Hi, needing a little info please. Have been type 1 diabetic 32 years. No real problems but just found have got some small degree of retinopathy around macular part of eye. Bit of a shock. How treatable is this? Risks? And is worse case scenario total blindness or partial? What percentage of type 1s have total blindness? Thanks Chris
Technology has come a long ways in your time since 32 years ago, heck it's come even further in my time with this disease. When I started having signs of Retinopathy I had had D over 30 years, that was in the 1980s. I had heard then that there was laser that could take care of it so I went to treatments and it did solve my problem. Today the technology is even more advanced there are several kinds of treatment. I know there is still laser but from what I've read there are other types. Like other things with D go forward and explore I know there are all types of options. Maybe someone can tell you about the others.
When I was about 14, my eye doc told my Mom that I had retinopathy (this was about 1977). He told us there was nothing to be done (he was wrong!). In about 1984 I had my first retinal bleed while at university. I went to the local hospital and ended up getting referred to a world class retina specialist. I had extensive laser treatments for a couple of years until things settled down. At this point, thanks to cataracts and lens implants thereafter I have 20/30 vision without glasses. I drive, read, watch tv, etc. Even though I was left untreated for a long time and was in advanced middle stages of the proliferative phase of the disease, I can still see just fine. If you are in early stages, take care of yourself (don't go too low too often because it can make the retinopathy worse), I strongly suspect that you will be fine. Feel free to ask me any questions. I don't know a lot about some of the modern stuff because I haven't had anything active in about 20 years.
I am legally blind, but not from diabetes (been legally blind since infancy, developed Type 1 at age 9).
I am completing an M.A. in the field of blindness, and only about 8% of the entire population of individuals who are considered legally blind have total blindness (i.e., no vision). Most have some degree of residual vision. I think I read somewhere that 0.1-0.2% of Type 1s become totally blind. It was a very small percentage considering the number of Type 1s with diabetic retinopathy is much higher. With diabetic retinopathy, I think total blindness is definitely a distant, worse-case scenario. Especially if you get good treatment and have good blood sugar control.
These days, however, someone with little or no vision can do virtually anything, except maybe a few jobs that require good visual acuity (which is probably much smaller than the list that comes to mind for most people). Navigating a city on public transit, using a Windows computer (the same one anyone else would use), using an iPhone, travelling for business, attending conferences and workshops, shopping and cooking, cleaning and decorating an apartment (and living alone), reading almost any book from any library or bookstore, and using social networking sites like this one (as well as Facebook and LinkedIn), online shopping ... these are all things I and others with visual impairments do daily; and these are everyday things, not the results of being extraordinary people!
Not to say that it doesn't take some extra work, and that there aren't some barriers ... but, even if the distant, worst-case scenario came to pass it doesn't mean it has to be the end of a productive life or independence.
I also am visually impaired, I am retired but ran my home,raised 3 children, did all the things I wanted. Have retinopathy of Prematurity. Have had surgery and multiple lasers and remain with some vision in my only eye. I have been blind since birth in the other. I am a Type 2 and have tried to keep diabetes from causing my fragile retina to have future damage. Keep good numbers, good luck. Nancy
Hey - we have the same eye condition! I've had some laser this past year for complications of ROP. After 21 years, no signs of diabetes affecting my retinas.
Hi Chris. I do not know off hand the answers to your statistical questions. But I will be happy to share my personal experience. I've had type 1 diabetes for nearly 32 years. I did not stay on top of my annual eye exams while attending graduate school. I let the retinopathy go for too long in my right eye, but caught it at a good time in my left one. I had a series of laser surgeries in both eyes. I now need glasses to correct the sight in my right eye to 20/50 and 20/20 in my left. I only wear glasses when I drive. There has been no progression of the retinopathy for the last 9 years.
Many thanks for all your replies. Very helpful.
Hi everyone. A new poster. I’ve had type one diabetes for almost 25 years, I got it when I was 11 years old and now I’m 35. I’ve been using a insulin pump for the last 12 years. My A-1 C has been in the 6.0 to 7.0 range for the last 15 years. Today I went for a eye exam. This is the first time that The optometrist said I had some hemorages. I almost fainted and I’ve been really scared. Can’t function because I don’t know what it means. My brother had poor control and in 1989 and 1990 he needed vitrectomy. . What the optometrist said specifically was that I had 13-15 spots on bottom right eye and about 5 in my left. They are not broken blood vessels because I have not seen floaters or anything. He also said he said retinalschesis which he said is some minor bulging or pocket of fluid.
He said He just wants to watch and see and see if my control would be better and check me in 10 days. I am totally freaked out really worried I am a man I need some encouragement and maybe some hope from those of you on the board. I scheduled an appointment with a retinal doctor tomorrow because I am so freaked out. I don’t have any relationships with these guys as I’ve always gone to pearle and lens crafters and they’ve said my dilation eyes looked good. Can someone tell me possibly some any positive news or I’ve had diabetes for 25 years and I’m just worried. Thanks!
I’ve had a lot of lows lately. Why is that to blame???
Hi Jacob2877. Fellow 35-er here. Please see my post below from March 23, 2013 at 2:59 p.m. I had specialists tell me for years that they just wanted to keep watching it. Eventually I needed laser surgery. It was an outpatient procedure. My retinas are doing well now.
I would just be sure to keep in touch with your ophthalmologist who hopefully specializes in the care of those with diabetes.