Retinopathy check

[PattiEvans]

Hi all

I went for my annual check this morning and found out something I didn't know before (though some of you may well have known). As usual we did the eyesight test, then the guy came to put drops in my eye and I made a half-joking remark about everyone hating the drops but some people got away without having them in. So he started to explain very carefully that my pupils are quite small and though they may be able to take the initial photo without drops, they couldn't take the subsequent ones as my pupils would contract further. He told me that they must take 2 photos of each eye and then he said "of course for T1s we have to take four photos of each eye". So I pricked up and said "So what do you have me down as?" and he said T2, at which point I explained about the re-diagnosis etc and so I got the 4 photos of each eye.

I know there aren't that many people in my position, but I seem to recall there are a couple on this forum. It's worth noting that they do need to be informed if you have been wrongly diagnosed initially.

Anyway, at a brief look it all looks like "no problem" in both eyes. I will await the letter.

 

[Northerner]

Thanks for that Patti, I didn't know that, and as you say we do have members in a similar position to you. I'm glad to hear that there are no problems for you 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Ok Silly question time 🙂
Do type 2's have different eyes than type 1's?

 

[DeusXM]

I think it might be that T1s are believed to be more at risk of retinopathy than T2s (this would fit in with the c-peptide/fewer comps theory) and so doing more photos means there's a wider sample range to spot things that are very minor. Might be wrong though.

I know when I got mine done last week, I was told eyes like mine always require more photo analysis because at a glance they look great and it takes a lot more work to really thoroughly check for tiny, tiny blood vessel damage.

As for getting your diagnosis wrong, I knew I was in for a bad day when the opthamologist said: "Ok, let's quickly check your records. So, you treat your diabetes with tablets, and you've had diabetes since April 2010."

I'm a T1 who's had diabetes since August 1998. I don't think they even have a box on their system to distinguish between types of diabetes. 😡

 

[PattiEvans]

Ok Silly question time 🙂
Do type 2's have different eyes than type 1's?

Good question Sue and I don't have an answer - but perhaps they think T1s can hit really high out of control numbers whereas T2s might not?

Deus

It's frightening when they get your info that wrong!

 

[trophywench]

I didn't know that either Patti. I'll have to try and remember that next February and actually notice how many they take!