OET Listening Teil A: Eye Health History Interview

I've got your notes here Mrs Burton, but...

as we're meeting for the first time,

could you begin by telling me a little about your eyesight and the treatment you've had over the years.

Did you wear glasses as a child, for example?

Ah yes, since I was about seven.

My parents were concerned by the way I held a book when I was reading so they took me to an optometrist.

He told them I had some kind of astigmatism.

Am I right in assuming that's myopic rather than hyperopic?

Well yes, I'm near-sighted... if that's what you mean.

Some people actually have mixed astigmatism,

they're far-sighted in one eye and near in the other.

Oh, well, that's not me.

And, as well as my astigmatism, as you've probably noticed, my eyes flicker.

I'm not aware of it myself but other people comment on it sometimes.

I think you call it... nystagmus.

It meant that, when I had my eye surgery, they preferred to use a general rather than a local anaesthetic.

Okay, so did anyone ever tell you what they thought might have caused the condition?

Well, I was once told that my generally poor eyesight is most probably down to the fact that...

I don't have enough pigment in the eye.

On the whole, my eyes have never really caused me any significant difficulties, however.

I've always had to wear glasses, that's a part of life now.

I suppose the only thing is that driving's always been out of the question.

I'd never have passed the sight part of the test.

That's probably a good thing because it takes me some time to focus,

which could make me pretty dangerous if I was ever behind the wheel of a car.

Yes, indeed.

Also I'm useless at sports like tennis.

I think that's because I'm poor at judging the distance between myself and the ball.

That was a pain as a teenager, but I've never particularly wanted to play since then.

And I've hardly had any issues at work because of my sight.

I'm a receptionist in a hotel

and I've never had any difficulty reading computer screens or anything fortunately.

You've had your eyes regularly checked throughout your life presumably?

Yeah, that's right, every couple of years.

My prescription's changed a little over time but not that much.

Though I certainly couldn't manage without reading glasses these days.

About three years ago, I was told a cataract was developing in my right eye.

It was a few years before they decided to remove it, that was this February.

And it all went very smoothly.

Good, and you were pleased with the result?

Yeah I was, yeah, thrilled.

If only all our failing parts could be replaced so easily!

However, when I had the routine check-up a couple of weeks after the operation,

I was told there was some clouding... opacity,

I think was the word they used... in the capsule containing the new lens.

It's a bit disappointing.

They could clear it with a laser if it gets to be a real problem...

but my flicker makes that rather a risky option.

I knew that there's a greater chance of developing a detached retina after a cataract op...

but I'm glad to say they found there wasn't any evidence of that in my case.

All they did was make an appointment for me to be checked out again in six months' time.

But they said I should get in touch if I felt concerned about my eyes.

And is that what brings you here today?

Yeah, because I am bothered about a couple of things.

So, firstly I've noticed more floaters than usual.

I don't know if that's something to worry about or not.

More annoying is the fact that I'm much more troubled by glare than I used to be.

So I wanted to ask your opinion on that.

Okay, well...