If you have any concerns at all about your eyes, see a High Street optometrist (also known as an optician) straight away.
Some eye diseases can lead to blindness or some loss of vision, but if detected early enough, your eyesight can often be saved.
An eye health examination is just that – an examination of the health of your eyes. The optometrist will carefully examine your eyes to see if anything is wrong. The tests and equipment they use will depend on what you tell them and what they find. An eye health examination is more in-depth than and different to a routine vision test, so it may take longer.
If the optometrist decides you need an eye health examination, it won’t cost you anything. If necessary they can then refer to the emergency clinic at the hospital.
You can find an optometrist in most High Streets in Wales. If you have a sight problem, you can go to your existing optometrist (if you have one) or just phone or walk into any practice that is convenient for you to get to. You can find a list of optometrists who can provide eye care services by searching by postcode or area.
There is a rare but known link between the use of Hydroxychloroquine and Quinine and vision loss. These medications are used widely in many auto immune conditions. Less than one percent of patients using these medications will have visual problems relating to their use.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) recommend the regular monitoring of people who have been taking Hydroxychloroquine for more than 5 years. Currently there is no formal monitoring service in Wales. There is also not the capacity for this monitoring to be carried out in the Hospital eye service which is already over stretched. It is unlikely that you would have Hydroxychloroquine toxicity if you do not have any problems with your vision.
The Welsh Sub-committee of the RCOphth is working with Welsh Government and our optometrist colleagues to establish a community based monitoring service. As of yet there is no scheduled start date, however when it does start it will be the responsibility of the clinician prescribing you the Hydroxychloroquine to refer you to the service. In the mean time you should continue to undertake regular sight tests with your local optometrist. Although the tests they carry out may not be the same as those in a structured monitoring service they are skilled enough to determine if there is any abnormality present. Only if such an abnormality is found should you be referred to the hospital.
If you have any concerns about your vision please contact your Optometrist in the first instance.