Nothing to do with PMR really , but eye health concerns us all. Yesterday afternoon I suddenly experienced floaters in my right eye - a really weird experience. Not one to pussyfoot around I managed to find a local specsavers with an appointment later that afternoon and hot trotted over there. Half an hour later after a thorough examination the opthomologist had made a referral ( a retinal tear) and rung the eye hospital in Southend directly. He said they liked to deal with these things immediately and would hear from them later that day. Now this was after 4:30 so I wasn’t expecting much. However, by 5 o’clock they had rung and requested I get there as soon as I could. After a quick cuppa to calm my self, hubby drove me there. Same tests all over again (!) and doctor confirmed there was a small tear and it would need laser treatment. Now how long will that take to be arranged I thought. Ha, done there and then and by now this was 7: 30! Marvellous.
Two organisations acting immediately and working together for the good of the patient. If only the rest of the NHS could be so efficient.
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artisam
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Indeed! The opthomologist even rang me this morning to see how I was and if I got treated. He also said any problems, not to make an appointment, just ring directly and he’d triage me in. I think I love this man😂
I find my eye clinic at my local hospital to be very quick to act. I was at Specsavers yesterday and was very pleasantly surprised at the excellent service I received. I did not really get on with the optician I saw after my cataract ops but this lady was wonderful
Sorry you've had to go through that, but very pleased to hear of such a good service and outcome.
My eye health was previously being managed by an independent optician as I thought they would somehow be more thorough and 'aware' of my specific eye concerns.
A set of unfortunate circumstances resulted in me looking for an alternative optician and whilst looking for this alternative one, I had a checkup at my local Specsavers.
They were so lovely and the optician was clearly fully clued up about the GCA- related 'specifics' to look out for.
My examination was very thorough with all the tests I'd had done previously undertaken here, and best of all....... I spent literally a third of my usual amount of money on a new pair of glasses plus a second pair for half price!
The whole experience was pleasant, informative, reassuring and equal to, if not better than, that at my previous independent opticians.
My experience also. They seemed much more clued up than the independent I used, which quite frankly were lax and disinterested. They even rang me this morning to see how I was and if the hospital had rung me. 😊
I go to an independent optician but as kendrew says, my glasses cost me an absolute fortune! Am now wondering whether it’s worth the £50 return taxi fare to get me to my ‘local’ specsavers…where I now go anyway for hearing aids 🤷♀️
Over the past number of years that I've required glasses, I've literally spent a small fortune on both lenses and frames. At Specsavers, I still receive excellent varifocal lenses with all the necessary filters and I genuinely feel the quality of my vision is equally good.
They have an excellent choice of frames that even at their most expensive, are still significantly cheaper than from the independent optician.
I'd take a chance and give them a go.
If it doesn't work for you then you don't have to go there again.
Well I can only go by my experience which has been fab. Certainly cheaper. Reading glasses and driving glasses for far less than I paid for I pair at the independent I used before, which always seemed to break.
I tried for those advertised cheapies…but not only were the forms you had to fill in confusing…...but when you finally filled them in ….P&P was £15.95!
I too had a problem with my eye, I thought I’d some sort of vision problem with a big black blob in my vision, they advised me to go to eye hosp there and then, that was the start of GCA.
I think that’s why I rushed to the opticians so quickly as I thought it might be connected that way. It’s good to know opticians have such a good understanding of these things
That’s spooky. I had almost the exact same experience last year in Suffolk. Was dealt with immediately and efficiently by Specsavers and local hospital. Very impressive!
excellent service from Specsavers ( Norwich) too. Then 4 months in to PMR, lots of headaches. Contacted them, saw Senior Practitioner next day, over an hour with him, scans etc. No charge, just reassurance!
Boots optician saved my son's sight on a routine examination they discovered a rare condition Retino Schisis a split retina,hospital also acted the same day. Thank god for the NHS he is being closely monitored as he may need emergency surgery if it he has worsening symptoms. The optician calls him in occasionally so students can examination him as its quite difficult to spot
Specsavers are definitely worth their salt, they told me I would need cataract surgery within a year! Well done for spotting a retina issue and very fast referrals. Good luck.
Glad it all worked out well and well done everyone for doing the right thing. How it should be every time, regardless but good to know about spec savers
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