Mild Background Retinopathy - anyone's improved?

[magswales]

Hi,

I was told I have Mild Background Retinopathy (micro aneurysm in my left eye) last May (2011). At the time I was very upset and the more I found out about Retinopathy, the more it scared me. I am a little better about it now as I have had some condition management support and I no longer 'google' retinopathy!!! 😉

I am due to have my 2nd screening in May. As the time gets nearer my anxiety is growing and I am worried that my Retinopathy will have deteriorated. Has anyone else experience of MB Retinopathy?Has anyone had an improvement in their condition?

Thanks, Magswales 🙂

 

[Robster65]

Hi mags.

It seems to be one of those things that 'goes' with diabetes. If you improve your control enough, I think it can clear up completely, but sometimes it just stays as it is.

The best thing is to assume that your imrovements will have halted it and if they tell you there's improvements, it will be a bonus. I wouldn't have thought it would get worse unless your control deteriorates. But it's a very individual thing and the screening is normally sufficient to catch any changes at an early enough stage to rectify it.🙂

Rob

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I had notification of 'mild background changes' in my eyes two years ago, but last years and this years screening results both came back 'normal'.

I reduced my A1c over that period which may have helped I suppose. Reduced variation *and* lower averages (a smoother less spiky graph) seem to be kindest on the eyes.

 

[trophywench]

Mine is progressing slowly. But then I've had D for 40 years in July.

Mine started after approx 25 years with one teeny one on one eye, then later, one on each eye and last month I had 2 on one eye and still one on the other. Nowhere near my 'sight' so NP, nothing needs doing. AFAIK - as I haven't had the letter confirming that yet, takes anything up to 6 weeks round here.

That does sound a long time but I am given to understand that the photographer flags up the Urgent cases so if you don't hear soon round here, it usually means you are OK. So I'm still as happy as I can be, though naturally I'm sad that I've got it. If you see what I mean?
.

 

[magswales]

Hi, thanks very much for replying. I am hopeful that all my hard work over the last 12 months will have paid off and that there has been some improvement (like you say, a bonus), but I will be happy with no change. I was on Ramapril for high BP but have come off that now as I have lost 7 stone and my BP dropped to low and I developed low BP. I read somewhere that Retinopathy can develope for up to 4 yrs after you have gained control of your BG levels. Not sure how true that it but I supose my fear is that even if by BG is undercontrol that I may have a way to go in terms of my retinopathy damage. Anyway...... fingers crossed for good results in May. Good luck with your also. Mags 🙂

 

[Ellie Jones]

I've been kicked off the eye consultant clinic🙂

You've certainly have worked hard at your improvements and done very well indeed, if it hasn't improved I would say you've done more than enough to keep it at bay...

I would try not to worry, just because you have some signs of retinopathy in the years, it doesn't mean that you'll will end up going blind, the last set of figure's I found for blindness in the diabetic is several years old, and it was around 5% of diabetics have severe impairment of vision, this data also included pre-screening data...