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Blurred vision

For what it's worth, blurred vision was one of the symptoms that prompted me to speak to a doc before being diagnosed as T2. It was particularly when trying to focus on close-up things which would normally have been my strong point.

A couple of weeks after I was diagnosed and had been taking meds, I was due a scheduled eye test. But the optician actually postponed it on the premise that with my blood sugars in flux so much there would be no point getting my current levels as they were almost guaranteed to change - at least daily if not hourly. I still get this blurred vision symptom if I don't concentrate for a day or two and levels creep up.

In the end, I had my eye test about 5 weeks after diagnosis when the meds had settled and my sugars were under control. It turns out there wasn't a drastic difference in my prescription at that stage.

You probably know already, but as a diabetic, you're now entitled to free eye tests as often as you need them but at least yearly.
 
brack43 said:
Best to wait, same happened to me, 2 weeks after taking metformin, told I needed glasses, spend £100 on glasses a week later eyesight back to normal
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You should go back to the optometrist and complain that he/she failed to notice the cause of your deterioration in vision. Any professional would know of this. You are due a refund of the spectacle cost. The eye test should be NHS funded because you are diabetic. You should not be out of pocket.
In response to the guy who said buy ponds hop ready readers. The clue I'd in the name. They are not distance lenses and may only be used to assist patients with a condition called presbyopia. The clue I'd in the name "readers". You should not drive while your vision is fluctuating. To do so, you would be in breach of driving regulations and likely not insured by your insurance company as well. The guy with contact lenses has the right idea if you must drive.
 
Hi thanks for the reply . I have regular eye tests as my mother is blind . It was not picked up last time . Yes I do drive but have stopped for the moment . That is why im getting glasses as I can't wait for my sight to go back to normal as I need to drive to get to work . It would cost me more to be of work waiting . So I will get the glasses even if I only need them for a few weeks . But I was told by the consultant eye specialist that I will need glasses for driving this was after I had a dilation test done .
Again thanks for the reply
Clive
 
This is currently happening to me, too! My vision became terribly blurred and I couldn't see the pictures of my grandchildren on my mantelpiece about 5 feet away. My problem seemed to start when I came off metformin for a trial period (doctors advice) to see if it was the drug that was causing me quite bad diarrhoea. When that problem stopped, she put me onto slow release metformin, but the blurred vision started. I went to Specsavers and they told me that my vision had changed enormously and I needed some new glasses. I then got these, but within 2 weeks of wearing them I found my vision had gone again from very clear to slightly blurred. I tried my old specs and found I could see properly again. What concerns me is that I have got new specs unnecessarily, and that this big chain are making a profit out of me wrongly!
 
Dizz said:
Please, please, go and buy yourself a pound shop pair of reading glasses, they were my best friend and never off my head for around 6 weeks after my BG reduced. And then my eyes went back to normal.
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Hi thanks for the response but I need glasses for distance not for reading . I am going to get glasses as it would cost me more to be of work waiting for my eyes to get back to normal . I'll keep you posted
Clive
 

Hi yes . Think you are right about the chains . I'm going to get glasses as it would cost me more to be off work . I have to do about 20 miles a day . So it would cost me more to be of work than to buy glasses and only need them for a few weeks . My blurred vision has not changed in over a week so I'll see how it goes and thanks for the responce
Clive
 
Blurred vision???? I am Type 2 for the last 10yrs. Numbers this last couple of months have been steady between 4.6 and 7.5, before that they were 8's to 12 or even 14's. I wonder if my vision is a result of controlling my Glucose levels? This last month I have noticed that I have a job to focus sometimes, especially reading my favorite fishing magazine. I have a 'devil of a job' see this darn monitor. I usually type an e-mail then read it through half a dozen times to make sure that it's right, then I send it....lol...lol.
I guess that it is 'natural progression' of the diabetes??? Anyone know for sure??
 
I think you would need to get your eyes tested to see what type of problem you have. Diabetes only "progresses" if your blood glucose levels are not well controlled.
 

Hi . When did you last get your eyes tested it may be just an age thing . I have reading glasses I got them from boots only about £24. So it my help if you tried a few on see how you go hope you sort it out

Clive
 

Hi . As a diabetic you will need a dilation eye test once a year .
This is also free this will be as well as your normal eye test
 
Cl1ve said:
Hi thanks for the response but I need glasses for distance not for reading . I am going to get glasses as it would cost me more to be of work waiting for my eyes to get back to normal . I'll keep you posted
Clive
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It is the reading glasses that I used for driving as as it was my distance vision that was affected.

By all means have your eyes tested but do tell your optician that you are now diabetic and what has happened as your bg levels have dropped, you may find they will be reluctant to prescribe glasses on the short term as your eyes will be returning to normal on a day to day basis so a prescription today will be no use at all next week and so on.

This is why some members here like myself and others used cheapo reading glasses to correct our distance vision, not for reading, however this is only an option if your prescription is the same for both eyes or similar as cheap reading glasses are only available in +/- 0.25 increments to both lenses.

Good luck whatever you choose to do but do be aware that prescription glasses will only be of use for maybe a week or two before your sight changes again (for the better) day by day, so if you can get away with reading glasses for a few weeks it will save you a fortune
 
Dizz said:
Please, please, go and buy yourself a pound shop pair of reading glasses, they were my best friend and never off my head for around 6 weeks after my BG reduced. And then my eyes went back to normal.
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Same here, I had to get reading glasses to drive safely as anything over 8/12 feet or so was so blurred, they worked brilliantly
 
Hi Sid . I can't wait for my eyes to go back to normal . As it will stop me from working which would cost me a lot more than the glasses . So if I only need the for a few weeks it will be cost affective just to throw them away . No being able to work would cost me a few thousand . So glasses it is
Clive
 
Morning,i suffered the same problem and found it was because i was taking to long between meals.I now eat 6am,11am and 5 pm.I t seems to work
 
jimbrown said:
Morning,i suffered the same problem and found it was because i was taking to long between meals.I now eat 6am,11am and 5 pm.I t seems to work
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Hi . I've been told mine was being masked by my diabetes as it was swelling the lenses which was helping my distance vision . So now my levels are back to normal . My distance vision is bad . So have been to get glasses to as advised by consultant at my local hospital
Clive
 
trident2000 said:
My clarity of sight can change by hour, by day, doesn't seem to be a logical pattern to it, certainly won't be spending loads of money on glasses this year.
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Yep mines the same, I was told three years ago when diagnosed that my eyesight would return to normal after my BS level were stable (a few weeks) , it did not happen even after getting my bloods spot on..

My eyesight varies more day to day with no rhythm or reason , I even wake up some days with 20/20 vision but cant seem to link it with anything directly............
 
Chronic high blood glucose leads to a buildup of sorbitol within the intraocular lens itself. When the blood glucose is returned to normal levels there's an osmotic imbalance and the lens swells slightly. This leads to the change in focusing distance. The change in diopter correlates well with how high the blood glucose is at presentation. It takes about six weeks for the lens sorbitol to gradually return to normal levels and during that time you'll be slightly long sighted. Nothing will seem to change for about the first two weeks though. Don't get any new glasses until it's all settled back to normal!

Best wishes,

Ian
 
Hi Clive, when I was first diagnosed with T1 my blood sugar levels dropped to within normal range and like yourself my vision became blurred. I was told back then in 1988 that it would sort itself out as the pressure in my eyes stabilised . True to their word it was true I had perfect vision within a couple of weeks right up until 2 years ago.
 
Yep..Me Too.. your not alone mate.
 

Hi . Thanks for the reply I was sent to my local hospital and a consultant told me after he did an eye exam . That my diabetes was masking the fact that I needed glasses by inflating the lenses . So when the lenses when back to there normal size my distant vision was affected . I've now picking up my glasses this Thursday . My eyes have been blurred now for just over 2 weeks . It was also found the I have cataracts which I am told is due to the high BG levels I had before being diagnosed . My levels where over 21 . I'll keep you posted if anything changes
Clive
 
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