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Eye change, but should I be concerned....

trinity0097

trinity0097

Well-Known Member
Messages
211
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I was diagnosed T2 about 2 months ago, I did about a week of nhs advice diet, then switched to lchf after coming on here, which saw an immediate reduction of my blood sugars to normal levels, which have now remained stable and I have lost 1.5 stone in that time. However almost as soon as I got my blood sugar to normal levels my near vision has deteriorated, double vision close to my face, so some trouble switching from looking at the road to the speedo, not just really close stuff. I have awful short sight anyway, and a touch of astigmatism, so wear glasses. I had last week my eye screening, at which the DSN at my surgery told me to ask for a referral about my eyes, but I as told at the screening that they only would refer me if my distance vision had changed. I have another eye sight test booked for Tuesday, after one a few weeks ago was an awful experience, was told I need reading glasses for near stuff, but that you can't gets verifocals in my prescription, however I wouldn't be able to switch between normal and reading glasses as I am a teacher, I need to see close up things and the kids at the back of the class at the same time!! The optician was awful, worst I have ever come across.

What could have caused this sudden onset of what seems to be presbyopia, do I just have to suck it up, or should I be fighting for a medical type eye person to be seeing me. It has got no better or worse since the overnight loss of vision about 7 weeks ago, which coincided with me getting my blood sugar levels back to normal.
 
Ask your DSN if they can arrange the referral for you seeing as they mentioned it to you, the hospital ophthalmology clinics are extremely good and will try and find the cause of your troubles.
 
It might be a wise decision to hold back for a short time until your blood/glucose levels stabilise and can maintain your blood/glucose levels at a more or less consistently stable level, as high levels of blood/glucose are known to create the very problems that you are referring to.
By all means follow up on getting your eyes examined by a professional optician, optometrist or whatever and if there is no underlying problem, wait a short time until things level out as spending money now on a new pair of glasses might in the longer term prove to be a waste of money.
It's just a thought but as you say you need to switch between distance and close vision glasses, would Vari-focal type glasses fit your needs. Once you got used to them then you might possibly then have the best of both worlds in the one pair..
 
My eye sight has only changed when dropping and maintaining my blood sugar levels at normal levels. They are not high! Between 5 and 7 before meals and no more than 2 units more than my pre meal reading 2 hours after. With high blood sugars I just had normal short sight and a touch of astigmagism, but I've hd poor eye sight from about age 4 so I doubt this was diabetes related. This is why I'm so frustrated no-one seems to get that my eyes have changed for the worse since getting my blood sugars normal.

Verifocals apparently are not possible for someone with my short sightedness.
 
@trinity0097, understand your frustration and one would think that your vision would be much better with normal bg levels, but things can change and things aren't always diabetes related, therefore I'd take up that offer from your DSN for the referral.
 
I find it very peculiar that my eye sight would change the same time I drop my blood sugar levels and they aren't connected. The nurse upon speaking to goner in person said I just have to have an eye test, i can't see anyone that can actually look at my medically. I will see what the optician says on Tuesday morning!
 
hi trinity0097
just make sure to not be fobbed off -- if you feel there is something amiss -- you are in charge of your self -- nobody else -- make sure to press for the tests , care you think you require.
 
trinity0097, now that you have diabetes, aren't you supposed to get your eyes dialated and examined? Also, what was your blood glucose at diagnosis and what is it now?
 
I had the eye screening, awaiting results, but that only checks the retina, I.e. The back of the eye, nothing up front where I think the problem is!

I was taken away from school in an ambulance with blood sugar of 32, but cutting out sugar for a week I got to about 12-15, but cutting carbs out brought me down to 5-7, with no more than +2 two hrs after eating. Hb1ac done a week after starting to low carb was 8.6%. Eye probs started after low carbing and blood sugar normal rather than at any other time!
 
I am also having problems with a changing eyesight prescription. I had a test 2 weeks ago and I had become less short sighted so new contact lenses were ordered. When I went to collect them the prescription was back to my original prescription so they were no good and have been ordered again. I thought my diabetes was pretty well under control with readings similar to Trinity0097.I can only think that the first test was early in the morning so just an hour after breakfast but the second test was midday and I had not eaten for several hours. It will be interesting to see what my vision is like when I collect the next pair! I have been diagnosed T2 for nearly 2 years and take Metformin SR. I started on 4 x 500mg per day and this was reduced to 2 x 500mg about 5 months ago. My Hba1c is 5.7.
I was wondering if I should ask for a referral to an eye specialist. Also at my 2nd retinopathy screening there were signs of some background retinopathy but I was told it was nothing to be concerned about.! Fat chance of that!
 
trinity0097, here's what I found...

"After beginning intensive glycaemic control for hyperglycaemia in a hospital, diabetic patients frequently have blurred vision and request a prescription of new glasses. However, glasses prepared during the occurrence of transient hyperopic change will not fit after 1 or 2 months. This might create distrust of medical care. The prescription of spectacles should be delayed until a stable refraction is obtained, if possible. If glasses must be prescribed while the refractive status is still unstable, the patient should be informed that the refraction may change over time and that further modifications in the prescription may be needed." - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/84/10/1097.full

I also read that it can take 3 months or longer for vision problems to clear up, so temporary glasses, in your case reading glasses, are how others have coped. In the US, it's possible to buy reading glasses quite cheaply from displays in stores.

Perhaps a call to the person who examined your eyes is in order. Tell him or her that your blood glucose two months ago was 32, was decreased to the 12 - 15 range within 1 week, and is now in the 5 - 7 range. Also that your close up vision significantly changed within a week of beginning treatment for your new diabetes diagnosis. Then ask what are your options.

Let us know what you learn. :)
 
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