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Just diagnosed - I need my eyes!

S

SCrouch

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Hi Everyone - I am newly diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes.

As is common, my eyes have gone very blurry - I am a graphic designer so this is a big problem for me.
I bought some reading glasses which are OK but I've been told by various medical people this can last 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months.

About 6 weeks before I was diagnosed i suddenly went short-sighted overnight, I've since realised this was a side-effect of the Diabetes and not due to my eyesight. Anyway, i was given contact lenses which worked great up until i came out of hospital.

I've read about Multifocal lenses, would these work for me as an alternative to reading glasses to cover the period until my eyes re-adjust? And would any optician give them to me knowing it's only a 'quick fix' and i won't be requiring their product for long.

I'd be grateful for any response - I've seen lots of info about blurry vision but not what to do in the short term to cope with it.

Cheers, Stu
 
SCrouch said:
Hi Everyone - I am newly diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes.

As is common, my eyes have gone very blurry - I am a graphic designer so this is a big problem for me.
I bought some reading glasses which are OK but I've been told by various medical people this can last 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months.

About 6 weeks before I was diagnosed i suddenly went short-sighted overnight, I've since realised this was a side-effect of the Diabetes and not due to my eyesight. Anyway, i was given contact lenses which worked great up until i came out of hospital.

I've read about Multifocal lenses, would these work for me as an alternative to reading glasses to cover the period until my eyes re-adjust? And would any optician give them to me knowing it's only a 'quick fix' and i won't be requiring their product for long.

I'd be grateful for any response - I've seen lots of info about blurry vision but not what to do in the short term to cope with it.

Cheers, Stu
Click to expand...

I was told to get my levels under control then get an eye testand new glasses. As I hadtowait untill my eyes settles (though I never had an issue)
 
Hi Stu,

I've tried multifocal lenses and frankly they didn't work for me AT all. I'm still not exactly sure what's going on with my eyes, but like you I have to be able to see what I'm doing for work, so it is a worry. I've got dozens of pairs of glasses (slight exaggeration there!!) and just have to swap between them to pick the best pair for a particular job. Not ideal I know.

Certainly I would talk to your optician and try and get an updated prescription :)
 
Dear Stu,

Your eyes will confuse you for quite a while until you recognise their performance relative to blood sugar readings. Additionally, I believe that Type 2 Diabetics are prone to a number of eye ailments and what may be thought to be a result of high blood sugar for example may well be a viral or other infection. The watchword is 'patience' and not to keep changing eye prescriptions which is a complete waste of time until your eyes settle down. All of the foregoing has happened to me and, apart from some sudden infections, I am coping with good eyesight. I advise you to invest in a good quality hand magnifying glass (min 3.5 inch dia) you will find it to be a 'godsend'.

With best wishes,

Rob
 
Thanks everyone for your replies, really appreciate it.

Cheers Tree-Peony, that's right - i never wore contacts or glasses before all this started so touch-wood they'll go back to that eventually - it's the short-term I need a fix for. Your suggestion or a few different pairs of glasses may be the best option :D
 
I couldn't cope with my eyes whilst they readjusted so went to the opticians and got a cheap pair of glasses made knowing they would only be for the short term. I work on a pc and couldn't see to do anything.
 
Hi Stu,

As your newly diagnosed your eyes will return to normal as your bg stabilises, high blood sugar causes the lens of the eye to swell and this is why we see many newbies asking for advice on this matter, as you need good sight for your work I would just buy a cheap pair of glasses for now.
 
Hi Stu

I was diagnosed with LADA (slow onset type 1) at the beginning of May, my long distance vision was blurry and overnight I went from being able to see my computer screen at work to not being able to see it.
I bought lots of cheap reading glasses and to start off with they helped by my short AND long distance vision - I started off with number 4's and in about 3 weeks I dropped down to using 1.5 and my distance vision was no longer blurry (couldn't drive in the dark when it was).
Now I think I only need level 1 reading glasses and I can actually read without them but it feels a bit of a strain - maybe because I've been wearing them for 4 months - but I am 50 so probably due short sightedness anyway!
So I stabilized in about 3 weeks but I also got my BGL down to around 5/6/7 after 2 weeks and it has been there ever since. I went to see the consultant on Friday and I can now get my eyes tested for proper glasses.
 
Hi Stu

It took my eyes initially about 3 - 4 weeks to adjust but I am type 2. Hope this helps.
 
Hi Stu,

I think mine took about a couple of weeks, however my GP told me to cut out sugar in drinks and fruit as soon as I had been referred from the optition. So I had reduced my sugar intake before I actually new that I was T1 ( It was my optition who had told me I could be diabetic ) I had gone to her after a sudden blurred vision.

Hope it settles soon, must be very frustrating not being able to work properly.

Lucy xxx
 
I was diagnosed with T2 mid-March, blood sugar 33.4.
Was a big shock as I had no real obvious clues but felt a bit run down after having bad flu twice and my vision becoming blurred and I'd only had a new eye prescription in December with only a slight change to my distance vision back then. Had an eye test in April and told had some background retinopathy but that my eyesight should improve once my sugar levels were down to about 6 and stable for a couple of weeks and I would then need to get my eyesight checked again and would probably need a change to my eyeglass prescription.

Being long sighted I didn't previously need my glasses for distance vision, only for close up and computer work (I'm a secretary) and so like you my vision is very important to me too. However, at that time I was unable to actually use my glasses for close up as couldn't read anything through them but I could see distance much clearer with them, which was lucky as the optician said without them he would have had to contact the DVLC and I would have been banned from driving.

I also purchased a magnifying glass which was helpful short-term, but not for work as I need to use both hands to type.

My eyesight now is much improved as my bs levels have come down drastically (fluctuates between 6/9) but still has its moments when I find it difficult to focus and so hoping once my levels are a bit more stable I can arrange to go and have another eye test. Am really hoping my sight will go back to what it was last year.

I must admit I am not very impressed with Specsavers who did not suspect or suggest anything wrong in December when my vision had started to deteriorate and my diabetic nurse has suggested that I have probably been suffering with diabetes for at least 3 months prior to my diagnosis. Basically since around December when I had my eye test and also when I first had my bout of flu too.
 
I too am having sight issues. I gave bought three pairs of cheap reader s from the £1.00 shop to get me by. But the optician won't do repeat eye test or issue new distance until levels stable. So I can't drive still. After wearing distance glasses since I was 16 I can now see clearer without. Have tested my vision at 30 ft and I can read the registration plates. But am worried until a "professional" says I'm safe to drive. Sugar levels coming down slowly but bit erratic at the moment.,
So irritating. Good luck. X
 
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