye to begin with.

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRCanada]

That sounds like my experience. Very therapeutic and increasingly useful as we get older. I had two grandmas who lost their sight.