Opticians with diabetes knowledge

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
As a diabetic the eyes are vulnerable to problems with the retina.

About 10 years ago I remember having an eye test in the UK where an image of the retina was taken and was healthy at the time. I'm not sure if that image is filed away somewhere.

Anyone know of an optician preferably in the Zug area that performs a similar service ?

2
You need to go to an ophthalmologist to get that done (Augenarzt) you can't get it done at the regular walk in off the street eye testing opticians.

Are you diabetic? If so it would have been advisable to have the retinal exam carried out more often than once every 10 years.

3

Either that or get it done back in the UK if you visit regularly. We get our eyes tested in the UK every 18 months, last done in August last year. OH is diabetic and the optician at Boots arranged the test for him and confirmed everything is okay.

4
Are you seeing an endocrinologist for your diabetes? If so, ask for a referral to an Augenarzt.

My Augenarzt ( http://augenarzt-praxis.ch ) is not only a very good doctor, I am also happy with how care is coordinated with the endocrinologist (thyroid related eye issues). But given your location, Pfäffikon SZ is likely too far for you.

5
Same here- we have full eye test including back of retina imaging, glaucoma and field vision, etc every year in the UK. Please note you can't have it done on NHS though and will have to pay. At our local Vision Express they send me vouchers for free eye test, then ask me to sign the NHS form- which I refuse as it would be fraudulent- and argue the case that their voucher say the test is free... as I am a good customer, they always agree.

6
An other reason to get a referral from at least your general practitioner is the time you wait for an appointment with an Augenarzt here, if you go the direct way. With a refferal it's much quicker.

7
My dad is diabetic and it is a prerequisite for him in the UK to keep his driving licence that he has his eyesight tested on at least a yearly basis.

I would be surprised if that were massively different in CH.

He is Type 1 and has been for 38 years.

I assume you have regular diabetic control checks to see how you are managing your sugar levels, insulin requirements, diet etc? If so, they should also be connecting you to the folk who check for eyesight, feet problems and cholesterol?

In regard to your first question, all opticians will be qualified to deal with diabetic patients as long as they are aware of the full medical history.

8
I am diabetic and also get regular eye checks with an opthamologist. Any opthamologist can do the necessary checks and they know enough about diabetes to know what has to be done. My opthamologist always spends a few minutes talking with me about my diabetes and seems to understand the issues well.

There is no official requirement concerning eyetests, driving licences and diabetes, but common sense would have you consult your endocrinologist regularly and they would almost strongly recomment an eye exam at least once a year (and possibly more frequently if they spot something).

As it happens I have no retinopathy symptoms (those related to diabetes), but do have glaucoma which needs to be monitored twice a year.

An optician would not be able to carry out these exams.

9
[QUOTE=mimi1981;2722103In regard to your first question, all opticians will be qualified to deal with diabetic patients as long as they are aware of the full medical history.[/QUOTE]

NO, sorry but it is absolutely essential to correct you here. All opticians in the UK are, but NOT in Switzerland and NOT in France. They do not have the qualifications, nor the equipment, to properly look at the back of the eyes, filed vision and glaucoma. NOT IN SWITZERLAND - for those you have to go to a medical opthalomogist here, not an optician. My mother lost her sight as I was not aware of this, as I was used to the UK system- I'll always feel guilty about that.

10
To be 100% correct all ophthalmic opticians in the UK are qualified to do this but dispensing opticians are not.

Every optician's in the UK will have at least one ophthalmic optician working there.

The optician here refused to do an eye test on my diabetic husband and told him he had to go to an ophthalmologist. He has annual check ups with her.

11
Well yes- you go to the opticians and make an appointment for an eye test with the specialist (in UK).

12

Actually to avoid confusion completely it's probably best to avoid using the word optician at all.

This link gives the current UK names for the different professionals.

http://www.healthcentre.org.uk/optic...lmologist.html

Ophthalmic opticians are now called optometrists apparently and are quite different from dispensing opticians.

13
http://www.augenzentrum-zug.ch/gian-carlo-daepp.php

I have been here for glaucoma testing and was very happy with the service. With a referral from my hausarzt my health insurance paid.