How many tests are needed to tell me that my eyes are deteriorating?

I have had so many eye tests over the past two weeks. And they have not finished.

It all started with a simple test at Preston Specsavers. I use glasses for distance and reading but have not had a test for five years so I thought it was about time. The test was free with the NHS but they asked if I would like to pay £5 for an eye health test while I was there. I thought “why not?”.

The traditional test with me reading increasingly small letters went well. My reading eyesight is slightly worse and my distance sight is slightly better but nothing to require me changing my glasses, so good news.

But the eye health test was more comprehensive. They puffed air at the eyes, took photographs of my retinas and got me to do a field test where I clicked a button every time I saw a light in the periphery of my vision.

This last test showed some anomalous results so they got me to repeat it two more times and had a computer analyse my optic nerve scan. The ophthalmologist was still not happy so referred me to a glaucoma specialist to come back the following day

So day 2, I came back and did another raft of tests with fancier machines. I had eye drops to dilate my pupils, coloured dye in the eyes, lights in my eyes, a better field test, and more precise scanning of my eyes. This time the field test came back clear, but one of the computer analysed images showed potential thinning of the left optic nerve. This was odd because if it was glaucoma we would have expected the eye pressures to have been high on the puffer test, and missing areas on the field test. So the glaucoma specialist decided I needed to be referred to a more advanced expert.

I was expecting months to wait but I heard back in days and had an appointment with another optician, in Lytham, for yet another field test. I called to check whether this was really necessary because I had already had four of these tests, but was told that because I was now seeing people from CHEC (Community Health Eye Care) I had to do their tests.

Two days later I was back with a consultant , this time in Blackpool. More eye drops, more eye exams, more detailed pressure tests and cornea thickness measurements. The result – guess what – I need more tests. Apparently I am a Glaucoma suspect but not a Glaucoma patient. The symptoms are something called “cupping” in the left optic nerve and could be caused by short sightedness when I was a child. I will need to wait another 6 weeks but need better scanning of the optic nerve and unbelievably yet another field test!

Maybe I should be grateful for the NHS and that I can get so many tests for free. Maybe I should be grateful that I am retired and can take whatever time I need for appointments. But I have to think that there has to be a more efficient way to diagnose common eyesight problems for oldies like me.

Hey – I am in a Facebook group called “Dull men’s club”. Would this week’s post be suitable?