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Diabetic Retinopathy

biddt

biddt

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I have been called back for more testing on my eyes after the routine diabetic retina screening. I'm 24 years diabetic, just wondering if anyone else have trouble with there eyes. Worried.
 
Hi
Since I live in Australia, I am not 100% sure what your routine retina screening involves. However from my experience and I do have retinopathy. there are a number of tests they can do to investigate properly, these include photographs of the eyes, they can also inject contrast dye and take images of the blood vessels in your retinas. I imagine you have already had your pupils dilated to give them a good view of your retinas?
I know it is easier said than done to not worry, but try and feel a bit reassured they are on top of things asking you back for further testing or discussion. Many people with initial background changes (and you have no reason to suspect this yet) go on to tighten their control, have constant review by the specialists, and progress no further. Hope you come back to tell us that :)
 
Sucre Bleu said:
Hi
Since I live in Australia, I am not 100% sure what your routine retina screening involves. However from my experience and I do have retinopathy. there are a number of tests they can do to investigate properly, these include photographs of the eyes, they can also inject contrast dye and take images of the blood vessels in your retinas. I imagine you have already had your pupils dilated to give them a good view of your retinas?
I know it is easier said than done to not worry, but try and feel a bit reassured they are on top of things asking you back for further testing or discussion. Many people with initial background changes (and you have no reason to suspect this yet) go on to tighten their control, have constant review by the specialists, and progress no further. Hope you come back to tell us that :)
Click to expand...
I found out today I have a blood leak at the back of my right eye and will need laser. Quite worried about it. I also have a spot where the blood vessels have blocked and was told they will keep that monitored.
 
biddt said:
I found out today I have a blood leak at the back of my right eye and will need laser. Quite worried about it. I also have a spot where the blood vessels have blocked and was told they will keep that monitored.
Click to expand...
I am sorry to hear that.
There is no point in me saying otherwise, but the laser is not much fun. I was originally booked into my private specialists room to start laser there. One zap and I was done, I am usually very stoic, but must have been having a bad day. So I was referred to the Eye Hospital, where if I really could not cope I could have a general anaesthetic. The Dr explained the procedure in more detail, I held my sister's hand very tight and had it done. By the time they had finished my first course of treatment, I was fine, in fact when the Dr said.. let's see how much you can handle today, he was the one who said.....that's enough for today.
So tough it out, take pain relief and good luck!
 
Laser treatment comes in 2 variates. Pan retinal laser zaps the whole eye around the retina with thousands of burns to lessen the demands on the tiny blood vessels for oxygen which causes weak ones to grow and potentially bleed. The other sort is aimed close to the retina to fix macular changes.
All of this seems dead scary but its OK really. I have had 3500 to my left eye and 1500 to the right delivered by a pascal laser .... amazing device that can do batches of burns rather than one at a time. No real pain just can sting a bit at times. I worried myself to death over this. but am here today 3 years later and stable, still driving etc. |Have checks twice a year but the laser has done the job.
 
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