Type 2 Background Retinopathy

[AshrafUM920]

This year round the eye Retinopathy results show i have background Retinopathy.
What does it mean? Of course my control in the blood sugars haven't been well controlled and now i am assuming it wont be long till i lose my sight? My appointment with endo is in January. I am not surprised at all. Been having a few problems with my eyes but a test at the eye clinic showed i have pressure in my eyes. And will be checked in July next year for that
I dont know what to think but i will wait till January and see what the endo says.

 

[Deleted member 475901]

I had very mild background retinopathy a year ago - my diet was not so well controlled during the lockdowns although I'd got my carbs back down after.
This year - just heard today it is fine, the small bleed healed.

So at least in the early stages it can be reversed by better control of your blood sugar.

 

[EllieM]

I appreciate I'm T1 and not T2 but I've had on again off again background retinopathy for decades. While it 100% needs to be monitored it still hasn't progressed to the point where it needs treatment.

I second @TriciaWs 's remark that the early stages can be reversed, and add that later stages can be treated. The treatments really have improved over the last 50 years and very very few people lose their sight now, though it is important to keep those eye checks going so that you can get treatment if and when you need it.

 

[AshrafUM920]

this was the first time i had the eye drops put in aswell... maybe that had something to do with the results. Then again i don't know and because i get it checked once a year i wont know till next November if it has improved

 

[Lainie71]

this was the first time i had the eye drops put in aswell... maybe that had something to do with the results. Then again i don't know and because i get it checked once a year i wont know till next November if it has improved

The eye drops are horrible really made my eyes sting and I had problems as well as others in the the waiting area that had the eye drops! Felt like we were all walking around like moles! I couldn't see a darn thing!

 

[AndBreathe]

This year round the eye Retinopathy results show i have background Retinopathy.
What does it mean? Of course my control in the blood sugars haven't been well controlled and now i am assuming it wont be long till i lose my sight? My appointment with endo is in January. I am not surprised at all. Been having a few problems with my eyes but a test at the eye clinic showed i have pressure in my eyes. And will be checked in July next year for that
I dont know what to think but i will wait till January and see what the endo says.

It is a huge leap from a first letter for background retinopathy to expecting imminent blindness.

What does your results letter say about next steps? Are you to expect a clinic letter, or are you to be reviewed after 6 or 12 months, for example?

Your GP receives a copy of your results letter, only his gives a tiny bit more detail on what was reported. My recent results were "no sign of diabetic eye disease", and my GPs letter looked like this. The "Final Grade" scores are R0M0, meaning no retinopathic or maculopathic changes. The grading goes from 0 to 4 and relates to the number of spots noted:

A few years ago I had a test showing a small change that was something like R1M0 and L0M0, but that cleared up spontaneously.
Eyes can improve as well as worsen, so please don't panic.

If your letter invites contact if you are concerned, then consider doing that.

I hope that helps in a small way.

 

[AshrafUM920]

The eye drops are horrible really made my eyes sting and I had problems as well as others in the the waiting area that had the eye drops! Felt like we were all walking around like moles! I couldn't see a darn thing!

That's the thing... i didn't have no stinging or irritation or blurred vision. I told the lady who was doing the test and she just smiled and carried on with the test.

 

[AshrafUM920]

It is a huge leap from a first letter for background retinopathy to expecting imminent blindness.

What does your results letter say about next steps? Are you to expect a clinic letter, or are you to be reviewed after 6 or 12 months, for example?

Your GP receives a copy of your results letter, only his gives a tiny bit more detail on what was reported. My recent results were "no sign of diabetic eye disease", and my GPs letter looked like this. The "Final Grade" scores are R0M0, meaning no retinopathic or maculopathic changes. The grading goes from 0 to 4 and relates to the number of spots noted:

View attachment 57926

A few years ago I had a test showing a small change that was something like R1M0 and L0M0, but that cleared up spontaneously.
Eyes can improve as well as worsen, so please don't panic.

If your letter invites contact if you are concerned, then consider doing that.

I hope that helps in a small way.

This is my letter

 

[AndBreathe]

This is my letter

Thank you for that. To be absolutely clear, I am not trivialising any observation of background retinopathy, but I do think you should be reassured that things can't currently be too dire, if they are only looking to see you again in a year.

As the various guidance says, it is important to keep both blood glucose and blood pressure in a decent place for our eye health.

I know you have struggled to find a comfortable way forward with your blood sugars, but it really is important, especially now your body is showing it seems to be showing signs of damage in your eyes.

The great news is that you see your Consultant next month, so at least it isn't too long to wait for that.

 

[Lainie71]

I had the same letter - try not to worry it can by all accounts rectify itself which is what I hope. I have so many things I worry about but I had an sight test and my optician said she thought it all looked healthy. Although she couldn't perform the same test as the nhs one, it was enough confirmation for me - until next years test.

 

[AshrafUM920]

Thank you for that. To be absolutely clear, I am not trivialising any observation of background retinopathy, but I do think you should be reassured that things can't currently be too dire, if they are only looking to see you again in a year.

As the various guidance says, it is important to keep both blood glucose and blood pressure in a decent place for our eye health.

I know you have struggled to find a comfortable way forward with your blood sugars, but it really is important, especially now your body is showing it seems to be showing signs of damage in your eyes.

The great news is that you see your Consultant next month, so at least it isn't too long to wait for that.

I appreciate your message.
I am seeing my endo in January which is good.
I am struggling to keep/maintain control with my diabetes.

Recently i had someone approach me and try to sell me the high carb low fat lifetstyle and told me that the animal meat is causing me to be insulin resistant and now looking at it. Its absolute rubbish. Carbs have caused me to more insulin resistant and are keeping my blood sugar high.
Anyway.. fortunately that person wasnt on this forum just via email

 

[AshrafUM920]

I had the same letter - try not to worry it can by all accounts rectify itself which is what I hope. I have so many things I worry about but I had an sight test and my optician said she thought it all looked healthy. Although she couldn't perform the same test as the nhs one, it was enough confirmation for me - until next years test.

I don't know what is so different because the NHS test gives you a letter telling you nothing other than leaving you with questions. Whereas the Optician eye test. The Dr actually explains everything to you. But i do have some pressure in my eyes which needs to be recheck in July.

 

[Derek Stewart]

This year round the eye Retinopathy results show i have background Retinopathy.
What does it mean? Of course my control in the blood sugars haven't been well controlled and now i am assuming it wont be long till i lose my sight? My appointment with endo is in January. I am not surprised at all. Been having a few problems with my eyes but a test at the eye clinic showed i have pressure in my eyes. And will be checked in July next year for that
I dont know what to think but i will wait till January and see what the endo says.

I have had diabetic retinopathy, ocular degeneration, and heaps and heaps of massive eye bleeds and drying up of the vitreous in my eyes for about 8 years - oh, and loads and loads of pain. To alleviate it all - because they can't ever stop it - I have had numerous operations, then operations to clear the glaucoma the first operations cause, laser treatment, new lenses put in, drops every month, injections every month for 6 months, then a break, then more new lenses, then more injections for six straight months, then laser treatment, then more drops... and I can still see (although I have only ever had sight in one eye anyway! Oh, the joys. LOL). The reason I'm saying this is to ask you to not go worrying too much - any of you out there in the same boat - because they can work miracles! In fact, I have recently been cleared to drive again. So have 'bright eyes', like the song, but try to never 'let them close and fade', and look forward to a day when you can sing another song - 'I Can See Clearly Now'! Good luck all, and Merry Christmas and a Happy All Seeing New Year!

 

[AshrafUM920]

I have had diabetic retinopathy, ocular degeneration, and heaps and heaps of massive eye bleeds and drying up of the vitreous in my eyes for about 8 years - oh, and loads and loads of pain. To alleviate it all - because they can't ever stop it - I have had numerous operations, then operations to clear the glaucoma the first operations cause, laser treatment, new lenses put in, drops every month, injections every month for 6 months, then a break, then more new lenses, then more injections for six straight months, then laser treatment, then more drops... and I can still see (although I have only ever had sight in one eye anyway! Oh, the joys. LOL). The reason I'm saying this is to ask you to not go worrying too much - any of you out there in the same boat - because they can work miracles! In fact, I have recently been cleared to drive again. So have 'bright eyes', like the song, but try to never 'let them close and fade', and look forward to a day when you can sing another song - 'I Can See Clearly Now'! Good luck all, and Merry Christmas and a Happy All Seeing New Year!

I will try keeping my levels in check and hopefully the next check is clear probably wont have the drops next time round.

I am happy that you're doing better and can drive now.

 

[Deleted member 527103]

I second/third the message that background retinopathy is the very first step towards needing treatment on your eyes and it can be reversed.
After nearly 20 years with diabetes, I have had background retinopathy off and on and it has never progressed.

The other thing to consider is, if your eyes are tested in England, they are checked manually. At least two people will test all retinal scans but they are looking for very small variations to determine if you have retinopathy. Background retinopathy means they have spotted something very small.

 

[Ronancastled]

Remember your doctor is sent the detailed report. My surgery nurse told me I had 2 micro-aneurysms in one eye. The following year after good control they disappeared. Try not to worry.

 

[sue512]

A friend of mine is an ophthalmologist, she also says background retinopathy can be reversed with good blood sugar control. My last scan showed background retinopathy in both eyes and since then my blood sugar control is the best it’s ever been so we will see what happens. Optician told me their equipment doesn’t give the same quality pics as the nhs screening. The drops dilate the pupil so they can obtain better quality pics. Bring sunglasses for after drops!

 

[Resurgam]

I am having my annual check tomorrow, but I have had several normal ones now. At the first one I was told I had background retinopathy, but having returned to normal Hba1c numbers and BG after eating, it was gone by the next year and not returned.
Eyes can heal if the cause of the problem is removed or reduced.

 

[AshrafUM920]

i tried ringing my GP and the receptionist told me that the doctor hasn't received the letter. i am pretty sure that the GP get the letter before i do so i am just going to wait till January and speak to the endo.

also, it is interesting to read the comments and how some of you have had clear results from good diabetes control and that is very helpful and i will definitely try and keep my levels in the normal range.

 

[markpj31]

A friend of mine is an ophthalmologist, she also says background retinopathy can be reversed with good blood sugar control. My last scan showed background retinopathy in both eyes and since then my blood sugar control is the best it’s ever been so we will see what happens. Optician told me their equipment doesn’t give the same quality pics as the nhs screening. The drops dilate the pupil so they can obtain better quality pics. Bring sunglasses for after drops!

Do you mind sharing your Hba1C results?