How do I deal with this? (Eyesight)

Hi,

How are your BGs since diagnosis?
Some people have experienced blurred vision with higher levels then as they move within range the issue abaits.
If you can now read a number plate at 20 meters without the need for your glasses? I see no legal issue..

I don't think your optician should have sold you expensive glasses.

Problems with your vision is common with high blood glucose levels which is someone that an optician will know and it looks like he/she suspected diabetes and told you to get tested. But he/she should also have known that if the problems were caused by diabetes, the problems would only be temporary.

In my case, my optician told me that I could buy a couple of cheap supermarket glasses (for a couple of quid each) which would last until my vision improved. He also told me to come back for a further check-up in a month or two and when I did, he said that my old prescription was still OK.

retrogamer said:

I've just paid for these glasses with some nice anti glare lenses as well!!

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Oh no!

Changing BG affects the eyesight, and you got your glasses when your BG was out of whack.
Improving BG can affect eyesight as well, if the eyes have gotten used to higher numbers it takes a while for them to adjust to lower numbers again.

I'd give it a bit longer with stable BG before seeing an optician again, or you'll end up with the wrong glasses for a second time.

retrogamer said:

I feel they should have told me to get the diabetes check before they even considered giving me new glasses.

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To be fair to the optician, they were probably correct to say that you would not be allow to drive with the old glasses. However they should have made it clear to you that the options were - give up driving for a month or two, or buy some new glasses just for the next month or two .

retrogamer said:

Haven't had my bg checked yet since diagnosis. Haven't got my own test kit yet.

I have no idea if I can read a number plate at 20 metres, I can see them clearly in the distance and I'm assuming it's 20m or more but I'm no expert. From my lounge window I can see a motorcycle showroom opposite my house. It's probably 20m+ away. Last weekend I couldn't read even their company logo and sign. Today I can read the number plates inside the showroom!

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Sounds like a positive progression to me..

I can understand any frustration you have regarding the outlay on lenses, doing the “right thing” on fitness to drive..
You did the right thing under the circumstances.

If you still need readers? Maybe better to pick a pair off the “rack” & allow yourself more time for things to settle.

Best wishes.

retrogamer said:

Yeah I get your point. I had no problem buying some new glasses to keep me legal for driving and for safety reasons but if the optician had mentioned that the blurry vision might just be a temporary side effect from high bg then I could have chosen to get a complete new set of frames with the new lenses whilst retaining my old lenses just in case my eyesight returned to normal.
I'll try some readers from a shop and see how I get on

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Ah, OK so you had the new prescription lenses put into some old reading frames.

On one hand. They also missed the sale of some frames…
I’m sure I’ve seen some online retailers for cheap frames. But I believe you would also need your reader script for the lenses..
I personally prefer to try them on.

I can understand the dilemma when faced with this stuff. I got banged for a “Macula oedema” then referred to an ophthamologist a number of years back.

Sorted now!

Assuming you're UK based, here are the DVLA rules regarding eyesight and driving:

retrogamer said:

Haven't had my bg checked yet since diagnosis. Haven't got my own test kit yet.

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If you're able to, I'd really advise you do get a BG meter. Being able to track progress as you make dietary changes and test which foods work for you can be very useful. It's been invaluable to me.

@Rachox replied on your other thread with some BG meter options and details:

Antje77 said:

Changing BG affects the eyesight, and you got your glasses when your BG was out of whack.
Improving BG can affect eyesight as well, if the eyes have gotten used to higher numbers it takes a while for them to adjust to lower numbers again.

I'd give it a bit longer with stable BG before seeing an optician again, or you'll end up with the wrong glasses for a second time.

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Crucial advice here from @Antje77.

High BG caused my eyes to change and I became temporarily long sighted. Couldn't read anything within about 40-50cm in front of me. Never needed or worn glasses, but luckily I found a post on the forum here that highlighted this symptom. Didn't go to an optician and my eyesight returned to normal once my BG readings lowered.

retrogamer said:

I have just ordered one of the bg meters. I was going to wait until I had spoken with my doctor and knew more about where I stand but I figured I'm going to need one and they're not horrendously expensive anyway.

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Pleased you've done that. If nothing else, it's good to have a BG meter so you're not completely reliant on your doctor for progress reports. Personally speaking, it's helped to put my mind at ease when it comes to those significant dietary and lifestyle changes, without having to wait days/weeks for the doctor.

It's a £38 lesson I will have to live with.

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From my experience so far, diabetes isn't a cheap condition to manage, so I wouldn't sweat it!

My distance vision seems to be perfect again now, in fact all the diabetes symptoms I had about 2 weeks ago have gone so I'm guessing my bg is somewhere in the normal range. I will be sticking with the diet anyway though as I have a few stone to lose.

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Everyone's different, but my vision started improving once I dropped below 10 mmol. By the time I was in the 7-8 range and below, it returned to normal.

"Experience is something you get after you needed it". I hope I can save some from the expensive mistakes I made when diagnosed with T2 and needing cataract surgery in the same year (both eyes). Going short on information (not malice just nobody thought to tell me so many things that would have been useful) I spent the price of a Caribbean holiday on 3 pairs of new glasses.

Cataracts gone and my uncorrected distance vision is 6/6. Still need glasses for reading, but not a problem, and if offered the choice that's how I would have chosen anyway. Managed to recycle 1 set of frames to accommodate new reading glasses. Keeping the other 2 for when the time comes to get another pair.

BGs in non-diabetic levels, no meds. thanks to information from here.

Sometimes you just have to suck it up and pay the price. What I got for the price is great. Money is just like any other money, but health is priceless.

Please don't think I'm lecturing - I was mad as steam for months afterwards, but in time I got over my indignation and have accepted that it happened the way it happened, I can't unhappen it, and I hope my experiences can save others from the same.

retrogamer said:

So one of the reasons I went to the doctor for a blood test was because my optician suggested it due to my eyesight deteriorating rapidly.

I was told I needed new glasses for distance where 2 years ago my vision was almost perfect. They stated that it was illegal for me to drive without glasses now.
The glasses were great, vision improved massively and I no longer needed them for reading.
Fast forward to now, several weeks after my eye test and 1 week after my diagnosis, my eyesight now seems to have returned to normal, I can see in the distance clearly without the glasses, with them everything looks a little blurry. I am also now struggling to see the text on my phone in front of my face which is how it was before when I needed glasses for reading.

I know as a diabetic, eye tests can be more frequent if it's deemed required but every few weeks would be pushing it a bit so what do I do now?

I've just paid for these glasses with some nice anti glare lenses as well!!

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Depending on where you go you can get a good set of specs and reglaze glasses also. Can you not go back to the original opticians and explain, they may be able to alter your glasses. I had the same when I was first diagnosed and in the end went online and ordered 3 pairs distance, intermediate and close up and it was a lot cheaper and quicker to get them . It was a nightmare in my job as a hairdresser trying to see guidelines etc and I felt like a mole!