Eye Tests & Plaquenil

[Becks]

Hi,

Can someone please run through what happens at the first eye appointments for Plaquenil?

I've got the dates through for the Visual Field Test (which I can cope with) and then the second appointment and the letter mentions eye drops :eek: I really hate anyone playing with my eyes and am getting myself worked up about it already and the appointment's not until 1st August! :worried:

Thanks xx

[nicky00]

I was talking about eye tests for Planquenil to test for Retinal Toxicity..


I have not had the test yet but Claire the moderator posted this information which may be of interest to you.


Nikki


There are several sites (or should I say sights) with printable Amsler grids such as

http://www.armd.org.uk/amsler.htm

http://www.retinaaustralia.com.au/AmslerGrid.htm

They look smaller than the one I was given once.

Or. you can find a floor with straight lines, wood planking for example, lie down on it and squint along the lines to see if any of them look wavy.
Heavens above, that was once suggested to me in all seriousness.
I pointed out that I don't have floors of this sort and I would not be able to get up again, surely there were more technical ways of doing it.

I was told to hold the Amsler horizontal at eye level and look along it that way but didn't notice that instruction on these sites.

I noticed this "test your vision" site which might be quite useful. I'll probably sign up for it later.
http://www.myvisiontest.com/

There's also the question of the colour vision. I had this each time with my NYC ophthalmo who commented that the little book he used was no longer available. Somewhere on the forum there's a discussion of this colour test which I'll try to find.

Another indication of trouble brewing is seeing fuzzy blurs, haloes, round light


__________________

[Clare.T]

Hello Becks

It varies depending on who's doing it. I think the macular visual field is the main one but if you are going to an ophthalmo you should get the works.

The MVF is a total doddle - I find myself going to sleep. You click a button when you see a spark of light. One eye is covered and you look straight ahead at a central spot. The spark appears briefly at various points on the 'field' at differing intervals of time to make sure you are alert.

See
http://arthritis.about.com/gi/dynamic/offs...asp%3Faud%3Dmem (http://arthritis.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=arthritis&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rheumatology.org%2Fpublication s%2Fposition%2Fhydroxy.asp%3Faud%3Dmem)

There's also the LFA article


http://www.lupus.org/education/topics/plaquenil.html


Cheers
Clare

[Becks]

Hi,

Thank you for your responses - the thought of eye drops still scares me though! :lol:

One thing though - if the MVF tests for alertness I don't stand much of a chance - I have the attention span of a goldfish! :rotfl:

xx

[LWL2002]

:) Hello Becks! I have an eye exam tomorrow and I have had the drops in my eyes. They do not hurt or burn at all.Not sure I will have to have them again tomorrow tho. No need being scared thats for sure. It is very painless. Hope this helps! Take care....Laura(LWL2002):)

[Becks]

Thanks for the reassurance Laura - though I fear they may still have to hold me down whilst they put them in!!! :rotfl:

[edison wifey]

well the first time i went i was scarred to but its just a regular test but ive been on placqunil for about 5 years and it started to mess with my eyes so my doctor took me off. make sure you go to the eye doctor every 6 months like they say because its very important they keep up with whats going on ok

[LWL2002]

:) ...Hi Becca..I went to the eye Dr earlier today, and he did put eye drops in my eyes.;) ....It didnt burn at all but it does make my eyes feel like they are much bigger!..................:lol: There is nothing to it,so I am sure you will get through it with out any problems at all. Laura(LWL2002)

[goats]

I just went to a new eye doctor today and had all the tests. the drops were fine,I just had to wear sun glasses to drive for about one hour
and got a huge lecture from the doctor about getting my eyes checked every six months. that last doc said every two years. this one asked me if I believe everything I am told when I new different.. oops
she said it was our responsiblity to get good health care.or fire the doc:lol:
first time I heard that from their own kind

don't be worried it was very simple

[peonyprincess]

When I had my eye test, the doctor did several different tests. I had to tell them numbers that were in the "bubbles", I had to take off my glasses and cover each eye and read the smallest line on an eye chart. The nurse then put drops in my eyes to dialate my eyes. Once they were dialated, then he could look behind my eyes and such. Once I went thru the test, the nurse put more drops into my eyes to reverse the first drops and I was on my way home.

The test was absolutely painless. I see my eye doc every 6 months and we always go thru the same routine. Don't fret about the eye drops and tests, it really isn't that big of a deal.


Nancy

[Lily]

Hi there,

I'm going for mine in a couple of weeks. Dont worry you will be fine :luck:

Interesting Nancy they gave you drops to reverse the effect of the dilation, I've never heard of that before. I was about to mention to everyone though that its important that you dont expose your eyes to bright lights (i.e. wear sunglasses etc.) for at least 1-2 hrs after the test. They will take in much more light and it could cause eye damage, most Optho's warn you of this but unfortunately not all of them do :mad:

love
Lily

[peonyprincess]

Lily,

Yup, I am not sure what the name of the drops are, but whatever it is, it works quick. I do have the choice to reverse or not to reverse, but I am usually the one that drove there. Driving with your eyes dilated is a very wierd experience, kinda like a sober drunk! The dilation drops are yellow and the nurse always makes some crack comment about me being rich because I am crying tears of gold. I don't know, she is wierd.:hehe: You are absolutely correct about the light thing. After I have the drops, they take me to a darkened waiting room where I wait until the drops have taken effect. Then like I mentioned, the reversal drops are almost immediate.

Nancy

[Brannangirl]

I just went last week for my second visit, every 6 months. He is an opthomolgoist so he did check it all, the vision real quick, checked for color blindness, did the drops that dilate (mine did burn in one eye), then he takes many pics of the eye on a computer, then he also did inject some dye in my vein in my arm to take a look at the blood vessels to check for bleeding or vasculitis since I'm on coumadin and he said vasculitis can occur with lupus.I too have never heard of reversal drops. That would be nice. I did a field vision test when I had to do a return visit the first time and I didn't have to be dilated for that one. That one was very simple. I hope yours goes well. I hate eye drops too, but compared to other things you've gone through I think it will be fine. Good luck.

[Lily]

Hi again,

Interesting Nancy, yes driving should be delayed too after the dilation drops, I remember I attempted it once and it was like driving drunk, but you were sober :hehe: not good for you or others on the road :eek:

The only yellow drops I've had is when they put the rose bengal dye in my eyes but they dont reverse the dilation unfortunately. I will have to question the tall dark handsome Greek when I go in a couple of weeks :lol: Funny my last Optho was Italian and just as scrumptious :lol:

love
Lily