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 think you did the right thing to schedule an appt with a retinal doctor. I think they are so much more qualified and up to date compared to optometrist, and opthamologists.
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It is scary, and I was terrified when my doctor first gave me the news in 1985. I ended up with significant laser treatments in both eyes, and then vitrectory in left eye, with some scarring of my retina. But have been pretty stable since then, and only suffer from reduced night vision, which is partly due to cataracts.
Stay positive, ask lots of questions, and know that the treatments and options available today are even better than 28 years ago !.
I know exactly what you're going through: the same thing happened to me a few months ago. (I've been type 1 for 27 years; I also learned that something like 90% of type 1s have some retinopathy after 20 years). It's great you're going to a retina specialist, I definitely recommend going to at least an ophthalmologist over an optometrist for your yearly exams. Wait and see what the specialist has to say, but there is a ton they can do, and since you caught it at this stage when it isn't affecting your vision, your prognosis is really good! I know for some things they do laser treatment. If you have swelling (macular edema, that's what I have) they may give you a medication directly in your eyes). They may want to just keep an eye (ha ha) on it. For some reason, if you tighten blood sugar control a lot very quickly, it can also make things worse in your eyes before they get better.
+1 on going to a specialist. You've just joined the approximately 50% of diabetics with 25+ years who have some level of retinopathy. The first thing the specialist will tell you is that having diabetic retinopathy is no longer a automatic descent towards blindness. It's scary, sobering, and rightly so. You're going to get a battery of tests that will most likely include an angiogram and OCT scan o see the extent of microaneurisms, bleeding, and any macular edema if present. It's important to have these baselines noted so that any progress improvement can be tracked.
Definitely stay positive. Tightened control, in the long run, can offer some level of improvement but also realized that tightened control can lead to short term worsening of your condition that may last for up to a couple of years before you start seeing some improvement.
Down the road, if you need it, there are many treatment options that can spare your vision, but that sounds like it's way down the line for you and definitely not something to worry about presently.
hi everyone. Doc Said I got a few small hemorages but after 25 years of diabetes it is excellent as its very mild. Doesn’t affect vision. He said keep doing what I’m doing taking excellent care of my diabetes. Follow up in 6 months.
He said having diabetes for 25 years and only having a very mild case if retinapathy is very good
It can progress to worse but that is only of I have poor glucose control over a period of time. I still need to see him every six months to keep an eye on it. It could get worse even with good control but he said more than likely it shouldn’t But overall im ok.
Been there done that got the medal. Mine comes and goes sometimes they can see it other times not so much I check every six months and I use a retinopathy expert. My best advice. It will not always go away, but it is your eyes and you can get them tested as much as you want. Catch it early and you will find things go better.
I wish you the very best. This is tough but hang on. It is not all battle stations right away. Let us knwo how things go tomorrow and for days to come. We want to help if we can.
I have a very similar story. I wasn't treated originally in the late 70s because I had a lousy eye doc. In 84 I had an obvious bleed and was referred to a retina specialist. I had extensive laser treatment at the time and have had my cataracts done. Now I have been stable for decades and can drive with no restrictions. I don't like driving at night when it's raining, but otherwise I am ok. I can read, drive, and blog no problems. Please try to not worry too much Jacob. Things can turn out well and the technology is now much better than when I went through this 30 years ago.
