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Type 2 Eye Screening Results

markryb

markryb

Active Member
Messages
32
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
So my eye screening results have finally come back to say I have some background retinopathy. Not much else was on the letter in terms of what that means. From what I can gather it’s obviously not good and it’s the first sign of damage . Just the sort of thing I needed to hear while already down in the dumps. Does anyone else have any more information on it. Will it progress or will it stay as it is as long as glucose levels are kept under control. I went a normal eye test as well and my sight is very good so no physical effects yet.
Thanks guys.
 
Try not to worry too much, if it needed any treatment the letter would have informed you, and I think it's quite common when you change diet and get your levels lower, to have a little background retinopathy. The same thing happened to me on my first eye screening, every one since has been clear. I think it's the sudden drop in glucose levels when you sort your diet out that causes it.
As to whether it will deteriorate and you will need treatment in the future.
No one knows what the future holds, your best chance of avoiding any future eye problems is to keep your blood sugar as low as you can. For me it's all the motivation I need to keep on top of my diet and not let the carbs sneak in.
 
I got this result about 18mths ago, and called them for more info as I'm well controlled. The nurse suggested a recent infection might have caused a few spikes.
A year later it had resolved in spite of my catching covid in between.
 
I too have had background retinopathy on a couple of my tests whilst others in between have been clear. Just because you have it on this one doesn’t mean it’s here to stay.
 
Thanks guys. Yeah the letter does say no further action is necessary. The guy that took the pictures was really good and talking me through them and explained what I was looking at on the images. He said at the time there was nothing there that stood out but obviously would be sent to the GP for the actual examination. So wasn’t really expecting this but it’s good to hear that if all stays well there is a chance it will all be clear next time.
 
markryb said:
Thanks guys. Yeah the letter does say no further action is necessary. The guy that took the pictures was really good and talking me through them and explained what I was looking at on the images. He said at the time there was nothing there that stood out but obviously would be sent to the GP for the actual examination. So wasn’t really expecting this but it’s good to hear that if all stays well there is a chance it will all be clear next time.
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Marky, your GP doesn't see the images. They are viewed in a specialist environment by the opthalmic bods. Your GP does however receive a letter telling him the outcome of the examination, and his letter has a little more detail in it. He will know if your retinopathy is in one or both eyes, and how many spots.

Like others, I have had one result like this. My fried is married to an opthalmic surgeon, treating lost of folks with diabetes. Needless to say, I had a chat with him (he hadn't seen my images to the best of my knowledge).

His response was very relaxed and commented that tiny bleeds can an do happen in perfectly healthy people, if they have a knock on the head or whatever. He suggested I have a chat with my optician who could also have a look at my eyes. My optician (whom the surgeon rates) couldn't find anything, and reckoned in the 3 weeks or so since the original exam that the area had healed.

Stick with it. Look after yourself. The retinopathy may have healed next time. If there were concernes you would have been recalled sooner than a year, or would be having clinic appointments now for treatment.
 
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