BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles

Subject: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 07:56 AM

As a recently diagnosed diabetic, I had to attend a (free) eye screening to check for Retinopathy. This will be a regular, annual event. I was also due for my eye test (also free) to check the prescriptions on my reading & distance glasses. New prescriptions were required. It turns out that as a diabetic, I now have to have my glasses prescriptions checked annually too, as opposed to the usual, two year check. Whilst the checks & tests are free (because I'm over 60), the spectacles & frames are most definitely not. Theoretically, I could be paying out every year for new glasses. That could be anywhere between £300.00 to £500.00...on a pension. It seems very unfair that Diabetics, through no fault of their own, should be treated this way. I don't expect everything for free, but a concession would be welcomed. My latest glasses cost £300.00, no designer frames, no fancy, technical lenses...bargain basement stuff. £300.00 is more than a third of my monthly pension.
                                  Rather Irately,
                                                       Nigel.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 08:17 AM

As a fellow (type 2) diabetic I agree about the free eye tests both as an over 60 and a diabetic; however as I am still working I contribute to HealthShield through work where I can claim up to £100 per year for glasses. Having said that I have not needed new glasses for around four years now and when I did I found that I could get two pairs for £99 at my local optician. I do beleive that similar deals are out there in the market place, and of course there is SpecSavers.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 08:34 AM

Your refraction issues are entirely independent of the retina ones. Just because you're getting your retinas checked every year, that doesn't mean you need new glasses every year. Most people's refraction doesn't change that quickly.

My last specs were the two-pairs-for-99-quid deal too. Nobody needs varifocals or designer frames.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 11:41 AM

I have several issues including diabetes and get checked twice a year - covered by my insurance. Glasses I pay for myself but the prescription changes have been so minor that I get new ones about every 4-5 years. Mine too cost between $700-1000 with no fancy stuff. Astigmatisms, cataracts and an enlarged artery in my right eye require special lenses and coatings.
Worth every penny - I can see.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 11:53 AM

I have to have my eyes checked at the eye clinic each year due to a glaucoma risk. I have extremely poor eyesight but wearing contact lenses is the answer - worn them since 1973. £300-500 for glasses? You must be joking! My last pair (bought a couple of months ago after a nine year gap) cost £120 - and that's with the thinnest lenses available (essential with my prescription). Just go when there's a special offer on. I pay around £10 for a pair of reading glasses, buying them online. Got a great, slim pair with a cigar-tube case that fits easily in the pocket.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: theleveller
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 11:55 AM

That was me - didn't see that I didn't have a cookie :)

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 12:00 PM

In common with many people, I can't wear contact lenses. (Dry eyes) So it's not the answer for everybody that it might appear.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 12:01 PM

It's unlikely you'll need new glasses every year. I get the retinopathy check annually (no cost) and an eye exam (there is some cost involved). But I haven't needed new glasses for four years or so.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 03:18 PM

I had a retinopathy check a couple of weeks ago, it $ 30 extra on a $ 90 exam.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 03:36 PM

The VA does mine for free.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: frogprince
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 06:19 PM

Ditto to what had already been said, as to the fact that you may not need new glasses any more often than a non-diabetic. The annual checks are mainly because the danger of damage to the retinas as a diabetic complication does exist. The danger is minimized if you maintain good diabetic care practices. My wife has no signicant eye damage after about 56 years of fully insulin dependent diabetes.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 03:54 AM

Thank you very much to everyone who has contributed. Interesting, informative & reassuring. I'm only three weeks into my new 'diabetic lifestyle', so still much to learn & assimilate. For example, I hadn't appreciated the difference between retina issues & refraction. By way of clarification, the price I quoted in the initial post, covers three pairs of glasses: distance clear/distance tinted (in the vague hope that the sun might shine when I'm driving!) & reading.
            From an extremely soggy UK, thanks once again,
            Very Best,
                         Nigel.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: scouse
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 04:56 AM

Surely if you get the lens free on the NHS just take your old Frame to them and ask them to swap the lens over, they have to cut the lens down to size anyway in the Opticians. They'll do that here in Holland providing your frames sides show no sign of oxidization.Oxidization will eventually break the side arms of the frame. Many's the time I've kept the same frame for years.

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 03:49 PM

I, too, have an expensive vision habit: bifocals, and single-vision middle-distance specs for the computer. My bifocals typically cost about $300 Canadian for the lenses alone, and I need new lenses almost every year. Among other rather serious problems, my eyes are also very, very sensitive to light.

One way I found to duck some of the expense is to wear those bulky over-the-specs sunglasses they make for folks with cataracts. They're both cheaper and safer than prescription sunglasses -- I can snatch them off my nose when driving into a tunnel or a parking garage, and slap them back on again when leaving. With prescription sunglasses, any marked change in light conditions forces me to to take off one pair and put on the other, a process that makes me a great menace to navigation for up to 10 very long seconds.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 06:13 PM

I've been on the road a lot for a few days, so I just saw this thread and see that many people have already written what I would have: that even if your prescription changes, you don't need to replace your lenses each time. I am diabetic and have frequent screening for vision and retinopathy as well as checks for cataracts. Regarding changing lenses, I do this only if my optometrist tells me I am getting close to being unable to pass the vision test required to keep my driver's license! I would probably get new lenses if my vision problems made my head ache, if I was squinting a lot, or if I had any other discomfort caused by vision loss. It is nice to know that if my glasses break, my optometrist has a record of my current prescription so that replacement glasses can be made. Also, I very rarely replace my frames. I have a silver-tone frame and a gold-tone frame and I alternate between them. Right now I'm wearing the gold-tone. When I do need new lenses, I'll have them put them in the silver-tone. Then the ones I wear now will become my back-ups in case the newer ones break and I have to wait a few days for new ones.

About the sunglasses: I do what Charmion does, only more so. I have two pairs of those over-the-specs sunglasses designed for people with cataracts. One is small and I put that right over my regular glasses. Then I put the larger sunglasses on top! That blocks out even more sun! And of course I wear wide-brimmed hat.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: Mingulay
Date: 10 Jul 12 - 11:02 AM

Despite regular tests for retinopathy I had a major bleed in my left eye requiring a vitrectomy. A year later I had a cataract removed which gave me near 20/20 vision at distance but poor near vision. At the moment I can only read print with my right eye but using £10 reading glasses I can the pc screen quite well. Just waiting now for the cataract in the right eye to get bad enough to remove at which point I can get glasses to suit both eyes for all distances. I too find I am light sensitive and use polarised sunglasses to good effect in daylight, at night I have a pair of yellow lensed glasses with 25% polarisation which are most useful when driving.

The most important point is if you are diabetic GET YOUR EYES TESTED REGURLARLY.

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Jul 12 - 08:35 AM

I'm diabetic, and have my annual retinal (and foot) screening. As for eye tests, I haven't needed a new prescription for at least 15 years. I do have to take my glasses off these days for reading and other close work (not the PC screen, though), so I may benefit from bifocals or varifocals - but I can't justify the expense. I did get a pair of glasses for close work a few years ago, but didn't find them to be much help in practice.

As I can easily read car number plates, road signs and the like, I cannot see any advantage in having anything other than the annual retinal screening. If something were to change, then I might.

I. too, am somewhat light-sensitive (always drive with the sun visor down!), and find Polaroid clip-on sunglasses to be adequate. I don't think the expense of 'varilux' prescription lenses would be something I'd consider.

As for my feet, I visit the podiatrist every three months - it's great having a pedicure...!

Subject: RE: BS: Diabetes, eye tests & spectacles
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 05:37 AM

I got two decent pairs of vary focal glasses from Asda about 8 months ago for £90