Abnormality in diabetes eye check

[spongey2010]

Hi All,

My BF went for a retinopathy check a couple of weeks back. He has had a letter through the post to say there are abnormalities present and he has an appointment at the hospital on Friday. He has already had laser on one eye and is virtually blind in this eye (although he still retains his driving license and has passed 'the test'. Since the retinopathy check, he has had a 'regular' eye test and apart from his known probs in the right eye, the optician said his eyes are healthy and his sight in the left is pretty great considering. So, I don't know what to think about this - he is concerned that if he has laser in his other eye also, this will further make his vision worse, due to the number of laser burns etc etc.

So pretty negative really

Does anyone have any positive stories about sight being retained etc etc.

 

[Cate]

Warning - contains gory details 🙂

Hi,

I've had retinopathy for the last 6 years (caused by starting on a pump which led to a dramatic improvement in sugar levels - too fast for eyes to catch up!). I've had tons of laser on both eyes - approx 8000 burns in total, and a vitrectomy in one eye. I'm booked in for a vitrectomy in my other eye at the end of March. Last time I had an eye test I passed it, that was Dec 2009 I think.

Why does your OH have poor sight in one eye? Is it due to blood being retained inside his eye, or something else? If it's blood then I'd be asking about other treatment options (ie the vitrectomy op), it's worked wonders for me.

A vitrectomy can be done under local or general anaesthetic, as a day admission. Basically they cut your eye, remove the fluid & some redundant cell structure (which was described to me as scaffolding left over from when your eye first develops) from inside it, do some laser while they're there, then replace the fluid with saline and stitch it all back up. They may leave an air bubble inside your eye (this looks super weird!) which disappears over the next month or so. It's designed to keep the retina wrinkle free and in the right place.

Following the op I had 20/20 vision in both eyes but my field of vision had reduced - but not by enough to fail "the test".

HTH?

 

[spongey2010]

Hi Cate,

He has had diabetes since he was 15 and is now in his late 30s. I understand that this is quite common when you have been diabetic for a long period of time. It's interesting that pumping caused yours!

His eye sight is worse in his right eye, probably because of the blood problem you mention - it is certainly related to his diabetes. I think his right eye is sadly 'beyond laser and repair' - From what I understand, the laser could actually have caused some of this, as it can cause damage as well as prevent damage if that makes sense???

I would like to think that he will benefit from the other treatment like you if it comes to that. The issue he is struggling with is if the laser damages his left eye this will risk his sight and license, but on the flip side, if nothing is done, he runs the risk of losing his sight also. It is very difficult. I guess we will have to wait until he has seen the specialist.

Thanks for replying and I hope he has a positive outcome like yours.

 

[Ergates]

Hi,

I've had retinopathy for the last 6 years (caused by starting on a pump which led to a dramatic improvement in sugar levels - too fast for eyes to catch up!).

Whoah! Really? I'm in this exact situation, just gone onto a pump last week and already had a huge improvement in control. Must admit I'm surprised to read this. I would have thought the eye damage would have been caused by the previous high sugars, not by the improvement in glucose levels.

Now I'm cr@pping myself!! I best speak to the nurse tomorrow, I'm going back for the "advanced" lesson at Wycombe.

 

[Northerner]

Whoah! Really? I'm in this exact situation, just gone onto a pump last week and already had a huge improvement in control. Must admit I'm surprised to read this. I would have thought the eye damage would have been caused by the previous high sugars, not by the improvement in glucose levels.

Now I'm cr@pping myself!! I best speak to the nurse tomorrow, I'm going back for the "advanced" lesson at Wycombe.

Ergates, this is definitely worth discussing as we have had a few members who have developed complications after a rapid fall in HbA1c. It seems it is better to try and decrease levels gradually.

 

[Ergates]

Thanks for that Cate and Northener! That's something I didn't know and am very grateful to you both for finding out. Spoke with the nurse and changed my targets as a result of this - she didn't know my last HbA1C and neither do I as it seems to have gone missing. I don't think it is good though.

 

[Cate]

Hi Ergates,

Yes, it was my eye consultant who explained it to me. Basically eyes like "the status quo", even if that is sugars that are too high. They don't like dramatic changes, so it's important to makes changes relatively slowly, to give them time to adjust and hopefully prevent any significant changes/bleeds.

My HbA1c went from around 9% to around 7% within 3 months, much too quick a change. 6 years on, I'm hopefully coming out the other side of dealing with eye problems...

It's frustrating to have to go slowly, but it's definitely worth it in the long run 🙂 Good luck!