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I'm not asking for a diagnosis, just wondering if there's anywhere I can get guidance.
A week ago I visited my (high street) opticians for my two-yearly sight test (I've been short-sighted since I was about 14, I'm 49 now). My prescription has changed (close up sight is getting worse) and I said breezily, "I'm still reasonably young and healthy so I won't bother with the £10 3D scan" (the other option is a free "flat" NHS scan of your eyes - I opted for that).
Got my eyes tested, and the eye examination was reaching its conclusion, then the optician said, "Have you heard of macular degeneration?" - I have, but I didn't know what it meant. Apparently I have the early stages in my right eye.
She told me to go back and take the 3D scan, which I did. "If I phone back", she said, "then you should worry". (She didn't, thankfully - so I wondered in the intervening days if she'd misdiagnosed it - denial, I suppose).
It's normally in "very elderly patients", she said, and asked if I smoked (no), or had lived in a hot country for years (I'm Scottish so my skin is practically blue, as Billy Connolly says!!)
Then, "Can you see the doorway in straight lines or wavy lines?" - I laughed, because I thought, she's telling me I have really old eyes and my eyesight's getting worse.

Then I get home and do a search term (as I had no real idea what she was telling me) and felt sick!! It's progressive, incurable and can cause sight loss.
I phoned the optician myself a few days ago, to try and get some reassurance. Yes, it's still the same diagnosis after looking at the 3D scan, she can't advise how quickly it will progress and to get back in touch if I get distorted vision.
I understand doctors don't have all the answers but I feel left hanging. No idea what lies ahead, no idea what I can do to try and slow its progression (no idea if you can "halt" it!) and she still recommended seeing an optician every two years - which seems a bit strange, given such news.
I understand doctors don't have all the answers but I feel left hanging. No idea what lies ahead, no idea what I can do to try and slow its progression (no idea if you can "halt" it!) and she still recommended seeing an optician every two years - which seems a bit strange, given such news.
She did say she couldn't see my history (it's the same chain of opticians, but a different branch - I actually thought their records were centralised via a computer screen). I may have had it for years (?) and at my age it's quite unusual, she even said "there's nothing to worry about".
I phoned the opticians at my location (who I've seen for around 12 years) but they said the 3D scan I had recently is quite new to their stores - nothing unusual in my notes from two years ago, but "something" in my right eye, could be diet, but not really worthy of concern.
Now I've read all sorts of conflicting things online (and, yes, I know, Dr Google is never a good idea). Should I speak to my GP? (Some seem to think it can be a sign of other health issues, or even genetic, especially if the person is quite young). Supplements? Lifestyle? (I'd say my diet isn't the greatest but I rarely drink, my main health problem is insomnia/anxiety/mood - which I've been medicated for for years).
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
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Replies
I can bear pain myself, he said softly, but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have -
Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
Lewis Carroll
Words, words, they're all we have to go by!.
(Pity they are mangled by this autocorrect!)
I also have a history of MD in my family. The advice about wearing good quality sunglasses, eating leafy veg and taking ideally a specialist supplement but if not at least some fish oil is spot on as far as I know. I would also ask for a referral to an eye specialist or to be honest would pay to see one privately even just as a way to reassure myself.
Also just to add that an optician once said something identical to me (right down to me being very young for it!), when I was referred to an eye specialist they said there was nothing there.
And there is the Macular Society as well for more info.