Looking for information about "blurry vision"

[sephhouse]

Hi folks.

I'm a 45yr old lass with a family history of T2diabetes (my mum and my maternal gran) so I knew I was always at risk myself. But I think gaining ~1stone over the last year of lockdown on top of an already overweight starting point has put me tottering at the edge of pre-diabetes. However what has me worried right now is that about a month ago my short range vision took a turn for the worse, and i have to peer and squint at text in a book/on a screen that I didn't used to have any trouble with. My mum got T2 diagnosed herself when something very similar happened to her vision so I obviously thought of BS levels when it happened to me.

I booked myself an optician' and dr's appts to check with the professionals but because of covid waiting times, I've had plenty of time to listen to Dr Google, which has it's pluses & minus . But I've found some good info - especially some of the stuff you have bookmarked on these forums so thank you already!

I'd had a bit of a talk to myself back in March & started sorting out my diet/exercise levels so I was already doing the right sort of things (hurrah! down 10lb already, only another 30-40lb to go *sigh* being naturally short & round sucks)
And I already had a blood meter which I usually only look at a couple of times a year, but I've now started daily tests to see where I am. I think I'm averaging a 5.8mmol/L fasting reading at the moment which is just into the pre-diabetes range, & I don't think I'm spiking *too* high during the day (I'm still gathering data about this, but I keep forgetting to test post food🙂

... but my eyes are still blurry, and eye strain is killing me at the moment.
I've tried to look up the diabetes/eye problems issues and while most of them seen to be worries about long term damage, one of the possible symptoms seems to be the eye lens retaining fluid which changes the lens shape - hence blurry vision - which if I'm reading things correctly can have a sudden onset which might be what I'm dealing with... possibly.
But what I can't find information about is whether this is common when you are just into pre-diabetes ranges, or is only likely if your BS levels are "out of control" (my mum's words when she had the same issues).
And if it is BS related - if you get your BS back in control, can you expect the vision to return and if so, how quickly?

My optician's appt is finally coming around on Tuesday and the Dr's the week after, so any questions I can arm myself with for that would be most gratefully received.
Or any other suggestions too

thanks all
Suzy

 

[Leadinglights]

Problems with vision can indicate high glucose levels but also can happen when you reduce your carbohydrate intake and you reduce your blood glucose level quite quickly. It can take quite a while to stabilise, so make sure your optician is aware of your potential diabetes issue. You don't want to be spending lots of money on glasses which may be useless when your eyes settle.
This of course may not be the reason but having a diagnosis confirmed from hopefully an HbA1C blood test you will know where you are.
Some people buy a cheap pair of reading glasses as an interim measure.
It has taken many months for my vision to settle and I don't feel it is still quite normal, my prescription is expensive so did not want to buy new glasses, my distance vision is fine.

 

[Ron Ashworth]

Could be cataracts.

 

[sephhouse]

Thanks both. I’m really hoping it’s not cataracts!! But I think that’s one case where the optician will be able to see & rule in or out quite quickly 🙂

@Leadinglights hits on one of the many reasons I’m trying to gather as much info as possible. My normal glasses are pricey enough without running into buying a new pair if it’s going to change again within months! Reading glasses might be the right short term step.

I’m really interested in getting a HbA1C reading & fingers crossed.

 

[Ljc]

Don’t worry about cataracts, they are easy to fix , I have a real phobia about things being done to my eyes , but so glad I had my one sorted out .

With diabetes, high glucose levels can cause blurry vision it can also happen when you lower our blood glucose too fast , often done when first diagnosed and so eager to get them lower ASAP, when in reality gradual is best for those with T2 .

Please let us know how you get on.

 

[Thebearcametoo]

The optician will be able to sort you out with what the issue is. It’s as likely to be just age related and that you need reading glasses as anything more serious so try not to worry too much.

 

[trophywench]

I'm a great believer in getting whatever is wrong with me fixed asap. I hate eyes and when asked by the opthalmologist who sorted my first cataract a couple of mins after he'd let me sit up after the op, Tell me truthfully how that was for you, Mrs C? I replied immediately that I was more than happy to be truthful, that it had been the vilest 20 minutes of my life so far, thanks - but that wouldn't stop me having the other one done once it needed to be sorted!

Second surgeon was a liar though - was saying 'Nearly done!' - when I knew damn well (from the first one) that he'd hardly even started! Best not to giggle though ......

Not in the slightest painful, I must stress. But you aren't allowed to move, speak, you cant see anything so can only hear, throughout the procedure once they've got you into theatre and on the operating table. Used to make you a nice cuppa and offer biccies before sending you home, and very nicely done the first time - so I felt it was very caring - but simply more rushed for the second one, nobody seemed to have time to be friendly really, before or afterwards. Just a number not a person ......

 

[sephhouse]

Thanks for the comforting words everyone.

& @trophywench I can feel your pain... and pragmatism!
i work with computer systems, and reading for pleasure is so much part of my identity that the thought of losing my sight is very scary. Whatever needs to be done to fix it, I’m going to put up with ANY discomfort to save the sight 🙂
~5 yrs ago, I got a hole in one of my corneas 🙂eek🙂 and the treatment for that is to literally superglue the hole shut so nothing can get inside the eye and cause an infection and just wait for the hole to heal. Having superglue dripped onto your open eye is *exactly* as much fun as it sounds...it took 6months, but the hole did heal up fully and I was lucky that the scarring was away from my field of vision & didn’t affect my sight at all. But it doesn’t help the dread that something else might go wrong...

anyway, 3days and counting until I see the optician *crosses everything*

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope the appointment goes well @sephhouse

If your blurry vision is related to elevated/erratic BG and changes in osmotic pressure you should hopefully find that it settles down over a few months as you take steps to manage your blood glucose levels.

 

[sephhouse]

*sigh* 4 hours until my opticians appt & they have just rung to say the optician has called in sick ;( it’s rescheduled for the 16th unless there is a cancellation before I can steal but I’m stuck with another 2 weeks of uncertainty.

pandemics suck....

 

[Leadinglights]

*sigh* 4 hours until my opticians appt & they have just rung to say the optician has called in sick ;( it’s rescheduled for the 16th unless there is a cancellation before I can steal but I’m stuck with another 2 weeks of uncertainty.

pandemics suck....

Too much beer and sun on Bank Holiday Mon???? Not much help to you though.