Blurred vision after recent diagnosis

[bse.dave]

Prior to diagnosis as type 2 I would have periods where my short sight vision improved to the extent that for a while I did not need my reading glasses. It now transpires that these episodes seemed to have coincided with Hyperglyceamia. Since being diagnosed earlier this month I have been put on Metformin (increasing dosage) and Gliclazide. Not long after my long sight has gone blurry and I can only see clearly by wearing my reading glasses which are no longer good for reading. To read I have had to buy 3.5* reading glasses.

I understand that some changes in vision are expected as the glucose levels in the eye re-adjust (my blood glucose has been brought down to a fasting level of 7-8 mmol/L). However, I can find no information on how long this is likely to last. I am not due for my first diabetic clinic until a couple of weeks time. So I am not sure when I should be concerned enough to raise the issue with my GP.

 

[klogs17]

It was about 4-5 weeks from diagnosis before my eyesight returned to normal. Only time I’ve needed reading glasses!

 

[bse.dave]

It was about 4-5 weeks from diagnosis before my eyesight returned to normal. Only time I’ve needed reading glasses!

Thanks. That is really useful to know. So it seems I have about another 2 or 3 weeks to go

 

[klogs17]

Thanks. That is really useful to know. So it seems I have about another 2 or 3 weeks to go

… fingers crossed it’s the same for you but as I’ve learnt in the last two months it’s a different journey for us all

 

[xfieldok]

I was a few months in when I thought I had a dizzy turn in the kitchen. Next day I felt the same. Changed my glasses to a previous prescription. They weren't perfect but a lot better. Don't be in a hurry to change your glasses.

 

[bse.dave]

… fingers crossed it’s the same for you but as I’ve learnt in the last two months it’s a different journey for us all

The most important bit is having an estimate however variable as up to now I was in the dark. Fortunately it seems that I will be able to talk to someone about it on Friday

 

[bse.dave]

I was a few months in when I thought I had a dizzy turn in the kitchen. Next day I felt the same. Changed my glasses to a previous prescription. They weren't perfect but a lot better. Don't be in a hurry to change your glasses.

Thanks. I bought a cheap pair of reading glasses just to cover the period until my vision returns to normal. If I had not I would not be able to read :-(

 

[coby]

Prior to diagnosis as type 2 I would have periods where my short sight vision improved to the extent that for a while I did not need my reading glasses. It now transpires that these episodes seemed to have coincided with Hyperglyceamia. Since being diagnosed earlier this month I have been put on Metformin (increasing dosage) and Gliclazide. Not long after my long sight has gone blurry and I can only see clearly by wearing my reading glasses which are no longer good for reading. To read I have had to buy 3.5* reading glasses.

I understand that some changes in vision are expected as the glucose levels in the eye re-adjust (my blood glucose has been brought down to a fasting level of 7-8 mmol/L). However, I can find no information on how long this is likely to last. I am not due for my first diabetic clinic until a couple of weeks time. So I am not sure when I should be concerned enough to raise the issue with my GP.

Hi @bse.dave Like yourself I also had 'perfect' vision for a brief spell prior to Type 2 diagnosis, but just the once, and for around four days or so. I got my diagnosis just two weeks later, since my optician sent me for the blood test. My eyes have been fine since then until July this year when I went low carb and lost 20lbs in weight and went into none diabetic numbers. One eye is not improving and I now have 3 lots of eye drops for it

 

[bse.dave]

Hi @bse.dave Like yourself I also had 'perfect' vision for a brief spell prior to Type 2 diagnosis, but just the once, and for around four days or so. I got my diagnosis just two weeks later, since my optician sent me for the blood test. My eyes have been fine since then until July this year when I went low carb and lost 20lbs in weight and went into none diabetic numbers. One eye is not improving and I now have 3 lots of eye drops for it

Thanks. So avoid going too low with the blood sugar. Got it. . Hope your vision improves with the drops.

 

[KK123]

I was 56 at diagnosis and never needed glasses beforehand. On my very first dose of insulin my eyes started to go blurry, luckily they'd told me this would happen. My hb1ac was 140mmol (eek), aka 15%. 6 weeks later it was down to 6%. My eyes didn't go back to normal for around 10 weeks or more though. I still don't need glasses mind, 4 years later.

 

[bse.dave]

I was 56 at diagnosis and never needed glasses beforehand. On my very first dose of insulin my eyes started to go blurry, luckily they'd told me this would happen. My hb1ac was 140mmol (eek), aka 15%. 6 weeks later it was down to 6%. My eyes didn't go back to normal for around 10 weeks or more though. I still don't need glasses mind, 4 years later.

Thanks. That is helpful though fortunately I am not on Insulin at the moment (and hopefully will not need it). I am picking up a possible trend from the replies so far (or imagining one!) and that seems to be the quicker you lower your blood glucose it may take longer your vision to return to normal.

 

[coby]

Thanks. So avoid going too low with the blood sugar. Got it. . Hope your vision improves with the drops.

Exactly! Take it slower than I did x

 

[Ronancastled]

I was 56 at diagnosis and never needed glasses beforehand. On my very first dose of insulin my eyes started to go blurry, luckily they'd told me this would happen. My hb1ac was 140mmol (eek), aka 15%. 6 weeks later it was down to 6%. My eyes didn't go back to normal for around 10 weeks or more though. I still don't need glasses mind, 4 years later.

Amazing turnaround.
Just be careful as it's well documented that normalising BG rapidly from a high level can worsen retinopathy in the short term.

 

[KK123]

Amazing turnaround.
Just be careful as it's well documented that normalising BG rapidly from a high level can worsen retinopathy in the short term.

Hi Ronancastled, to be fair it was the insulin that was responsible for lowering my glucose levels immediately which led to the fairly quick lowering of the hb1ac. Nothing was said about retinopathy as such. My only instructions were to aim to use a sufficient amount of insulin to keep to my targets of between '4 & 7' before meals and up to 10 after meals. Having done this through the use of insulin, I'm guessing they were more concerned about reducing my glucose levels quickly following a spell in hospital on diagnosis with DKA. It's a good question though, how or whether on diagnosis they should be saying keep your levels higher than normal targets for the first few months to minimise retinopathy or whether they simply see it as 'never mind that, get those levels down pronto'. Obviously for a type 2 (generally speaking), it may be less risky to take it more slowly?