Background retinopathy

[Paulm80]

Well I must say I’m
Quite annoyed. Diagnosed type 2 just over two years ago with hbac1 of 60 at just 38 years old ! Whoops!
First eye screening showed background retinopathy in left eye. Two years later hbac1 hasn’t been over 32 , last two have been 30, 31.
Had appointment at opticians a few months ago where she said Vision was perfect and no sign of any retinopathy .
However latest eye screening has again showed background retinopathy in left eye.
My left eye often gets a little sore and now I’m wondering if this is why.
Any info would be great.
Thanks

 

[Rokaab]

I've had background retinopathy for a good decade or more (pretty stable has never needed any treatment) and my eyes are not sore (unless I've accidentally poked myself in the eye of course, or the shampoo has dripped into my eyes), so for myself background retinopathy has not caused any soreness

 

[Fenn]

Hi, Same as Rokaab, every year I get the same letter about background retinopathy, no soreness.

 

[Paulm80]

Hi, Same as Rokaab, every year I get the same letter about background retinopathy, no soreness.

Ok thanks, maybe the soreness is coincidence then or something my minds invented since receiving g the letter

 

[In Response]

I have had background retinopathy but slightly improved my diabetes management to have less peaks and troughs. In the last test, I got an all clear,

As for opticians saying they see no signs of retinopathy, unless they have taken photographs of your retina, I would take the results of the diabetes check over what they say. With background retinopathy, the problems may not be visible to the naked eye.

 

[Dark Horse]

Background retinopathy does NOT make your eye sore. It is completely painless.

One of the changes that would constitute background retinopathy is a microaneurysm - a small swelling on a capillary. Once formed, microaneurysms can remain for several years before the damage to the capillary causes it to close off and the microaneurysm is no longer visible. As long as a microaneurysm remains visible, the retinopathy grade will stay as background retinopathy. If diabetic control is very good and no new retinopathy appears, someone can move from 'background retinopathy' to 'no retinopathy detected' when the original microaneurysm disappears.

The screening service looks at a bigger area of the retina than opticians generally do and they usually have better enhancement software so, if retinopathy levels are low, the optician may not pick up a change that is visible to a retinopathy specialist on the screening images.

 

[NicoleC1971]

Well I must say I’m
Quite annoyed. Diagnosed type 2 just over two years ago with hbac1 of 60 at just 38 years old ! Whoops!
First eye screening showed background retinopathy in left eye. Two years later hbac1 hasn’t been over 32 , last two have been 30, 31.
Had appointment at opticians a few months ago where she said Vision was perfect and no sign of any retinopathy .
However latest eye screening has again showed background retinopathy in left eye.
My left eye often gets a little sore and now I’m wondering if this is why.
Any info would be great.
Thanks

I had it after 20 years or so of type 1 ( i.e. abnormally high glucose levels) and was not aware that there was anything wrong until I was screened.
If you keep blood sugars and therefore insulin levels low, I don't think this should develop into anything more active. Unless you've got some other risk factor for retinopathy? But if you are going to your regular screenings then the ophthalmologist should be able to compare and contrast then offer treatment if warranted. Developing type 2 usually means that for a few years before you might have had abnormal levels of glucose/insulin which can damage your blood small blood vessels causing the tiny bleeds that your screening has revealed.