Eye Examination

[JoeJOns]

Hi,

So I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago and I have a retina exam coming up over the next few weeks. I am ever so slightly petrified. Is it common for a newly diagnosed person in their early 20's to have background retinopathy? Or any other forms of retinopathy for that matter? My sugars have been under strict control since I was diagnosed (Haven't gone above 8mmol)

 

[rebrascora]

My sugars have been under strict control since I was diagnosed (Haven't gone above 8mmol)

Wow that is amazing! You are doing fantastically!! I am still struggling to keep my levels under 8 after 7 months, so you must be doing something right!
The retinopathy screening is a doddle. They put drops in your eyes which dilate them then take a quick photo of the retina. It is over in minutes. The only thing is that you should not drive for a few hours afterwards because of the drops. At your age, excellent BG control and very recent diagnosis, you are at unbelievably low risk of them finding anything amiss.... the word negligible comes to mind... so please don't worry about it. The important thing is that they map your retina so that they can compare future screening results to it and spot any changes more easily.

 

[SB2015]

This is an annual test that we all get.
At this stage, and with such fantastic control at such an early stage after diagnosis, it is more a case of getting an image now, so that they can monitor your retinas in the future against this. As @rebrascora has said it is a doddle. It is a bit weird with the dilation drops and I make sure that I take my sunglasses as the bright lights area bit glarey afterwards when I walk home (no driving for a while after the check).

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Is it common for a newly diagnosed person in their early 20's to have background retinopathy?

I don't think so. But if you do and it's just background retinopathy then that's likely to reverse itself anyway (with good control of BG, control of blood pressure (if necessary)). Most likely there won't be anything and you'll get the annual screening for decades to come.

 

[VICTOR HILL]

brillant sugars
eye health very big issues can be if not sorted ealy all the medical stuff now lasers and accurate s of them is great far better than in 1985 when i got problems
it just keeps an eye on your early preventive is good for less problems in earl 1980 lasers argon where huge bits of kit size of a door now small as a brief case keep my eyes steady for the last 30 years
and are improving every month
you also will know if you do get problems as you go along keep docs informed and all will be well but it is like fiction way beyond me how it does it but it does
bit like welding a car keeps all good vic

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Is it common for a newly diagnosed person in their early 20's to have background retinopathy? Or any other forms of retinopathy for that matter?

No that would be very unusual. And very unlucky. But as others have sait background changes often reverse themselves with good BG management.

The only thing that can happen is if someone has had very high BGs for a long time and then *suddenly* reduced them to normal range. And again any resulting background changes are ususally transient and resolve themselves. The annual checks are really useful for the future because it means any tiny changes that may happen a few years (or decades) down the line will get picked up early.

Try not to worry. You will be absolutely fine.