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Eye concerns

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kim k

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Hi all ,I have a question to ask if anyone can help me on here .I recently went for a eye test and was told I have changes in the back of my eyes which hasn't effected my sight but I was shocked as my last hbalc test was 44 but have been struggling with blood pressure problems for about 6 months just wondering if this was the cause and I'm being referred back to eye screening through nhs .
 
With an hba1c of only 44 I'd be surprised if this was the reason for any changes to your eyes. Yes, diabetes can cause eye problems, but you are only just into the pre-diabetes stage so it's unlikely.
It's really good that you are being checked out though. Your eyes are precious and need to be checked regularly. Best of luck with future screenings and hope they can identify what has caused it.
 
High blood pressure is a risk factor for retinopathy.
 
kim k said:
Hi all ,I have a question to ask if anyone can help me on here .I recently went for a eye test and was told I have changes in the back of my eyes which hasn't effected my sight but I was shocked as my last hbalc test was 44 but have been struggling with blood pressure problems for about 6 months just wondering if this was the cause and I'm being referred back to eye screening through nhs .
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My HbA1C has not been over 50mmol/mol but I did have 1 retinal screening eye test which flagged up background retinopathy but then the nest test 1 year later was all clear. That often happens to people. Good you are being referred to get checked out. Getting your HbA1Cout of the prediabetic range will all help to stabilise your eyes.
 
Hello, sometimes there are postal reports of “background retinopathy.” Sometimes not. It should not affect your privilege to drive unless you need to report a treatment. They change, then they change. Depends on who’s doing the review on the enhanced scanning? I’ve gone from some guy with a monocle to Polaroid pics & now digital retina photography. It is good to be informed. Don’t let it worry (easy said than done.) yet, till they want to take action on “it.”
 
kim k said:
Thanks for that
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Diabetic Retinopathy - EyeWiki

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But the cameras used for the screening seem to have a fairly high false positive rate - see http://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/background-retinopathy-bingo.115050/post-1399473

So you see people who are told they have changes one year, and then not the next, etc etc.

Anyway, unless your BG is out of control, high BP is likely the bigger health risk in general so IMO it would make sense for you to focus on it, even if this eye result turns out to be a false positive.
 
Satan’s little helper said:
Hello, sometimes there are postal reports of “background retinopathy.” Sometimes not. It should not affect your privilege to drive unless you need to report a treatment. They change, then they change. Depends on who’s doing the review on the enhanced scanning? I’ve gone from some guy with a monocle to Polaroid pics & now digital retina photography. It is good to be informed. Don’t let it worry (easy said than done.) yet, till they want to take action on “it.”
Click to expand...
Thankyou
 
kim k said:
Hi all ,I have a question to ask if anyone can help me on here .I recently went for a eye test and was told I have changes in the back of my eyes which hasn't effected my sight but I was shocked as my last hbalc test was 44 but have been struggling with blood pressure problems for about 6 months just wondering if this was the cause and I'm being referred back to eye screening through nhs .
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear you’ve been told you have some evidence of background retinopathy @kim k

Those can be scary and distressing letters to receive :(

As others have said, high blood pressure can unfortunately increase your risk of developing changes in your eyes. But the good news(?) is that the sort of changes that are flagged as ‘background changes’ are usually very small.

Are you getting help with your blood pressure? And have they suggested a 12 month follow-up?

I’m one of several forum members who has had a sequence of ‘background’ results, and ‘all clear’. Currently ‘all clear’. Hopefully with your excellent blood glucose management, and with your BP coming into range, you may be able to either hold things steady or get an all clear?
 
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