Lasering for proliferative retinopathy

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Twitchy

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello all...

well, they got me again...I've now had a total of 4 sessions of laser - 2 since my first pregnancy (both eyes both times), and 2 so far in this one (just the left eye thankfully). I'm just a bit shocked at how little (ie zilch) info you get given though...I was told I'd had a minor bleed since last time, but it was only on pressing for more info that I was told what it would probably have looked like (minor bleeds apparently look like a "shower" of dots, a major one you basically just can't see much til - if - it clears). I had seen a few spots for a day or so some weeks ago, but not realised what it might have been, as they went fairly soon. However since having the last lot of laser last week, I've seen loads of spots and a blurry mark in the vision of my left eye. When I called the eye casualty department I was told "it's normal to get some bleeds after lasering"!!! 😱 I thought the whole point was to stop bleeds?!! Ho hum. Also hadn't realised that pregnancy is a significant risk factor for rapid progression of pre-existing retinopathy...so whatever the outcome, I'm afraid this is going to have to be my last pregnancy. :( Funny how in the pre-conception discussions with my diabetic specialist, eyes were not even mentioned. (Could be because he hadn't even been informed I'd already been lasered twice at that point?!). Oh well, no point getting stressed about that now!

On the positive, side, they are at least checking me regularly now - even if the doc wants to see me in 4 weeks & the earliest appt is in 8! 🙄 Could be much worse...
 
good luck twitchy ....ive got my eye tests next week...last year was 1st and they said i had some changes ...hope they havent got worse!
 
Good luck, the positive is they are keeping an eye on your eyes, if you'll excuse the pun.
 
hi twitchy good luck and as caroline says at least there keeping a close eye on your eyes
 
I hope that the lasering has done the trick and your vision will clear up soon. You've really seem to have come up against alot of challenges during your pregnancy, I'm sure you will be rewarded with a beautiful baby at the end of it though.

My previous clinic appointment I talked babies with my Dr and she mentioned that retinopathy can worsen but that wouldn't be a concern as as present I don't have it. So i think that the Dr's should have informed you about it.
 
I did Applied Optics as a module in my Physics degree so am fairly knowledgeable about eyes. I have a CD with photographs of my retinas so I can check their state myself. Not all opticians offer this service but at ?15-00 I think it is worth it. I get this done every two years so I have a potted history available. Eye clinic in just over a week for a full check over. I had cataract surgery three years ago but do not think it was linked to my diabetes. You become more prone to them if you are shortsighted and use VDUs a lot. The information about this is fairly well hidden as it is bad news like the potential link between mobile and brain tumours. A non-diabetic friend a few years younger has had the same problem.
 
Well, 10 days on from the lasering and there is still a blurred area in my left eye's vision, albeit it's changed from looking like an eyelash or something to more of the effect of a (thankfully small) smudge on my glasses (I've checked, alas it's not a smudge! :(). On the plus side the spots are less pronounced, although I've been dodging bright lights as much as possible anyway, since that seemed to make them appear more prominently. I'm just wondering whether this is a bleed that will eventually be reabsorbed? I'm hoping so, as as far as I understood it all the lasering was on the extreme periphery, so why would my vision nearer the middle be affected?? :confused: With a bit of luck it's just the effect of a bleed & will in time fade away...fingers crossed...In the meantime it's just a really irritating effect, doh!

In case any women wanting to be / who are pregnant are being made nervous by this, please don't be...I've had diabetes 30+ years, since I was 11 months old. I would not like to bet that my control was brilliant for my childhood, as those were the bad old days of 2 jabs & conform your eating/activity to the insulin or else! (Has that ever worked for anyone?!) My mum also was ill from time to time & eventually died when I was 13, having been desperately ill for 2 years before that - so as you might imagine, I doubt diabetes care was a priority in any of our minds during those times! I don't think I really got a good grasp of my diabetes control until I was in my 20s (not for lack of trying, just support & education), and then on top of that in my previous pregnancy I had severe pre eclampsia, with stupidly high BP etc etc...I suspect this is when a lot of the foundations for the damage were laid, if not in the years before! So (what I'm trying to say is!...) please don't assume that because you've had T1 for a number of years you'll have the same problems as me - hopefully you'll be fine! I'm just one of those awkward sods the medical students call an "interesting case" (Grrrr!!!)

Anyway, hope that no-one's been made unduly nervous! 😱
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top