• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Can eye doctors get it wrong?

L

Leeds Lass

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
Location
Leeds, West Yorkshire
Just got back from an upsetting and some what confusing eye appointment with my T1 partner. He has had laser in both eyes his right eye was done in feb 08 and left done mar 10, since then we have been for checkups every 2 months and everything has been fine, right eye stable and left eye stable no new growth just a dissolving bleed. We saw a different person today, she looked at both eyes (not for very long might i add) and then blurted out "yeah you need more laser in both eyes". There was nothing there two months ago!

She also said she wanted him to have a virectomy in his left eye and said she might leave the laser as it might affect his driving!

We are totally confused, so my first question is, is it possible for eyes to suddenly get worse in 2 months to the point where they need laser and second is she right to say that she'll leave the laser as he's so young and doesn't want to affect his driving?

We did complain about her at reception and asked for a second opinion so they will right to us with another appointment with a different consultant.

Just wondered if anyone else had experience anything like this?

Thanks x
 
It is possible for new blood vessels to grow in such a short space of time especially when he has had problems in the past, to me your doing the right thing by asking for a second opinion and this may give you both the opportunity to ask further questions and discuss treatment options.

Hope it all works out well!

Nigel
 
Thanks Nigel, it's so frustrating as we've been on a health kick, got his bloods to 6.6 and this happens!

We just can't understand why she said he needs laser than 2 minutes later she said she would leave it as it could affect his driving..... I mean what is the outcome if she doesn't do the laser, will he go blind?

really feel for anyone who has to go through this, it just awful.
 
Unfortunately it could actually be BECAUSE you have been on a helth kick and he has reduced his levels that things have got worse.

I have found that its not an exact science by any means. There is really no right or wrong. and it is quite common for different doctors to have diffferent opinions. Sometimes laser can make things worse , this is possibly what the doctor was hinking of.

I have been having treatment for macular oedema for 3 years. Originally I had a massive bleed when my bg was reduced oo quickly and this has happened again recently when I had my best ever HBA1C.

I would not panic about not having immediate laser treatment if I were you. I have had lots of laser treatment but my original 2 sessions of intense laser made hings worse and have scarred the reina. this was because there was too uch fluid in the eye. After that I started to see the consulant and he will now only do laser after injections o dry up the fluid.

I think you have done the right thing in asking for a second opinion. You need o be able to trust your consultant. You might mention the injections in case this has no bee considered.
You may find that yur partner is ake whether he wishes to have reatments instead of being told he should have them. that is because there are no guarantees hat treatments will work on the individual. I know people panic and think that immediate reatment is necessary but it is far more importan to get the correct treatmnet for the individual. hasty treatmen either doesn't always work or can make the condition worse.

yes . eye doctors like anyone else can ge it wrong but treatment is improving all the time. Last year I could hardly read at all and alhough I have had my ups and downs I am fortunate o have a consultant I rus and i can see from my own expperience hat new ways of treating reinopathy are being inroduced all the ime.

I hope your partner will be as fortunate with the next dr he sees and that you can be reassured.
I am sure he will be fine but don't expect too many definites.
 
Thanks unbeliever you've made me feel a bit better about his situation. I did ask her if his eyes were classed as bad or not too bad and she said not too bad, i think she must be on laser commision (that's a joke by the way) cos all she ever says when we see her ios "you need laser" and everyone else never says anything.

What will happen if he doesn't have the laser? Can it clear up on it's own?

Were trying not to worry too much and we can't do anyore than were already doing, i suppose it's a waiting game really.
 
The fact that she changed her mind about it suggests that he situation wih your parner's eyes
can't be too bad.

II don't think its a question of getting better so much as a judgement as to when to intervene.
I suppose this will differ from doctor to doctor. It also depends what has caused it. It may be hat
if his bg coming down has caused the problem things may now stabilise and there will be no neeed
for any treatment at present. Was he told to come back in a few monh's by the first doctor?

She may have wanted to wait awhile and then do a further retinal photo to see what is happening
he doesn't want unnecessary laser treatment- best saved for when absolutely necessary as there is a limit to the amount they can do.

Do please try not to worry too much. I have twice had different consultants rush out of the room to try to arrange urgent treatment after one look at my retina but I am still here to type the tale.
It is very common so I am told by the saff at the eye clinic , to see patients whose retinopathy has worsened after reducing thier levels. they then expect to see it settle down.

It seems to me that it is very important to avoid highs or lows and to try to keep levels fairly even.
I hope you can feel more confident about the next doctor. Some are more ready to intervene than others. if there is room for doubt can't be too bad!
 
No she referred us to see a surgeon who replaces the fluid in you eye with gel cos she thinks he needs that doing as well. We did ask to see someone else and they said we could see the head consultant and thry would write to us with an appointment.

I always freak out at these appointments but i can't see what my partner see's and how good his vision is, this makes me worry more than him!

Thanks for your replys tho, they have definately made me a little calmer.... :D
 
Glad if it helped. My treatment improved condsiderably once i was referred to the surgeon.
In fact he helped me to see a consultant diabeologist also ' Had i seen him in the first place i would not have had the laser reatment which caused me all the problems.

You are quite right - only your partner knows what he can seee and it is sometimes difficult to explain. people are always amazed that I don't wear lasses and ask if they wouldn't help.

in my case hey would only maghify the distorion. Sometimes its no what you don't see but what you think you can see.......

Glad your boyfriend iwill be getting the best advice from the beginning. I am sure if everyone could do so it would save a great deal of time, money and vision.
 
Well, we can only sit and wait now and try not to worry too much, which won't be easy!

Just been reading up about the surgery as well, that does not sound nice! Having to sit with your head face down for two weeks! Good god thought it couldn't get any worse but that just sounds awful.... :shock:
 
In the hospital I attend you see junior people at the beginning for checkups and and then maybe the senior registrar and then the surgeon who is the consultant.

I attended the clinic for two years , was ust abut to be discharged and had the bleed when my lood sugar came down suddenly.

I was errified when referred o he surgeon after ineffective klaser but it was the best hing that ever happened to me.

It sounds as hough the dr you saw found some cause for concern bu at leas knew she was out of her depth and wanted to refer your partner to the right person. That is much beter than the less qualified dealing wih it .

They don't rush into surgery believe me. laser reatment is probably the first opion ,
All the eye procedures sound gruesome you can see people cringing if they hear abou them.
I am no the bravest but I am no longer afrid of anyhing they suggest.

I hope i all goes well . Come back and let us know, Sometimes people are lucky just need one retment and are fine. others like myself . just have to accept that it is necessary to keep it under constant review. Although my hospital is very large and covers a wide area here are comparaively few patients in the later category .
 
Back
Top