Post-Diagnosis Eye Test

[pm133]

Got my eyes tested today at the opticians 3 weeks after starting insulin (which changed my vision as my sugar levels came down).

Taking the risk that I might need to get them redone fairly soon if they change again but right now I'm killing my eyes with a £1 pair of glasses from Poundland. My long vision glasses are now useless but my reading glasses now work for driving.
It's all a bit weird but I can still drive (with opticians approval) with my reading glasses.

Unfortunately she found the start of cataracts which weren't there 2 years ago so that's a concern. I hope it's just the diabetes talking and that having lowered my sugars it stops it. Apparently they prefer to replace the lens with a local anaesthetic. I think not. Nobody is getting near my eye with a hammer and chisel whilst I sit there watching it all.

Retinopathy exam next week.

Been in a ton of pain today as well. Back, hips, legs and feet all killing me. Easing now but today has been a tough one. I'm guessing this sort of thing is par for the course in the early days of lowering sugar levels?

 

[Kaylz]

I had eye injections for macular oedema less than a month after becoming type 1, just numbing drops and then a swab with anaesthetic rubbed on your eye right before the injection, I wasn't exactly overjoyed at the thought but if it saves your sight, trust me you'll do it, my eye problems were brought on by a plummet in hba1c levels so just be careful xx

 

[trophywench]

Cataract ops aren't at all violent or requiring full anaesthesia - you can see absolutely nowt and can feel ditto in that eye - believe me. I was dreading and said so. Surgeon asked 'Was that OK after all?' when he let me sit up again after. I said 'Actually it was hateful cos I couldn't tell what you were doing - BUT if you ask if that will stop me having the other one done - it absolutely won't, just grit my teeth and get on with it!' Different chap did the second and told me lies from start to finish, saying things like 'nearly finished now' when I bloody well already knew he wasn't half way yet!

Both completely fine, and each one took about 10 minutes in truth, but 20-ish from when nursie leads you into surgery, gets you comfy on the bed, surgeon gets your head where he wants it, instructed to keep both eyes open (though they later 100% ensure they do but you can't see or feel that) then you get a sort of tent over the top of your body covering everything except that one eye, held off you with a frame into which pure oxygen/air is piped - and nursie sits at the side holding your hand, if you are in difficulty for anything at all you have to squeeze hard, they stop anything tricky asap and speak to you, to find out the prob.

Need to keep other eye open wide cos otherwise both pupils move so they can't get easy access. Then you have a patch applied to that eye and everything else disappears and they ask you to sit up. Nursie leads you back into recovery area, and plies you with tea/coffee and biscuits. After making sure you're all OK, they ring whoever is to come and pick you up and take you home and won't let you go until they see whoever it is. Next morning patch comes off and first lot of eye drops go in - much easier if someone else does it. I forget how many doses you get. Anyway - within about an hour after that I've been able to see reasonably well, though my old specs were NBG!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about the cataracts and the pain you have been in.

Have your BG levels been changing rapidly? I believe that can bring about acute nerve pain - but I believe this should subside as your BG begins to normalise. Though I would suggest you speak to your GP if the pain continues.

Hope the retinopathy screening goes smoothly.