Advice re. getting an Opthalmic referral

curlygirl1971

Undervalued wrote: »

An optometrist (optician) is trained and qualified to do a lot more than just prescribe glasses. Unfortunately apart from certain services that the NHS pays them to do they are private businesses.

I would have thought you ought to get you eye looked at promptly and it may be there is no alternative but to pay.

Yes I do appreciate that.
I've got an apt tomorrow

curlygirl1971

Thanks guys, appreciate the comments. And yes I do appreciate Opticians are highly qualified and deserve their income. My gripe is with NHS red-tape.


Nearest Eye Casualty is 20 miles away and isn't a walk-in (you call and they triage). Its likely I'd have to have drops in my eyes which would mean I can't drive - so not an easy option for me


I'm seeing Optician tomorrow and will see what they say.


As much as I hate the situation I'm in and the degradation in my vision - I don't believe it warrants an emergency as such. I'm not medically qualified but what I think is happening is just an ongoing build up of 'debris' and a breakdown in the vitreous humour - all of this now severely clouding and blurring my vision in one eye. (I had a retinal tear 10 years ago). Previously when it wasn't so bad, I was told to go away and live with it and my brain would adjust, that surgery (Vitrectomy) was only reserved for the very worst cases


From what I've read online I think this will still be the case - but I've got to at least have it checked (just in case something else is going on) and see if a Consultant would be prepared to offer treatment. Esp as its beginning to impact my ability to work.

Undervalued

curlygirl1971 wrote: »

Thanks guys, appreciate the comments. And yes I do appreciate Opticians are highly qualified and deserve their income. My gripe is with NHS red-tape.


Nearest Eye Casualty is 20 miles away and isn't a walk-in (you call and they triage). Its likely I'd have to have drops in my eyes which would mean I can't drive - so not an easy option for me


I'm seeing Optician tomorrow and will see what they say.


As much as I hate the situation I'm in and the degradation in my vision - I don't believe it warrants an emergency as such. I'm not medically qualified but what I think is happening is just an ongoing build up of 'debris' and a breakdown in the vitreous humour - all of this now severely clouding and blurring my vision in one eye. (I had a retinal tear 10 years ago). Previously when it wasn't so bad, I was told to go away and live with it and my brain would adjust, that surgery (Vitrectomy) was only reserved for the very worst cases


From what I've read online I think this will still be the case - but I've got to at least have it checked (just in case something else is going on) and see if a Consultant would be prepared to offer treatment. Esp as its beginning to impact my ability to work.

Who also may well need to dilate your pupils so don't drive there.

Second point...

Indeed, it is a balance as any surgical intervention carries risks. It is one good reason (as opposed to NHS backlogs) why they tend to delay cataract surgery. Although it is normally highly successful there is a small but real chance of it going badly wrong. So at what point do you risk poor but still useful vision for a 90% chance of good vision?

Other retinal issues can need more or less instant surgery if there is to be a good outcome.

KxMx

An optician did a referral for me 2 years ago. That went to a triage service who send you to Hospital Opthalmology or a local private eye care clinic.

If the eye care clinic feel you need the Hospital they then refer you on.

My issue minor and I'm having yearly check ups at the private clinic, didn't need the Hospital.

curlygirl1971

Saw an Optician this morning. Looking back at my retina photos from the last 18 months, he said I should have perhaps been referred 2 eye tests ago and certainly in October last year. (Boots Opticians still charged me for todays visit though!)


He also rang the hospt to see if I needed an Emergency or just Urgent referral. They agreed Urgent (3 weeks) but then later the hospital called me and I went this afternoon. Interestingly there was a notice up saying the Clinic was not a walk-in and any new patients needed referral from A&E, Optician or GP.........my GP yesterday said he couldn't do it


I personally think there is a hole in the process and perhaps when I have a little more energy and I can figure out who I'd 'complain' to... I will. I can afford the £25 sight test, but what if it was someone that couldn't and were put off by it.

Undervalued

curlygirl1971 wrote: »

Saw an Optician this morning. Looking back at my retina photos from the last 18 months, he said I should have perhaps been referred 2 eye tests ago and certainly in October last year. (Boots Opticians still charged me for todays visit though!)


He also rang the hospt to see if I needed an Emergency or just Urgent referral. They agreed Urgent (3 weeks) but then later the hospital called me and I went this afternoon. Interestingly there was a notice up saying the Clinic was not a walk-in and any new patients needed referral from A&E, Optician or GP.........my GP yesterday said he couldn't do it


I personally think there is a hole in the process and perhaps when I have a little more energy and I can figure out who I'd 'complain' to... I will. I can afford the £25 sight test, but what if it was someone that couldn't and were put off by it.

I am pleased to hear that you manged to get referred and seen by an ophthalmologist.

I would imagine, based on what you have said the optometrist told you today, if you make a formal complaint to Boots you will be able to get at least the most recent fee back.

The wider issue of what is free to everybody on the NHS, free to some or not provided for free at all is far more difficult....

Unless you are on a very low income there is a fee to pay for an NHS dental checkup and a further contribution for any treatment.

Currently there is no charge for anybody, however wealthy, to see an NHS GP. Some think there should be, others strongly disagree.

Optometry is an odd one in that it is a funny mixture between a medical service, generally charged at a lost leader price and subsidised by the sale of heavily marked up fashion accessories - i.e glasses! Opticians seem to find it necessary to operate from very expensive retail space in city centres, yet doctors and dentists generally don't.

iwb100

An optician or GP can refer. The point being that an optician SHOULD have far more information/data and evidence to produce a referral than a GP.

For example a GP would not necessarily know whether a referral was urgent or not. Whereas an optician has a picture of the back of your eyes and should be able to make a clearer clinical judgement.

If you have retinal issues I'd suggest you go to an opticians regularly who offer OCT scans. This not only takes a photo of the back of your eye but also a full 3d scan - it detects many issues including retinal thinning etc much earlier. Many opticians offer it - some for a fee. Some include it in their standard eye tests.