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Eyesight

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tiptoptapper

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Hi all

I have given in and booked an eye test for today. I'm really quiet worried about how awful my eyesight is at the moment.

My HBA1C was 126 on diagnosis almost 8 weeks ago - my finger pricks are now pretty much always between 6 & 9 - so getting there. Combination of diet and 4 x metformin a day.

I've read a lot about eyesight issues and them settling down, but my right eye in particular seems to be getting worse if anything.

Was due an eye exam anyway (not been for 3 years) ....but kept putting it off for various reasons.

I currently wear quite a strong prescription anyway (have been shortsighted my whole life) and my last lot of specs were pretty expensive varifocals.

I was hoping things would settle with my eyes before I got them tested, but I'm really quite concerned at how bad they are now.

I think I need to get a pair of basic distance glasses just so I can drive as I don't feel my vision is good enough to do so anymore. Hopefully after that things will settle eventually and I can get a new pair of varifocals.

I'm really scared the optician is going to give me awful news, and I'm so cross with myself for ignoring all my diabetes symptoms for such a long time.

Feeling really fed up, tearful and hugely anxious.
 
tiptoptapper said:
Hi all

I have given in and booked an eye test for today. I'm really quiet worried about how awful my eyesight is at the moment.

My HBA1C was 126 on diagnosis almost 8 weeks ago - my finger pricks are now pretty much always between 6 & 9 - so getting there. Combination of diet and 4 x metformin a day.

I've read a lot about eyesight issues and them settling down, but my right eye in particular seems to be getting worse if anything.

Was due an eye exam anyway (not been for 3 years) ....but kept putting it off for various reasons.

I currently wear quite a strong prescription anyway (have been shortsighted my whole life) and my last lot of specs were pretty expensive varifocals.

I was hoping things would settle with my eyes before I got them tested, but I'm really quite concerned at how bad they are now.

I think I need to get a pair of basic distance glasses just so I can drive as I don't feel my vision is good enough to do so anymore. Hopefully after that things will settle eventually and I can get a new pair of varifocals.

I'm really scared the optician is going to give me awful news, and I'm so cross with myself for ignoring all my diabetes symptoms for such a long time.

Feeling really fed up, tearful and hugely anxious.
Click to expand...
I'm afraid in some people their eyes can take a while to settle down as it is not just your eyes but your rain that has to relearn the feedback from your eyes.
My vision changed when my blood glucose dropped from only 50mmol/mol to 42 in 3 months by cutting carbs substantially. I also have a strong prescription varifocals which are mega bucks. My far vision was OK but close vision was awful, it just felt as if my eyes were in different heads as they were not focusing together. It took several months before they settled down.
As it happened I was at an age where my eyes were changing anyway and I did need a change of prescription.
 
When I was first diagnosed my eyes wouldn't focus and not being able to read knit or watch telly properly - I was as bored as (ffffffffffffff)fiddle dee dee until they would again.
 
My HbA1c was over100 like yours and also hadn't had an eye test for 3 years due to covid, then house move. I knew my eyesight was getting worse and really struggled to read small print like food labels. Even though I knew it was partly due to diabetes I still had the test done. Just decided not to replace expensive varifocals until eyes settled down again. Got glasses for driving for the first time ever. No choice as we live in a rural area and public transport is none existent.
Optician was very nice about it all and didn't make me feel embarrassed. She suggested stronger reading lenses fitted in existing frames I had at home to keep costs down. Going back next year once things settle down but all good for now.
 
I was quoted over £600 at the opticians for varifocals with anti-glare, anti scratch, light sensitive lenses. I said "no way" so they came down to £400 odd telling me they were not such good lenses. I took my prescription and went to ASDA opticians and got the same specification for £139.

But hold on, as your BGs come down your eyes will settle down so it's a bit premature to rush out and get new glasses.
 
Well I'm back.

Prescription has got way worse and until I get new specs I'm not allowed to drive.

So I have little choice but to get new glasses - thankfully I have HSA cover which will pay for part of the cost.

Optician agreed no point in getting all singing all dancing varifocals for now - just get distance glasses for driving.

Optician wants to see me in 6 months - she hopes things will have settled by then.

I've had to have the lenses thinned as the prescription is very strong.

So no driving for now - I need to face up and ring work to say I need to work from home for next week.

Apparently- my corneas are swollen, and my astigmatism has got worse- all due to high blood glucose. She also said she can see I've had a couple of bleeds in my right eye, but they look like they have healed / are healing. Again, high BG.

She said eye health not great, but could be worse, and may well improve.

I know things could be worse but I'm feel so so fed up and just bloody angry at myself for all of this.
 
Glad you went and had and got an eye test and heeded the advice from the optitition

theres a few of us on this forum with various eye related to Diabetes conditions, hope uour new spectacles help you
 
tiptoptapper said:
Well I'm back.

Prescription has got way worse and until I get new specs I'm not allowed to drive.

So I have little choice but to get new glasses - thankfully I have HSA cover which will pay for part of the cost.

Optician agreed no point in getting all singing all dancing varifocals for now - just get distance glasses for driving.

Optician wants to see me in 6 months - she hopes things will have settled by then.

I've had to have the lenses thinned as the prescription is very strong.

So no driving for now - I need to face up and ring work to say I need to work from home for next week.

Apparently- my corneas are swollen, and my astigmatism has got worse- all due to high blood glucose. She also said she can see I've had a couple of bleeds in my right eye, but they look like they have healed / are healing. Again, high BG.

She said eye health not great, but could be worse, and may well improve.

I know things could be worse but I'm feel so so fed up and just bloody angry at myself for all of this.
Click to expand...
I feel for you. I felt the same, especially as I never needed glasses for driving before. Such a shock to find yourself failing the minimum requirements by DVLA by a long way. Hopefully all the eye issues will settle down as your blood glucose reduces and stabilises. I am already noticing a small improvement in my close up vision.
Don't be angry with yourself. Chances are after 3 years you would have needed a new prescription anyway. I totally feel your frustration as it impacts your life so much.
 
tiptoptapper said:
Well I'm back.

Prescription has got way worse and until I get new specs I'm not allowed to drive.

So I have little choice but to get new glasses - thankfully I have HSA cover which will pay for part of the cost.

Optician agreed no point in getting all singing all dancing varifocals for now - just get distance glasses for driving.

Optician wants to see me in 6 months - she hopes things will have settled by then.

I've had to have the lenses thinned as the prescription is very strong.

So no driving for now - I need to face up and ring work to say I need to work from home for next week.

Apparently- my corneas are swollen, and my astigmatism has got worse- all due to high blood glucose. She also said she can see I've had a couple of bleeds in my right eye, but they look like they have healed / are healing. Again, high BG.

She said eye health not great, but could be worse, and may well improve.

I know things could be worse but I'm feel so so fed up and just bloody angry at myself for all of this.
Click to expand...
Mine kept changing cost me nearly a thousand pounds. Eyes back to normal and varifocals no good to me, now using my old reading glasses. I didn’t want to drive as everything was blurry, optician said believe it or not your still legal to drive
 
Eyes eye eyes. My goodness have had my share of eye issues.

I think major changes with BG up or down will cause you eye issues.

Once you have an eye test you can take your prescription anywhere to buy new glasses including online.

But do not commit to varifical, just yet, just buy two sets of glasses, the reading ones you can get anywhere upto +3.5

When you BG stabilises go for another eye test, you should not pay if you mention you are diabetic AND there are changes.

For eye test there are two measurements for driving it 6/6 which would be perfect 20/20 vision, so for driving reads order, getting worse it would be 6/7.5, 6/9.5, 6/12.5., 6/15 etc.
I think if you have 6/15 you cannot drive.

Also I think you can drive if one of your eyes has good vision, but not sure please check DVLA and NHS guidelines.

Good luck
 
Newbie777 said:
Eyes eye eyes. My goodness have had my share of eye issues.

I think major changes with BG up or down will cause you eye issues.

Once you have an eye test you can take your prescription anywhere to buy new glasses including online.

But do not commit to varifical, just yet, just buy two sets of glasses, the reading ones you can get anywhere upto +3.5

When you BG stabilises go for another eye test, you should not pay if you mention you are diabetic AND there are changes.

For eye test there are two measurements for driving it 6/6 which would be perfect 20/20 vision, so for driving reads order, getting worse it would be 6/7.5, 6/9.5, 6/12.5., 6/15 etc.
I think if you have 6/15 you cannot drive.

Also I think you can drive if one of your eyes has good vision, but not sure please check DVLA and NHS guidelines.

Good luck
Click to expand...

Newbie777 said:
Eyes eye eyes. My goodness have had my share of eye issues.

I think major changes with BG up or down will cause you eye issues.

Once you have an eye test you can take your prescription anywhere to buy new glasses including online.

But do not commit to varifical, just yet, just buy two sets of glasses, the reading ones you can get anywhere upto +3.5

When you BG stabilises go for another eye test, you should not pay if you mention you are diabetic AND there are changes.

For eye test there are two measurements for driving it 6/6 which would be perfect 20/20 vision, so for driving reads order, getting worse it would be 6/7.5, 6/9.5, 6/12.5., 6/15 etc.
I think if you have 6/15 you cannot drive.

Also I think you can drive if one of your eyes has good vision, but not sure please check DVLA and NHS guidelines.

Good luck
Click to expand...
said to my opinion about diabetes, not interested had to pay for new lenses. Will get eyes tested there but go elsewhere in future for glasses
 
Yes that is very unfortunate and not cheap.

Annoyingly most glasses cost pennies to make, it is the lens that is the expensive part.
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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