Maybe the NHS ain't so bad...

[chaoticbob]

The inefficiencies of the NHS are the cause of many a gripe - but...
0:830 Wednesday arose with a strange flashing in my eye. Rang up surgery, appointment with a nurse practitioner that PM. Preliminary eye exam, nothing terrible, but see a GP tomorrow.

Thursday PM GP says nothing wrong he could see, but rang up Royal Derby Hosp for advice - they gave me an appointment for Friday (today) @ 10:45 AM. I was out of the place by noon, having been given a thorough eye examination. I was pretty impressed by the efficiency of the system given that I wasn't high risk.

If you want the gruesome details (those of nervous disposition stop reading here) it seems that the vitreous humour shrinks and parts company with the retina as we grow older. This can cause a tear in the retina (not happened in my case yet) - but if you get to it quickly they can spot weld it back in place with a laser. Cripes!
Robin

 

[CHJ]

Several years ago whilst out on a Sunday had vision of blood circulating in my eye, imagine red ink dropped in a tumbler of water. (How does your brain focus on something inside your eye?)
Called in Cirencester hospital on the way home, rapid check by doctor sees referral to Cheltenham Eye hospital and request for wife to drive me straight there.
Arrive to be greeted by Ophthalmic surgeon in reception who had been called in especially to carry out tests and any emergency treatment if necessary.
Fortunately it was just vitreous humour shrinkage that had caused the bleed but not damaged the retina, several weeks of looking through what looked like a dust cloud whilst the blood dispersed and a few floaters left over that the brain learns to ignore.
Frights like that make you very conscious of Eye health, does not help at all when the specialist giving the all clear several weeks later says not to worry unduly as it often happens to folks in the 70's, does nothing for the self esteem that you are still in your 60's.
I too am very happy with the response of the system when the chips are down.

 

[sunnybob]

youre lucky you dont live in somerset. last time i needed to see the surgery nurse i was a given a two week wait. Any doctor was 4 days.

 

[lurker]

An optician might have been a better bet.
Your average GP will know very little about eyes
Also you would have freed up nhs for more pressing stuff, although I did share your initial panic when mine happened.

After a while your brain will filter it out.
I have eye check annually since and it has not got any worse.

 

[DrPhill]

I had to have a torn retina welded shut last year. Not a comfortable procedure, but could have prevented me from losing my sight. I have a number of 'floaters' in my left eye. They are distracting in low light conditions, but way better than no vision.