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Eye test showed abnormalities not sure what to expect now.

S

sonicd

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I'm 24 and iv had diabetes for 8 years now (type 1) iv been to my opticians today and he took pictures before my eye test, then did my eye test and then took pictures again with drops in my eyes which was a bit odd I thought cus usually I only get one set of pics taken with drops put in, not one set without then with,

Anyway during the eye test, when he was looking he said he found hemorrhages around my optic nerve, he said they were very minute and now is the time for me to make my control strict because they could go away but that they expected this because I have had diabetes for 8 years, but not to worry too much they're very minute and not near my macular/ocular I think he said which is good as that would threaten my sight the most and that they are so minute my letter from the hospital (screening) may say my eyes appear normal but that hes spotted them.

My control has been much better over the last couple of years so I'm really upset I didn't expect this but my question is what does this mean I tried asking him but he said don't worry too much just control your glucose levels and that he took pictures to send to the hospital and i will hear from them once they look at the pictures. I have already been strict with what Iv eat today but my worry now is not knowing what it means, he's basically said there's hemorrhage but the hospital may say my eyes are fine because the hemorrhages are so minute and near the optic nerve. Now i'm stuck wondering what exactly is the risk and if someone knows about this advice please?

Thanks
 
Re: Eye test showed abnormalities not sure what to expect no

If I were you I would ask for a second opinion, maybe the eye specialist at the local hospital would have a look?

Mistakes can be made.

H
 
Re: Eye test showed abnormalities not sure what to expect no

Obviously we can't know what the opthalmologist will say .
Personally, I know that I have what is called background retinopathy ie tiny microaneurysms and haemorages. They don't show up well with a cursory check and are not really visible on a photo. (my optho now looks with a fluorescein dye each year but I'm in France and procedures are different)
I am able to keep good control and they haven't worsened, he seems to write the same report every year. ( I had an HbA1c in the low 5s when they were found). I don't worry so much now.
I think you'll find that there are a lot of people who have been told that they have background retinopathy .

You say your control is good now, the only thing I would suggest is to also keep an eye on blood pressure, cholesterol etc (and if you smoke stop because that can I believe make things worsen more quickly)
 
Re: Eye test showed abnormalities not sure what to expect no

it sounds to me as if they are microaneurysms, tiny swellings or tiny bleeds in the little blood vessels in the eye. While of course keeping your blood sugar steady is important to try and make sure you don't get any worse, it's worth emphasising that, as he said, microaneurysms can sometimes go away by themselves, but ALSO that non-diabetics get them too. They just don't get screened for it, so they don't know they've got them. So don't panic or worry even a little bit.
 
Re: Eye test showed abnormalities not sure what to expect no

I agree with everyone else that these are 'background changes' and many, many people experience this without further issues. You are doing all the right things.
(The other footnote I'd give would be to say that if you suddenly tightened your glucose control that this can sometimes have an effect on your eyes. (Diabetes is a *****!))
 
Re: Eye test showed abnormalities not sure what to expect no

Ok, thanks for the replies, I have an idea of what he meant now. :) thanks
 
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