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Retinopathy appointment

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Carina1962

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I had my retinopathy appointment today, I always dread these for some reason and now I have to wait for my results. Sorry to ask (I should know I know) but what exactly is this for? I've had a few now since diagnosis in 2009 and results have always come back OK so far but I get so nervous that they will find something next time. How many of you have had these appointments for a long time and results have been good? or is it inevitable that over time, something will be detected? :(
 
Hi Carina, this page explains what it is all about quite well:

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/diabetic-retinopathy

It's not inevitable that something will be detected, and often when 'background retinopathy' is detected it may resolve itself and be OK by the time of the next scan. Or some people have had background retinopathy for years and its never got any worse 🙂

I've been having them for about 5 years now and initially they didn't find anything, but for the past 3 years they have found some changes which they are concerned about as they are close to the macula, which is a very important part of the eye responsible for central vision.

It's good that yours have been fine, I hope that your latest one comes back with no problems also 🙂
 
Only introduced retinal photography 'across the board' in approx. early 2000s, before that we had an ophthalmologist - or just the diabetes consultant, peering at us through opthalmoscopes and suchlike.

I've had it done every year since 1972 though, mid 1990s onwards I was told I had 'background changes' and this year I was told those changes had disappeared. Well of course, I'd seen the photos anyway and knew they weren't there any more, but the letter confirmed it.

Don't stress! If you get it and it's near enough your eyesight to need treatment (mine never was) it can be treated unless you are an exception or you don't look after your diabetes well enough.

Some people would get macular probs etc even were they NOT diabetic. Did you stress about that before you had D?

No, I thought not ........ 😉
 
Mine always comes back with back ground retinopathy. Never any better never any worse.

I try to take something with me to do between the drops and the pictures being done, usually a bit of knitting. I do a familiar pattern because once the drops start to work it is difficult to read...
 
That's great news, I'm really pleased for you🙂
 
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