Re: Opticians

I have been going to the same optician for years now; a very nice and very competent Indian gentleman.
Originally, this was a branch of Dollond and Aitcheson, but has now been taken over by Boots.
My trouble and strife and I have always found him very helpful. He can't do enough to help us.

Re: Opticians

I just go to the local optician near me and I buy my specs there too. They seem as good as any of the Mall opticians certainly no cheaper nor more expensive and they bulk bill Medicare so it costs me nothing for the test.

My appointments are every year because I have a family history of glaucoma but usually people go every two years.

Re: Opticians

Same here Bruce
My dad had glaucoma so I go annually and it's free

Where I am it's SpecSavers or Vision Express. I go to the latter as I always have and the Optician there is a gentleman. He explains and shows me everything.

Re: Opticians

As a driver I decided at 30 to have mine checked I've been going annually since, only last year I was given glasses I must wear to drive, but I think my little independent optician saved my life when she diagnosed inverted eye lashes and sent me to hospital to have them removed, they found the reason they turned was a tumour in my cheek. If I hadn't had that removed I may not be here today.

Re: Opticians

Wow that's an amazing story Julie

Re: Opticians

A workmate was complaining about headaches, and was blaming the smell of paint on the site. As i could not smell anything i suggested he had his sight tested, as it could be to blame.

Her went and when the optician took a look at him was shocked to find out how high his BP was and immediately phoned for an ambulance.

He spent the next six weeks in hospital, and was told how lucky he was to have visited the opticians, as he would have gone in to a coma or even died.

So getting your eyes tested has other benefits.

Re: Opticians

Absolutely Nom they diagnose so many other things and save lives. I recommend everyone gets their eyes tested it can save your life.

Re: Opticians

Gosh, what a lucky man he was to discover that in time, Nom. How would they know your blood pressure from an eye test though?

Re: Opticians

I think his was so high it affected his eyeball.

Along with eye-related concerns, eye doctors may even be able to detect other health issues during a comprehensive eye exam. In fact, you may even find yourself leaving the eye doctor with a referral to another specialist because of a specific test that your ophthalmologist performed during your comprehensive eye exam. Here are just a few health issues that may be discovered during an eye exam:

1 Diabetes— Diabetes affects the small capillaries in the retina of the eyes. These blood vessels may leak blood or a yellowish fluid, and this may be discovered in an eye exam. If your eye doctor notices this condition, you may have a condition called diabetic retinopathy.
2 Hypertension— Blood vessels in the eye may exhibit bends, kinks or tears, and this may be an indication of high blood pressure.
3 Autoimmune disorders— If the eye is inflamed, this may be a sign of Lupus or another autoimmune disorder.
4 High cholesterol— The cornea may have a yellowish appearance or a yellow ring around it which can be a sign of high cholesterol. There also may be plaques in the blood vessels of the retina which could indicate elevated cholesterol.
5 Thyroid disease— One of the telltale signs of thyroid disease are bulging eyes or protruding eyeballs. This condition is also known as Graves Disease.
6 Cancer— If your eye doctor notices that the structure of your eye is unusual, you may be referred to a specialist. Ocular melanoma can develop in the cells that make pigmentation in the eye. Your eye exam can also help detect skin cancer. Basal cell carcinomas can appear on the eyelid and could even spread to the brain through the eye.
7 Tumors— Droopy eyelid or irregularly shaped pupils could possibly indicate a neck tumor or an aneurism (Source: Digital Journal).

Re: Opticians

All very interesting, Nom. Thank you.