Blurry eyes

[SweetP1973]

I was diagnosed T2DM 3 weeks ago and put on to metformin, started with 500mg at tea time for a week, then added 500mg at breakfast. The day after I increased the metformin, my eye sight went blurry. Went to my GP on Monday and was referred to the Urgent Eye Clinic, where they found nothing wrong with my eyes. I can only see through a very old pair of reading glasses and even then can not read a book or my phone, the computer is on magnified 200%. They seem to think it was the metformin and are hoping it will resolve itself, I have a follow up appointment with the eye clinic next Friday. I have stopped the metformin and started sitagliptin. At the clinic they suggested it may be my bloods sugar reducing, as it was 105 when diagnosed. Has anyone else had this? I am really worrying this may be permanent.

 

[Inka]

Blurry eyes are very, very common @SweetP1973 It’s to do with the sugars temporarily changing vision. It should gradually return to normal over the next few months. Just get some cheap glasses for now as your vision will change and settle over the coming weeks.

 

[SweetP1973]

Thanks for the reply. Months??? Oh! I am off work sick as my sight is so bad, really need it to get back to normal ASAP!

 

[Inka]

Thanks for the reply. Months??? Oh! I am off work sick as my sight is so bad, really need it to get back to normal ASAP!

Just get some cheap glasses to tide you over. Your vision will improve over the next few weeks, but people are usually advised to avoid getting expensive new glasses until after a few months when their eyes have completely settled.

Are you happy to say what kind of job you do? Do you use a screen? There might be aids you can get to help you.

 

[SweetP1973]

I work as a Health Care Assistant on an elective surgical ward. Lots of paperwork, inputting information on to iPad and computer work as well as patient care. At the moment I have old reading glasses which are helping me see distance. I can not see the computer screen, phone and definitely can't read without it being very blurry. Have tried cheap glasses, still couldn't see. It is very frustrating.

 

[Deb_l]

I had double vision / blurred vision for several weeks when my HbA1c was reducing - possibly too quickly.

Not bad enough not to drive but it definitely affected my day to day working life. When things eventually settled and I had another proper eye test, I found my prescription had changed quite a bit. It changed dramatically again when I had my cataract done but that's another story.

As above, cheap reading glasses will help with reading but they won't do anything for your distance vision. If that is very badly affected, and you drive, then you need to have a think about stopping for a while until things settle down.

 

[silver minion]

I work as a Health Care Assistant on an elective surgical ward. Lots of paperwork, inputting information on to iPad and computer work as well as patient care. At the moment I have old reading glasses which are helping me see distance. I can not see the computer screen, phone and definitely can't read without it being very blurry. Have tried cheap glasses, still couldn't see. It is very frustrating.

I also had problems with blurry vision both close up and distance. Due to blood sugar changes 165 down to 77 in 6 months . I had to get distance correction glasses immediately to be able to drive. I can't get off the shelf reading glasses as I have a small face and they don't fit. My optician put new lenses in an old pair of reading glasses which brought the cost down a lot. Planning on getting a new pair of varifocals once my blood sugars are stable and eyesight settles down.