Eye Problems

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Flutterby

Flutterby

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello, I'm new on here but need some support if possible. I've had type one Diabetes for 32 years and have today received a letter saying that I have diabetic maculopathy in my left eye which requires treatment. I know they use laser treatment but am really scared about what actually happens. I don't like anyone near my eyes! Has anyone else had treatment? I've had a few tears this morning - so any help would be nice. thank you.
 
Hi Flutterby, welcome to the forum🙂 I haven't had the treatment myself, but I know we have had members who have so hopefully tey will be able to offer you some reassurance.
 
I'm sorry to hear you are having eye problems. It is good news your condition is treatable.

My father had something similar and the treatment was very successful, he just wasn't able to drive for a few weeks.

I know there are other forum users who have had laser eye treatment who will be able to tell you what happens.

When you go for the treatment, explain the problems you have with people going near your eyes, I'm sure the get this all the time and will know how best to help you and cause minimum distress.
 
Hi, I am afraid I only have time for a quick post so will try and do a longer one later. First off, on average, nearly 100% of insulin dependant diabetics have some degree of change to their retinas after ten years of treatment. Also if the diagnosis was made following photographs of the retina being taken it is not a 100% given that you will need laser treatment. This is for the specialist at the eye clinic to assess.

What happens at an eye clinic? This though may vary from person to person.

i) You will be given a standard eye test
ii) If you are around 40, or more, they usually carry out a test for glaucoma. This is no more than a puff of air on the eye. If you are given anaesthetic drops you will not even feel this.
iii) Drops will be put in your eyes to dilate the pupils. I find they sting a bit but this varies from person to person.
iv) There follows a 20 -30 minute wait while your pupils dilate to allow a better view of the retina. My vision tens to get rather blurred so I can only sit and let the world go by.
v) The consultant will examine your retina in detail. Usually this entails using a piece of equipment where you lean forward with your forehead against the equipment and your chin on a rest. You will be very dazzled after this ? ask for help afterwards rather than risk a fall if it is very bad.

A decision will then be made if you need laser treatment. They re unlikely to do anything the same day unless the situation is very bad. However, if they had felt this they would have booked you in within a day or two.

There are two other types of test they may do. One is a visual fields test where your head goes in a cabinet and you have to respond to spots of light coming from different directions. This is to see if you have blind spots. There is also a piece of equipment that checks the co-ordination of your eyes near and far.

I am a bit of an anorak on all the equipment as studied the eye in depth as part of an ?applied optics? course when I was a student.
 
Wow, thanks Falcon123 for such a lot of info. I hadn't realised that there would still be any doubt about the need for laser treatment. The letters I've received haven't been very clear. The first one said I needed treatment and then the next was very non-specific, just talking about drops and not driving. Your post is really helpful. thank you.
 
Just to point out, laser treatment for retinopathy (which is pretty common in people with diabetes) is not quite the same as laser treatment for maculopathy, which is what Flutterby has. Sorry, haven't got anyhting else to add just now, as I'm grabbing a couple of computer mins during meal break.
 
Thanks Copepod, it's all so complicated isn't it, think I will be glad when I can go for the appt and find out exactly where I stand. Am dreading it though but I supposed they will be used to that.
 
I thought it might be useful to do a basic description of the retina. The macula is the part of the retina near the optic nerve. It is about 5mm in diameter and responsible for high acuity vision, such as reading, and colour. The more peripheral area of the retina is responsible for ?black and white?, night and peripheral vision. The damage that may be caused by diabetes relates to the blood vessels in the back of the eye. It differs between the macula and the outlying area of the retina. Both, though, are treated by laser therapy. For maculopathy less and lower powered laser treatment is used. The technology is continuously improving and has a very high success rate.

Good control of your diabetes and blood pressure are important as is NOT smoking. My uncle?s wife has macular degeneration caused purely, in her consultant?s opinion, by smoking. As she is in her late eighties I cannot see her giving it up now though.
 
hi flutterby - just wanted to offer my support. it sounds as if they guys above me ^^ have provided lots of info. i hope the treatment goes well - let us know 🙂
 
Thanks Shiv, just sort of want it to be over and yet that means going through it! odd how the mind works eh? Or maybe it's just mine!
 
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