Diabetes and loss of sight

[AJLang]

How common is it for people with diabetes to worry about their sight? I've just spent the weekend feeling very down and upset because I'm worried as I have two eye appointments within the next week. I'm still feeling really worried this morning...I haven't been much fun to be withe last two or three days which was particularly not good as it was OHs birthday....and he has had to leave for work this morning knowing that I'm upset and worried.

 

[Northerner]

I would say it's very common Amanda, and it's certainly not surprising that you feel especially worried with all that you have had to deal with in the past year. I hope that you can get some rest and relaxation and distractions from your appointments, and that they bring good results when they arrive {{{{Amanda}}}}

 

[Caroline]

Hopefully what you have is just a slight blip and things will be sorted. The main thing is you are getting things seen to and this should give you some answers which will help ease the worries away.

 

[FM001]

There won't be many people that don't worry about their eyes and the damage diabetes can cause.

 

[scotty]

i worry about it too, even more now with that article about that xfactor girl

 

[Catwoman76]

How common is it for people with diabetes to worry about their sight? I've just spent the weekend feeling very down and upset because I'm worried as I have two eye appointments within the next week. I'm still feeling really worried this morning...I haven't been much fun to be withe last two or three days which was particularly not good as it was OHs birthday....and he has had to leave for work this morning knowing that I'm upset and worried.

Hi Amanda so sorry to hear of your eye problems and the upset and worry it's causing you. I think a lot of people worry about their eyesight and my eyesight has been pretty bad over the weekend. The lasered right eye is causing problems, so I have an emergency drs appointment, today, at 5.20pm. So I really understand how you feel, it is very worrying. Have a good cry on hubbys shoulder and a big hug 🙂, I'm sure it will help. With lots of good wishes Sheenax

 

[grahams mum]

i am worry when i go for grahams eye app. even is only young i am always expecting the worse and is only 4 years that he has diabetes i will be worrying crazy in about 10 years time😱

 

[itsallgood]

I've been blind in my right eye since an accident at four years old (30 years ago) and got diagnosed with type 2 last year.

Worried about my eyesight?... you bet.

One thing puts my mind at rest are the regular checkups, at least two per year - they can detect problems early and treatment is improving all the time.

 

[AJLang]

Hi Amanda so sorry to hear of your eye problems and the upset and worry it's causing you. I think a lot of people worry about their eyesight and my eyesight has been pretty bad over the weekend. The lasered right eye is causing problems, so I have an emergency drs appointment, today, at 5.20pm. So I really understand how you feel, it is very worrying. Have a good cry on hubbys shoulder and a big hug 🙂, I'm sure it will help. With lots of good wishes Sheenax

Hi Sheena - I'm so sorry to hear about your right eye, it feels like the problems are never ending for you. I really hope that everything goes ok at your appointment tonight. I will be thinking about you and keeping everything crossed {{{{Sheena}}}}}

 

[trophywench]

I've had two friends each of whom lost one eye in accidents and both of whom were always told that should they have ANY problem whatsoever with the 'good' eye - then they were automatically an emergency, and to treat themselves as such and definitely not to go down the see GP/optician, wait around etc etc route.

That sounded like b good advice to me.

And yes Amanda, I do worry even though touch wood please God etc etc I don't have any real problems. In my heart of hearts, no matter though I say Oh don't worry etc - I always think 'Yet'......

 

[Twitchy]

Hi Amanda...I think for diabetics it's perfectly normal to worry about your sight! It's one of the most emotive & scary complications going after all - so I'd say your reaction is perfectly understandable! 🙂 You should just ask my hubby what I'm like in the run up to almost any eye appt these days...! 😱

I actually had a major falling out with my dad some years ago over how stressed I was prior to/after a really nasty session of laser whilst pregnant with little'un... whilst things are amicable again, he's the last person I would ever talk to about my eyes now - I suspect unless you're close to the situation or actually know what it feels like to have this hanging over you it's hard to grasp how stressful it is. Sounds like your hubby is a good 'un like mine though, so I'm sure he'll know that you're just really (understandably) frazzled at the mo...

I'm keeping everything crossed for you that these two appts go well...I know it's not going to take the stress away, but we're rooting for you & here if you need to let off steam at us! 🙂

Take care,

Twitchy xxx

 

[Copepod]

Yep, of course I worry - with the added complications of being short sighted and needing glasses / contact lenses since about 11 years, being hit in my right eye with a snowball when aged 13 years and having floating cells ever since, recent brush with glaucoma which turned out to be misdiagnosis due to thicker than average corneas. Plus, my partner doesn't drive, so loosing my licence would seriously affect our lives, although of course I would stop driving is advised that my eyesight made me unsafe. At least I could still ride a bike, and tandem with partner in front if sight deteriorated even further.

 

[Cate]

Since 2004 I've been suffering with seriously reduced vision in one eye, and for around a year it was in both eyes. Even though I've had vitrectomys in both eyes now and my sight is better than it has been for years, I still worry.

Mostly I worry about a large bleed happening again (I'm still getting v small bleeds that look more like large floaters in the eye that was treated in March this year) as having had everything thrown at treating the last one, I don't know what the options would be next time round.

Having said that, I got married, carried and gave birth to 2 children, got promoted at work, got made redundant, and got offered 2 new (better) jobs, all while being partially sighted or technically blind. So while it's scary and I definitely worry at anything that seems slightly "off", equally I know that if I need treatment then I have access to some of the best in the country who will do all they can to help.

 

[MissMolly]

Time saves sight

I've had laser treatment for both eyes between Jan -05 and July -07 and have always been told as sooner they can detect it as better chance u have to save all or at least most of your sight. Always go to your eye appointments.

YES I am worried too at times!

 

[AJLang]

Hi thank you very much for all of your replies. Guess I'm particularly fed up with it at the moment because Ive gone to all of my appointments in the past, done what I've been told and yet have maculopathy in one eye which means that it is absolutely useless for reading. Following other eye surgery this year the optician said that I've got the eyes of a 75 year old........and I'm only 43!! Cate how did you manage to get someone to employ you?......I was really inspired by your post because I need to use magnification equipment, and can't drive anymore, so I'm worried that future employers wouldnt be prepared to employ/buy the equipment........fortunately I love my current job but there is the chance that I will need to change jobs in the future