Blurry sore eyes

dj_wayne said:

Hello , I have recently been diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes a couple of weeks ago. Having not felt right for a while. I just wondered does anyone else suffer from blurred vision as a result of the diabetes. My vision keeps going misty and my eyes feel sore.

Click to expand...

Some people with high blood sugars may find that their visual acuity is not as good as it normally is but that's about all I can tell you. Your best bet once you get referred is to see an Ophthalmologist. I see one twice a year = been living with type 1 for 51 years - eyes seem to be okay ...BUT ... I myself have thrown caution to the wind and ate something that sharply increases my BGs and then my visual acuity becomes slightly off (lose a line on the eye chart off). Once it goes back to normal so does my visual acuity.

I don't know how correct I am but I was told once that high BGs can throw the chemical balance of the eye causing a slight change in shape therefore throwing the lenses in your eye off a bit - thus the temporary visual acuity issue.

As well, is it allergy season in your neck of the woods? That could be the cause - especially the sore eyes part.

Hope they get better!

Blurred vision happens when high blood sugars cause the lenses in the eyes to swell. This usually disappears within a few weeks once blood sugars are lower. Use eye drops if they are sore.

My understanding of high BG and blurry eyes is the same as @fletchweb.
When I was first diagnosed, I was advised against going to the opticians as they could not do anything until my BG was under control.

It's not unusual for eyesight to be blurred when first diagnosed as the high glucose levels affect the ability of the lens to focus light. It generally clears up as blood glucose levels stabilise. Sore eyes can be due to dry eyes - there's a page with useful links here:- http://www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk/sore_dry_eyes_in_diabetes.html

Everyone in the UK should receive an appointment for screening for diabetic retinopathy within 3 months of diagnosis.

With me it comes and goes often I am unable to read the text on screen properly because it goes milky and blurred then at other times like now it's fine mind you I also have MG and so am at times unsure if it's the diabetes or the MG doing it or both.

dj_wayne said:

Hello , I have recently been diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes a couple of weeks ago. Having not felt right for a while. I just wondered does anyone else suffer from blurred vision as a result of the diabetes. My vision keeps going misty and my eyes feel sore.

Also as newly diagnosed does anyone know how long roughly from diagnosis it takes for your first appointment to see the diabetic specialist takes.

Many Thanks in Advance

Click to expand...

Hi @dj_wayne I think it's fare to say we are all different and where your eyesight is concerned you'll probably get a better idea after having your retinal scan, but if you are worried and your eyesight appears to be getting worse then go see your GP as soon as you can and don't wait for the retinal scan people to get in touch. Alternatively make an appointment with an optician as they too can do some pretty good checks on the eyes too

As for seeing a diabetic specialist then no I doubt you'll ever see one, most if not all of your care will be undertaken by your GP and diabetic support nurse at your surgery. I think it's only type 1's that see an endocrinologist, unless you have some severe complications.

If you get to see your optician to check it out, if there is anything not right they will write you a letter and send you to the eye hospital. This happened to me and it was indeed caused by being too high but it was good to be properly checked out.

As a diabetic you should qualify for a free eye check.

SpecSavers include retinal photos which help check for any retinopathy.

As others have said, it is the time of year for hay fever.

I also have a diagnosis of dry eye which can make vision blurry, especially after first waking.

I can see no reason NOT to have an eye check. Just be wary of ordering expensive spectacles whilst your BG is settling down because your prescription is likely to change as your BG stabilised.

It was the rapid deterioration of my eyesight that finally made me go to the GP 3 years ago. I could not even see the TV. I was diagnosed as Type 2, put on Metformin, used advice on this forum to go onto a LCMF diet, lost weight and within 2 months my eyesight was better than it had been for years. However, I had been to Specsavers before I saw the doctor, said that my eyesight had deteriorated suddenly and left with glasses. They did not pick up that I was diabetic. Take heart, as your HbA1c improves so will your eyesight.