Detached retina - Shadow in eye

wimbleQ · 3 May 2008 at 7:40AM

Hello,

A relative, aged 68, has told me she's worried about her eyes as she sees what she describes as a shadow or curtain coming across her field of vision from time to time.

I googled this and it says it could be a sign of a detached retina.

Relative in question won't go to the doctor as she says as soon as she does she's worried her driving licence will be revoked and she would be really lost without the car. I can understand this but I've said she'd be better off with her vision than her car...!

Please can anyone help/advise?

Is there anywhere confidential she could go to get this checked over?

I hasten to add she is responsible and if she felt she was a danger on the road she would stop driving but she doesn't at the moment.

The stuff I looked at on Google seems to say if it's not looked at she could lose her sight!

Please does anyone have experience in this area and know more about the treatment for this and the success of the treatment? Would she get treatment on the NHS for this? Or indeed if she has it if it automatically means she would lose her driving licence?

Ta muchly.

withabix · 3 May 2008 at 7:50AM

Self-diagnosis of serious conditions on the internet is not advisable!!

She MUST get her eyesight checked out as a matter of urgency.

Her eyesight is MUCH more important than her driving licence!!! :mad:

...and so are the lives of other road users who she might kill or maim if she continues to drive without getting her condition checked out and happens to have an eyesight issue whilst driving.

Get her to an optician!!!

It may only be a 'floater'. Millions of people have these (I have one in my left eye) - they are threads of protein floating around in the eyeball.

If it is a detached retina, it can be treated and this is available on the NHS.

ampersand · 3 May 2008 at 8:01AM

For what it's worth - the parallel is not exact - I found myself having laser eye surgery over 2 years to last November.
My fears re: driving licence were exactly the same - it's my escape route/lifeline.
I have been totally assured by all professionals(including own entirely-trusted GP)that Driving Licence is unaffected - one can have only one eye and all is still well.
I was lucky enough to have wet macular degeneration(blood vessels suddenly leaking through left central vision; effect - smeariness and partial loss)
Not every case is suitable for this NHS treatment and it arrests. rather than cures.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT SHE GOES FOR DIAGNOSIS.
I visited local optician and was sent, with letter, IMMEDIATELY, to Addenbrookes.
I have been very, very lucky.

LillyJ · 3 May 2008 at 12:10PM

Get her to go to the opticians. You are not trained in this and neither is she so how you can know what she has is beyond me. Also very selfish to be driving if she believes her licence would be taken off her - they only do this for a reason when you are a risk. If she kills someone then I don't care how old she is she should go to jail if she knew there was something wrong with her eyes.

sillyvixen · 3 May 2008 at 6:03PM

she needs to be seen by the optitician urgently.

bryanb · 3 May 2008 at 6:10PM

I would recommend an urgent visit to A&E. This can probably be repaired by laser (mine was) But if left will become a major problem. I really do mean Accident and Emergency. This is an Emergency.

Savvy_Sue · 4 May 2008 at 1:57AM

MEDICAL ADVICE

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Detached retina - Shadow in eye

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