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Eye Sight Changes (medication related)

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PaulG

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi All,
I've recently been discharged from hospital and my meds changed from Metformin to injecting insulin.

I used to wear specs for distance (driving) and a pair for normal reading, also another close focus pair of reading glasses
for welding as that's my profession.

It's all gone to pot. My distance vision has improved where's my shorter focal lengths have changed dramatically.

Had an eye test Friday at Specsavers and have an appointment tomorrow to order three pairs of glasses. I'm lost without them.


Anyone else had similar problems?
Paul G
 
Hi Paul. Did you tell the optician about the diabetes? This is a very common issue, what happens is that when your blood sugars change quickly your eyesight can change. When your blood sugars settle down in a months or two you may find your eyesight changes again. I’d caution against spending a fortune on the glasses but to speak to the optician and just get whatever is low cost to do the essentials like driving and work safely, then go back when your blood sugars are stable.
 
Diabetes was discussed extensively and I payed the extra to have my retinas photographed.
I'm self employed so waiting a couple of months is also a no no. Cheaper to take the risk and buy glasses.

Paul G
 
PaulG said:
Diabetes was discussed extensively and I payed the extra to have my retinas photographed.
I'm self employed so waiting a couple of months is also a no no. Cheaper to take the risk and buy glasses.

Paul G
Click to expand...
Yes I understand waiting isn’t possible that’s why I suggested getting the cheapest range that will allow you to drive and work safely, no point getting anything fancy as you’ll be buying them again in a couple of months.
 
The trouble is that often cheaper alternatives are sometimes so different from the normal type of lenses that your vision is still a problem.
A few years ago I had a relatively cheap pair from Specsavers as it happened as I wanted some thing quickly but they made everything small so were unwearable but they refused to accept anything was wrong.
A similar thing has happened to me but I have hung off but I am really struggling with close up things, distance seems fine. I am now 6 months down the line so will have to weaken, I have varifocals so my glasses are pretty expensive over £650 a pop. I do go to an independent optician.
Paul, I hope you get yours sorted to your satisfaction.
 
Although I have to use an optician for the eye test I use Debbie (@ Prism Optical Services) for frames and fitting.
Feel free to look up her FaceBook page. Personal service second to none.
 
Err - why paying anybody to take retinal photos? - Free on the NHS!!! Every 12 months since they rolled them out about 20 years ago. Photos checked back at base by at least two different opthalmologists so if anything raises queries, it gets sorted ASAP. Appts went a bit haywire last year and I actually got mine this year in January so 10 months after the last one I didn't have in March 2019. The only time ever it's been late.
 
trophywench said:
Err - why paying anybody to take retinal photos? - Free on the NHS!!! Every 12 months since they rolled them out about 20 years ago. Photos checked back at base by at least two different opthalmologists so if anything raises queries, it gets sorted ASAP. Appts went a bit haywire last year and I actually got mine this year in January so 10 months after the last one I didn't have in March 2019. The only time ever it's been late.
Click to expand...
I always pay the £20 for the extra OCT retinal scans. It's 3D image so can pick up more things than the NHS photos, and especially if you have changes in eyesight or blood sugars, it's good peace of mind to know whether it's related to retinopathy. The NHS checks are annual, and there often arent any signs of retinopathy at first, so if I am at the optician anyway and can pick an issue up 6 months earlier or however long till my next NHS scan, then all the better for my sight. Depends on your finances of course but for me £20 once a year with my annual eye sight test is worth it.
 
First time I've heard of an OCT scan - Asda opticians did do retinal photos this year but that's the first time I have ever had anything like that done at the optician as part of my eye test. (free so NP and no discussion) Boots had used to do a peripheral vision test and I've had one of those at Asda too in the past, but they don't offer them now. Also, they no longer do the glaucoma puff of air test at either Boots or Asda. I only get my eyes tested every 2 years unless I have a prob, which I haven't had at all except my cataracts a few years ago. Oh and once in the noughties when Specsavers in Coventry cocked up completely. All sorted. Worn glasses permanently since the 1970s and varifocals since the 80s.
 
I had booked an "Adult Eye Test and OCT Scan" at Specsavers. The scan costs an extra £10.
I used to get regular scans organised by the diabetes section of the NHS but that stopped when Coronavirus started,
along with the regular HbA1c blood tests that I used to get, if fact even a sick note had to be passed out through a
surgery window the other day.

Two of the pairs of glasses I own have frames in as new condition and Prism Optical will fit new lenses to these frames,
something Specsavers refuse to do.

Paul G
 
Sorry to hear about the changes to your eyesight @PaulG

Have you noticed a big change in your BG levels since starting on insulin?
 
I've had something similar diagnosed in March this year and my close focal range is shut with my latest specs. Couldn't focus less than an arms length away so I dug up an old prescription pair and thankfully its better, I never knew that reducing my levels can effect focal length till now.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Sorry to hear about the changes to your eyesight @PaulG

Have you noticed a big change in your BG levels since starting on insulin?
Click to expand...


When I get the bill for 5 pairs of glasses I let you know how sorry you can be. 🙄🙂

At first they kept changing the dosage but now settled on 30 units in the morning and 24 at dinner.
Will give it a chance to settle.
 
Stuvart said:
I've had something similar diagnosed in March this year and my close focal range is shut with my latest specs. Couldn't focus less than an arms length away so I dug up an old prescription pair and thankfully its better, I never knew that reducing my levels can effect focal length till now.
Click to expand...
Ah! So I'm not the only one. :D
 
Well higher BG changes the shape of the eye so hardly surprising that affects they eyesight - and then you start reducing the BG which changes the shape back again - but because the first changes happen very gradually you get used to them - whereas you notice them changing back again more acutely. Just tedious, took mine 5-ish weeks to start focussing properly when I was first diagnosed. Bored as hell ...... no telly, no reading, no knitting or sewing, nowhere to go on my own, no money to visit my mother or anyone else.
 
The way this was explained to me is probably somewhat simplified but it helps me understand.
When we have untreated diabetes, our blood sugars are high and our body tries to get rid of the extra glucose. Our kidneys push it out through urine but that is not all. Glucose will come out all over the place. For example, some people notice higher rates of tooth decay because glucose is in our saliva.
Glucose is also in our tears. The refractive index of sugary water is different to the refractive index or salty water. Therefore, our lenses will adapt to focus through sugary tears. This change happens slowly so we don't notice.
When we bring our blood sugars down, our body does not need to flush out the glucose. We don't visit the toilet as often, dental healthy improves and our lens revert back to the shape they need to be to focus through salty tears.
Unfortunately, the time taken for our lenses to transition is greater than the time taken for our blood sugars to come down. As a result, our lenses are the wrong shape for the refractive index of our tears and our vision is blurred for a while.
So, any specs that are purchased from a prescription taken with lowering blood sugars but untransitioned lenses will be out of date quickly.
I was advised to use ready readers during this transition period.
 
Just been to pick up the two pairs with single vision lenses. (reading and welding)
At least I'll be able to read the bill now.
🙂
 
Thanks helli I didn't know any of this, but it does explain it well.
 
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