Very afraid of retina exam, please help

[nygrl]

Hi, I am 33 years old, very nearsighted , about -8.  I had Lasik about 5 years ago.  Since that time I have had flashes and floaters, and have had my eyes checked regularly. Last week I noticed a new floater that was more noticable than others. today I went to my eye Dr. He is only an optometrist but said he did not see anything with dilation. He did attempt to view my retina with this little cone-shaped device that he put directly on my eye but it was very uncomfortable and he stopped. He referred me to a retina specialist who cannot see me for a week. The receptionist who made the appt for me told me she had been through the exam and scared me to death. She said just to remember that it's for my own good. apparently they will do a scleral depression. I am absolutly terrified. I have an anxiety disorder and I am so terrified that I feel like I am going to be sick. Not just about the exam, but the fact that I need to have this procedure I have never heard of. Does that indicate that something is really wrong and my Dr. just does not want to worry me? Is the exam painful? Is it dangerous?  How much pressure do they put on the eye? Please, if someone could just answer a few questions for me I would appreciate it. I'd rather know the truth so that I can prepare myself rather than be sick with worry for the next week. I apparently need someone to drive me too. In that case I plan to take a sedative. Is there any reason I should not do that? Thank you. Appreciate any advice .

[berrywoo]

You're correct, in that the scleral indentation/depression exam is not done if you're presenting with a loss of vision, as in a curtain/veil/shadow appears in your periphery, which could suggest a retinal tear/detachment. However, if you're only symptoms are of flashing lights and floaters then it is ok to undergo the scleral depression.

The exam itself only lasts for a few minutes (3-4 minutes). It does not leave you with sore eyes, although if it does it should go away very quickly. Most people I know that have had the procedure have been fine with it. The biggest complaint comes from the brightness of the light that is shone into the eye.

I'm not a doctor...I'll take the "or something" category, LOL.

I think you're handling things well, it's understandable to be a bit nervous, and it's great that you're trying to find out more information instead of just being ignorant.

[berrywoo]

It's pretty normal...it's usually done when a retinal specialist first sees a patient who presents with floaters and/or flashing lights b/c these symptoms could be a sign of a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) or a retinal tear/detachment. The test helps to view the far periphery of the retina in better detail than just a dilated eye exam alone.

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear nygrl,

Try to take one step at a time. Speak with your retinal specialist about your fears and your anxiety.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California

[khaledsokk]

actually it is v important to have ur eye examined properly following the eye flashs . i myself ignored the exam due to flashs and i got retinal detch after 2weeks of appearance of symptoms and underwent an invasive eye veretomy sugey . i advice u to proceed t proper eye exam   to save ur eye with out surgical . and i advice u also to tak vacation and relax ur eyes completely til the flashs disappear.

[nygrl]

Ok, well I guess I can panic a little less. It seems to me that in someone who could possibly have a retinal tear or detachment that putting pressure on the eye would be a danger, no?  I hope I make it thru the exam.  How long does it last?  Are the eyes sore after? Sorry so many questions.  Having to wait a week for this is like torture. The Dr. had asked the receptionist if there was anyone there that could see me the same day that he saw me but when she said no he didnt't seem concerned. I hope he just wanted me to get it over with since I was already dilated. Part of me worries that he had other reasons, even tho he said he didn't see anything. Are you a Dr Berrywoo? I assume if you're not you work in a opth office or something. How do patients normally tolerate this exam? Are they big babies like me? LOL. After having 2 kids and multiple sugeries you would think this would be a piece of cake but anxiety makes everythign worse. I appreciate your help in this.

[nygrl]

Thanks. I guess it doesn't sound that bad, even though having someone press on my eye horrifies me. I just kinda had a freakout today. I guess I am more afraid of what they'll find. I don't know if my Dr really feels like I need to be looked at for something specific or if he is just tired of me running in every time I get a new floater.  Is this test pretty normal? I have never heard of it before.

[berrywoo]

Relax. the exam is not painful at all. This is usually what happens: you sit in the exam chair after your eyes are dilated and you're given some numbing drops, then the chair is reclined back so you're laying on your back, (kinda like at the dentist's), then the doctor gently presses on the sclera (white part of eye) with the depressor (it is NOT sharp or painful) as you move your eyes to look in various directions.

If it helps you can go ahead and take the sedative, but really all you feel is pressure, like someone is gently pushing down on your eye (which might be b/c someone actually is pushing on your eye).

The exam is necessary to detect any holes/tears in the far periphery of your retina.

[nygrl]

...wanted to add that my mom had a retinal tear at age 63.  Thanks.