Retina Detachment

[damoq]

Probably a subject for the health section, so feel free to move it there mods.

Spent about 6 hrs at the eye clinic at Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow today. Noticed flashes appearing now and again in my left eye, followed by a small blind spot in my vision. Been diagnosed as a detached retina for which I need to go in for an operation on this Monday.

Consultant said I can either have the op or leave it and monitor it as it's at the bottom of my eye and shouldn't deteriorate that quickly. When I told him I was a lorry driver, he says I've really no option but to have the op done to at least give me a chance to keep my eyesight within the required limits to stop me having my license revoked.

Now I'm one of those idiots that always wanted to drive trucks so never stuck in at school and have nothing really to fall back on should the worst happen. Might have to resort to stacking shelves in the local Tesco.

Anyone else had the same happen and what was your eventual outcome? I've seen the recent posts in the 'careful what you wish' for thread and realise my problems are nothing compared to what the op and his family are going through, but I'm slightly worried what the future holds career wise for me. Thanks.


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[lizard]

Been there and had that and just let it heel it's self. My docs advise was to wear sun glasses as much as possible to help the eye repair quicker.

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[Stu Eastwood]

I had the same thing about 7 or 8 years ago mate. I lost my HGV for a year. My loss of vision was at the bottom of my left eye. The specialist who did my operation was confident I would be ok and was right!. The problem was the medical people in Swansea who seemed to think they knew more than him!. I did lots of different eye tests and passed them all but it was still a struggle to get it back. I wish you luck mate


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[The-Snowman]

Might have to resort to stacking shelves in the local Tesco.

Well according to some on this site you'll be on a fortune in wages if you do. Listening to some of them, its like a license to print money

[alamcculloch]

It used to be a good earner but the agencies and the EEs have it pretty much zbed.Hope you keep your entitlement to the good life.

[damoq]

I had the same thing about 7 or 8 years ago mate. I lost my HGV for a year. My loss of vision was at the bottom of my left eye. The specialist who did my operation was confident I would be ok and was right!. The problem was the medical people in Swansea who seemed to think they knew more than him!. I did lots of different eye tests and passed them all but it was still a struggle to get it back. I wish you luck mate


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Thanks Stu. Suppose that's what's bothering me so much. I've 100% faith in the docs doing a good job, just lack faith in the dvla.


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[Stu Eastwood]

It was all to do with field vision tests which I passed, but the important one is the machine that is registered for dvla use.


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[merc0447]

I know you're under your 2 years but you're a good driver and they are hard to come by. So approach your TM and ask if you do get your LGV suspended while Swansea fanny about, ask if you can switch to the warehouse. Say you like the company and want to remain a part of it.

Maybe might need to take a hit on wages of course. If he says no to that, then ask if they can keep your job open till you recover. In the mean time get a job on forks/backdoor somewhere near your home....where you can walk to and save yourself some transport costs.

One of our guys had heart bother and dvla is still [zb] him about, but trouble was he ripped the arse out of sick leave then it ran out. Comes back asks gaffer to work in warehouse (which has happened before to drivers) gaffer says no. A lot of people think it was because he ripped the sick pay till it ran out. If he'd been back a week later keen as a whistle he'd have a safe job in the warehouse till his licence got sorted.

Feel for you mate, no long had a baby too. Don't worry too much just gotta ride the wave and see what happens.

[AndrewG]

There must surely be a way to avoid mentioning anything to the dvla?? I dont mean drive with defective sight, have the op, have sight tested and just carry on as normal, no need to even mention to an eye specialist youre a truck driver..

[Supatramp]

There must surely be a way to avoid mentioning anything to the dvla?? I dont mean drive with defective sight, have the op, have sight tested and just carry on as normal, no need to even mention to an eye specialist youre a truck driver..

That's what I was thinking.

[AndrewG]

There must surely be a way to avoid mentioning anything to the dvla?? I dont mean drive with defective sight, have the op, have sight tested and just carry on as normal, no need to even mention to an eye specialist youre a truck driver..

That's what I was thinking.

Booking some holiday off work,avoiding your own doctor and paying private (yes it may be costly) and no authority need ever know..

[TiredAndEmotional]

There must surely be a way to avoid mentioning anything to the dvla?? I dont mean drive with defective sight, have the op, have sight tested and just carry on as normal, no need to even mention to an eye specialist youre a truck driver..

That is a bad idea. Really bad.

[AndrewG]

There must surely be a way to avoid mentioning anything to the dvla?? I dont mean drive with defective sight, have the op, have sight tested and just carry on as normal, no need to even mention to an eye specialist youre a truck driver..

That is a bad idea. Really bad.

Why so? What someone didnt know never hurt anyone. If your eyesight is fine (correct eye test) after the op whats the problem? Why involve an 'authority' very well known for [zb] up someones lively hood. Why should some spotty faced desk jockey read through a load of so called guidelines then take someones licence away for some red tape reason?

[discoman]

There must surely be a way to avoid mentioning anything to the dvla?? I dont mean drive with defective sight, have the op, have sight tested and just carry on as normal, no need to even mention to an eye specialist youre a truck driver..

That is a bad idea. Really bad.

Why so? What someone didnt know never hurt anyone. If your eyesight is fine (correct eye test) after the op whats the problem? Why involve an 'authority' very well known for [zb] up someones lively hood. Why should some spotty faced desk jockey read through a load of so called guidelines then take someones licence away for some red tape reason?

Its because its the law, if he went and had an accident and they did checks the driver is in trouble. it can also affect his company, and there insurance, not the matter he is committing fraud by failing to report and illness etc, that prevents him from complying with a DVLA medical requirements of the licence.

Would you expect a driver who had a heart issue to report it? whats the difference.

OP, please check if you have home insurance, my friend was covered on his but he had ill health at work cover, also he got 7500 from the union for loss of licence..... hes back driving buses now but he was covered by the union insurance.

Fingers crossed it works out ok for you.

[AndrewG]

There must surely be a way to avoid mentioning anything to the dvla?? I dont mean drive with defective sight, have the op, have sight tested and just carry on as normal, no need to even mention to an eye specialist youre a truck driver..

That is a bad idea. Really bad.

Why so? What someone didnt know never hurt anyone. If your eyesight is fine (correct eye test) after the op whats the problem? Why involve an 'authority' very well known for [zb] up someones lively hood. Why should some spotty faced desk jockey read through a load of so called guidelines then take someones licence away for some red tape reason?

Its because its the law, if he went and had an accident and they did checks the driver is in trouble. it can also affect his company, and there insurance, not the matter he is committing fraud by failing to report and illness etc, that prevents him from complying with a DVLA medical requirements of the licence.

Would you expect a driver who had a heart issue to report it? whats the difference.

OP, please check if you have home insurance, my friend was covered on his but he had ill health at work cover, also he got 7500 from the union for loss of licence..... hes back driving buses now but he was covered by the union insurance.

Fingers crossed it works out ok for you.

Point missed, im not suggesting driving with defective eyesight. Heres the scenario, drivers sight is fine until one day he has a problem, goes to see a specialist (not own doctor) , pays to have it put right (privately) during some leave from work, eyesight checks out fine, goes back to work, no insurance implications as the drivers sight is fine and has absolutely no issues
Why disclose something like this to dvla knowing full well they have a great reputation of destroying lively hoods for no good reason?
Do you ever break the speed limit? Sounds like you probably dont as 'its the law' to obey them no doubt.
As for the heart issue, different scenario and you know it. A bad heart isnt going to be fixed with a minor op like having a retina re attached..

[damoq]

I know you're under your 2 years but you're a good driver and they are hard to come by. So approach your TM and ask if you do get your LGV suspended while Swansea fanny about, ask if you can switch to the warehouse. Say you like the company and want to remain a part of it.

Maybe might need to take a hit on wages of course. If he says no to that, then ask if they can keep your job open till you recover. In the mean time get a job on forks/backdoor somewhere near your home....where you can walk to and save yourself some transport costs.

One of our guys had heart bother and dvla is still [zb] him about, but trouble was he ripped the arse out of sick leave then it ran out. Comes back asks gaffer to work in warehouse (which has happened before to drivers) gaffer says no. A lot of people think it was because he ripped the sick pay till it ran out. If he'd been back a week later keen as a whistle he'd have a safe job in the warehouse till his licence got sorted.

Feel for you mate, no long had a baby too. Don't worry too much just gotta ride the wave and see what happens.

Thanks merc.
Only been here 8 months but I really do enjoy it. It proved to me that there are places out there that pay decent wages without running you ragged or expecting max hours from you. Hopefully they can offer me something else till I get my license back.
Like I say, not the operation I'm worried about, it's the fannys at Swansea playing roulette with my livelihood.
Got insurance that will cover the mortgage while I'm off sick but Mrs only works part time cos I make decent money. Need to send her out full time lol.
I'll let you know how I get on. Thats if I can see my phone.



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[damoq]

Consultant says I don't need to notify DVLA just now. But after the operation I will. Not notifying them didn't even enter my mind. I'd rather be up front and honest and let the dvla [zb] me about giving me my license back than lie, have an accident and have to live with that for the rest of my life.


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[Stu Eastwood]

If it is caught early enough like mine it shouldn't be a problem mate. Fingers crossed for you


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[damoq]

If it is caught early enough like mine it shouldn't be a problem mate. Fingers crossed for you


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Thanks Stu. I think I've caught it early enough. It's only a small blind spot in the top right of my left eye, which apparently means the detachment is in the bottom right. Consultant says it's not something that should deteriorate overnight. It would be a gradual thing. Give the consultant his due, when I told him my occupation, he recommended surgery to give me the best chance of keeping my license.


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[SteveBarnsleytrucker]

I had a retinal detachment of my right eye and retinal tear on my left eye at the beginning of Jan 2013 and was told by the consultant at the Royal Hallamshire in Sheffield I was probably weeks away from going blind in my right eye
I'd had the floaters in my eyes for about 2 year and also saw flashes of light every so often in the corner of my right eye but like an idiot never had it checked out
It was only through my partner forcing me to go to the opticians when we got back from Gran Canaria on New Years Eve that I found out the shocking results.
They referred me straight away to the Royal Hallamshire and they admitted me that day to operate the next morning as an emergency. I had all the jelly took out the back of the right eye and had a bubble full of oil which floates up pushing the retina back up to the top of the eye they then froze the retina back to the eye and " spot welded" the retina to the top of the eye with laser to secure it all.
I had the tear on my left eye lasered up and this was all done under general anaesthetic Due to me having the bubble of oil instead of air I had to go back 3 months later for another op to remove it. The bubble of air removes its self over time where as the oil doesn't.
I also had some more laser done. I was off work a total of 6 month and I had to inform the DVLA where they sent me to an approved DVLA opticians (my local hospital was one) and had to do the field test and snellen chart and some other tests done. While they were investigating my case I was allowed to drive even my HGV however after about 8 weeks they wrote to me saying they had revoked my HGV entitlement due to failing the field test. I didn't agree with this as my consultant told me I was fit to drive again including HGV's que a long winded battle with the DVKA over about 6 months trying to get my entitlement put back on.
I even asked my consultant if he could give me a field test and he said yes and I went back to the hospital did the test and didn't miss one dot He wrote a letter saying my entitlement should be reinstated as there was nothing wrong with my eyesight now.
After 6 month of battling the tosses in Wales I finally got my HGV entitlement back on a 3 year period which ironically runs out this Saturday so I have reapplied for it.
I did get a cataract form in my right eye about 18 month ago which my consultant did say would happen at some point due to the treatment I had done and had that removed and a long distance lens put in my right eye in a 45 min operation. I didn't inform the DVLA about this and was back driving after 2 week.
I had an eye test done and now have to wear glasses for driving now and my prescription changed slightly this year how ever I fall well within the requirements for HGV drivers. If I was you mate I'd the operation as soon as possible as a detached retina is only going to get worse not better and the earlier you the treatment done the better the outcome.
With it being the bottom of the eye it isn't as serious as if it was the top wear the detachment has happened but it's still a serious matter that wants sorting sooner rather than later. Sorry for the long winded reply but I wanted to give you as much info as I could and I wish you the best of luck.

[Numbum]

I had this happen when I was taking a trailer from Avonmouth to Kingsbury. The vision in my right eye went blurred and I could just make out the difference between the ground and the sky. I drove with my eye shut and dropped the trailer and drove back to Avonmouth ignoring the digi tach telling me that i had run out of driving time. I drove straight to the eye hospital and was given a rolocking for not making an appointment and they were just closing.
I did get treatment there later but I could not understand a word the doctor said. I was led in a darkenened room and I think the eye was frozen and injected. I later had a black oil slick making various shapes in the eye and I went to Boots. They diagnosed a torn retina and sent me to the local general hospital who were waiting for me. They sat me in a chair with my head clamped in a frame and welded the tear up with a laser. I walked out straight after and seven years later the sight in that eye is now better than my left one.
I never did any lorry driving during this time and my ADR also ran out and as i was six months from retirement i gave up work. I still have a yearly eye test with an x ray and my sight is fine for driving.

[SteveBarnsleytrucker]

It was all to do with field vision tests which I passed, but the important one is the machine that is registered for dvla use.


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There was a report in one of the truck magazines saying the software they used for the field tests was faulty if I remember do drivers could have lost their entitlement due to faulty software. However the DVLA being the toss pots they are saying they were not to blame it was the company that supplied the software

[damoq]

Went for my operation on Monday and it seemed to go well. Was put out under a general anaesthetic. I got the cryo-buckle surgery. I thought it would be really sore afterwards but it wasn't. Only uncomfortable at times. Only taken 4 paracetamol since the op. Double vision was horrible though, but i was told this would happen. Its almost gone but still got blurred vision in my eye. Part of this is down to the buckle and the drops I've got to keep putting in my eye to keep the pupil dilated during the recovery. I thankfully haven't had to posture due to where the detachment was. Going back to Gartnavel Hospital on Monday for a check up with the surgeon who done the op. Only then will i get a better idea of weather I've got the small piece of sight back that i lost and what it will mean long term. Hopefully enough to keep my license.
Thanks to everyone for posting their experiences of retinal detachment and your outcomes.


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[alfa man]

Sorry to hear about the hassle your having mate, glad to hear the op went well and hope the recovery period is swift.

[damoq]

Sorry to hear about the hassle your having mate, glad to hear the op went well and hope the recovery period is swift.

Cheers alfa man.
I think recovery is going well. Feels like it is anyway. Find out properly on Tuesday when I go back for my check up with the surgeon. Work have been good with it. Gaffer says recovery will take as long as it takes but should the worst happen, I've still got a job in the company to go back to.


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[alfa man]

Work have been good with it. Gaffer says recovery will take as long as it takes but should the worst happen, I've still got a job in the company to go back to.


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Glad to hear it, means you can get on with getting sorted without having to worry about work.

[SteveBarnsleytrucker]

Went for my operation on Monday and it seemed to go well. Was put out under a general anaesthetic. I got the cryo-buckle surgery. I thought it would be really sore afterwards but it wasn't. Only uncomfortable at times. Only taken 4 paracetamol since the op. Double vision was horrible though, but i was told this would happen. Its almost gone but still got blurred vision in my eye. Part of this is down to the buckle and the drops I've got to keep putting in my eye to keep the pupil dilated during the recovery. I thankfully haven't had to posture due to where the detachment was. Going back to Gartnavel Hospital on Monday for a check up with the surgeon who done the op. Only then will i get a better idea of weather I've got the small piece of sight back that i lost and what it will mean long term. Hopefully enough to keep my license.
Thanks to everyone for posting their experiences of retinal detachment and your outcomes.


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I had to do the posture for a week. Only allowed ten minuites out of every hour to where I could go to the big, have something to eat or knock a ham shank out
I had to lay on my side for the full week, luckily for me it was on the same side as I would be facing the tv in bed. I went through a [zb] load of tv box sets I tell you

[damoq]

Went for my operation on Monday and it seemed to go well. Was put out under a general anaesthetic. I got the cryo-buckle surgery. I thought it would be really sore afterwards but it wasn't. Only uncomfortable at times. Only taken 4 paracetamol since the op. Double vision was horrible though, but i was told this would happen. Its almost gone but still got blurred vision in my eye. Part of this is down to the buckle and the drops I've got to keep putting in my eye to keep the pupil dilated during the recovery. I thankfully haven't had to posture due to where the detachment was. Going back to Gartnavel Hospital on Monday for a check up with the surgeon who done the op. Only then will i get a better idea of weather I've got the small piece of sight back that i lost and what it will mean long term. Hopefully enough to keep my license.
Thanks to everyone for posting their experiences of retinal detachment and your outcomes.


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I had to do the posture for a week. Only allowed ten minuites out of every hour to where I could go to the big, have something to eat or knock a ham shank out
I had to lay on my side for the full week, luckily for me it was on the same side as I would be facing the tv in bed. I went through a [zb] load of tv box sets I tell you

Only things I got told was to keep my eye clean and put the drops in when I'm supposed to. Relax as much as possible. No lifting anything heavy and no strenuous exercise or activities.
I'm not one for strenuous exercise anyway and the Mrs isn't one for demanding strenuous activities in bed, so I'm easily managing to follow the doctors orders.


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[damoq]

Well, been back to see the surgeon on Tuesday and everything looking good so far.
Even says I can go back to work when my sick line runs out (20th Feb) if I feel up to it. I was due to be off this week and next on holiday anyway so going back on Tues 28th. I've booked myself into the opticians on the 24th to have my eyes tested and make sure I'm within the limits for driving trucks. DVLA have been notified and I've got 21 days to return the V1V form back to them. I can drive while they make their decision providing consultant/doctor/opticians say it's ok. So far so good.


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