Ive been a diabetic for 20 years so every 12 months have the back of my eyes checked,i had them done in December, 2 weeks later I had a letter saying I needed to have them done again, a couple of weeks later I had them done again, this time it was done from all angles, I then received a letter saying was a problem with my eyes, I wasn't to concerned as the letter said they would check again in a few months, yesterday I went for a new pair of glasses, after the test they said I had cataracts, now im not one who panics and my usual reaction to a problem is how do I sort it, but knowing people with cataracts they have wait till their eyesight is really poor, I am now really concerned about how long I continue driving and caravanning
As a Diabetic your eyes need testing annually to check for any deterioration in the blood vessels so any changes they will compare the pictures taken from the year previously. However, cataracts is not linked to the above as anyone can get them especially with old age but it's not a permanent problem but a temporary set back till you have the operation done. I have known several OAP's who have cataracts removed including some who tow caravans too but it's just a waiting game to have surgery done so it's not the end of caravanning as you may think. People who have had cataracts removed said how much better their vision was afterwards. Good luck and don't panic.
Ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist. It's no good just visiting the opticians as their main aim is profit. DVLA will always refer you to Specsavers for a vision test, but they don't do any operations that may be required.
------------- Some days you are the dog,
some days you are the tree.
Your optician will monitor the progress of your cataracts. They grow at different rates, so may progress very slowly. The optician will be able to tell you how your sight is affected currently, and would certainly tell you if you had to stop driving. You can be refered for surgery when you are starting to struggle, there is no longer any need to wait until you are blind. And after you have had them replaced, you will find you can see better than ever.
Hi,
I was diagnosed as having cataracts earlier this year, yes they do creep up on you until number plates and road signs look blurred , my optician recommended an operation the paperwork was done and I had my right eye lens replacement the actual op took about 15 mins absolutely painless and I now enjoy brilliant new vision, one month later and I am having my left eye done tomorrow ,my consultant said that as long as I can read a number plate I am ok to drive after a day or so,
I am 77 and plan to carry on caravaning for as long as I am able to
------------- Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow
I had both eyes done nearly 20 years ago..best thing I ever did. Went from bottle top glasses to not needing any glasses,
Although do have to wear them now because of anno domini
Unless both your eyes have been damaged so that you have seriously impaired vision, and your GP or hospital consultant will tell you if that is the case (I wouldn't worry too much about what high street opticians say), whether or not you can drive is pretty well self policing.
Providing you can meet the 'standards for driving' which basically means being able to read a number plate in good light at 20 metres you can continue to drive. You need to test yourself regularly in that respect because if you have an accident and it is deemed you can't read a number plate at the specified distance then you could be heavily fined.
This website may be helpful. Read it carefully because it can be a little confusing but in most cases you don't have to tell the DVLA unless you have serious problems.
Quote: Originally posted by Bridgelayer on 06/5/2015
Ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist. It's no good just visiting the opticians as their main aim is profit. DVLA will always refer you to Specsavers for a vision test, but they don't do any operations that may be required.
Opticians are obliged to tell you of underlying eye problems. Specsavers refered my mum directly to the regional AMD clinic. No profit to them in doing that !
I feel a lot better about the cataracts now, my fIrst reaction was they would slowly get worse till I couldn't drive, then having to wait month's for them to be done, I'm 74 in a couple of months so loosing maybe a year or more not driving would have been a really big loss to us, thank you all for your post's they have put my mind at rest.
If I can just correct you Bob, during the High St eye test, part of the 'letterboard' reading test includes numberplate distance, and opticians have to be very careful to inform patients whether they are ok to drive or not. If you visit your GP they would possibly just refer you to the optician! If the optician sends a referal letter via your GP, the GP might just sign it through without seeing you.
Also bear in mind that if you have a driving accident and don't have up to date specs, you may not be insured either.
Quote: Originally posted by franbee on 08/5/2015
If I can just correct you Bob, during the High St eye test, part of the 'letterboard' reading test includes numberplate distance, and opticians have to be very careful to inform patients whether they are ok to drive or not. If you visit your GP they would possibly just refer you to the optician! If the optician sends a referal letter via your GP, the GP might just sign it through without seeing you.
Also bear in mind that if you have a driving accident and don't have up to date specs, you may not be insured either.
I am sure high street opticians have a duty to inform their patients if they spot any problems but, without going into specific details, I wouldn't trust a high street optician's judgement as far as I could throw them and their equipment is not normally as accurate as the equipment at the hospital.
If you feel you have a problem go to your GP. If your GP feels you have a problem they will normally refer you to the eye department of your local hospital for further investigation...not a high street optician. Alternatively, if you have a sudden deterioration or problem with your sight you can just walk into your hospital emergency eye clinic (if there is one) and be seen. You may have to wait in the queue a long time but you will be seen.
On a different note thought I would have to give
up driving when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea
I was told to inform the DVLA which I did.
They sent me a form to fill in asking name of the
consultant. After being given a CPAP breathing machine
my sleepiness was cured and after a few weeks the DVLA
wrote t5o me and said I was fit to continue driving.
------------- live for today as tomorrow ma never come.
I went to my GP for a problem with my eyes and she told me she couldn't help but I had the choice of going to an Optician or waiting months to be checked at the Eye Hospital. I needed reassurance so I went to Specsavers who gave me a thorough eye examination and told me what was wrong. My daughter went to Specsavers years ago where they picked up a problem with the back of her eye and she was referred to hospital (via GP). In our experience Specsavers have been very good - but their spectacle frames don't seem to last very long.
I had cateracts in 2001 at the age of 41, so not just an old age thing. After a bit of to & fro between GP and Optician, it was if I remember the GP who had to refer me to the consultant. I was lucky as my own GP pushed to get me treated at the earliest opportunity as my job is a Driving Instructor (self employed), so good vision is important.
After the operation, which was quick and under a local, (that scared me but it was fine) when I took the eye patch off, I was amazed at how bright and colourful everything was. I still wear glasses for a stigmatism and reading etc. (the implant lens cannot focus down for close stuff) But once done, you will be back behind the wheel, no problem.
------------- Alan
2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
August C&CC Oxford
October C&CC Lauder
I had cataracts in both eyes, my left eye was really bad.
Night driving was a real problem for me as the glare from headlights made it difficult to see, so had to stop driving in the dark.
Optician referred me to local hospital where I got the left eye done about 3 months later and another 3 months on am waiting to get the right eye done.
I am no longer bothered with the glare in my left eye but my right eye is and I now need to wear glasses most of the time.
Seems some folks get seen pretty quick but long waiting lists up here.
------------- It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.
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Topic: End of caravanning?
