Proliferative Retinopathy, what to expect?

[W.olly]

Hi, i have just joined and have been reading some post on this subject as i am due to have my laser treatment done in 3 weeks. I have had laser done before, twice in the left eye and once in the right but this was done on the macula so the central vision is a little blurry ,moreso when tired and in bright days.
The Proliferative retinopathy came on quick, in just 2 months, the consultant says i need it doing asap, so the 3 weeks appointment has arrived. I am a driver for a living, LGV not HGV, main concern at first but then i read about after affects from the treatment, night blindness, difficulty during bright days.

I have been T1 for 17 years my Hab1c was 8.2 last time but nearer 9 other times.

What i ask is what can i expect from the first treatment?

How many times have you had it done before you had to give up driving?

I know everyone is differetn but i need to know a litle of what to expect from people who have actualy had this done.

Thanks wayne

 

[benedict]

Hi Wayne

Welcome to the forum. I'm just going to bump your post here to see if anyone might have some experience to share.

Benedict

 

[W.olly]

Thanks Bendict, i understand that evreyone is different and now i read it again it mite not sound correct what i am asking.

I have been told things but only by doctors and consultants,always the worst i think, i amworrying mainly asi am a driver and i i am worryed about mylivng once this is done, also i understand its downto the DVLA if i keep my licence with the eye test resultsfor them.

How many have ended up with night vision loss ? how long waqsit before your eye were ok after the treatment? My boss is asking aswe are already a driver down i dontlike toleave him in the lurch as he hasvlooked after mevinvthe past

.I have my date for the 25 Oct hwuich is a tuseday, shouldi book the rest of the week off you think?

thanks wayne

 

[Unbeliever]

It is not possible to predict what the outcome will be for any incividual as the effects differ for each person.

I find that the more laser I have the longer it akes o recover but much depends upon the intensity of he laser .

As you have beeen told you need the reatment asap and have had it before I think I would err on the side of caution and definitely take the rest of the week off.
Personally. I find my night vision and my vision in bright sunlight equally bdly affected- but that may just be me.
Good luck with it all.

 

[babo456]

Your Doctor should tell you if you need to inform the DVLA and then the DVLA may request you get tested with a Visual Field test and for your Visual acuity (Reading letters from a chart) to be recorded. If you pass the test you will be granted X amount of time till you need tested again. If you fail, you can appeal and if your Doctor thinks you are safe can say so to the DVLA (There is no absolute guarentee they will accept what the Doctor says). If you get refused then unfortunately you will not be able to drive a HGV. The DVLA criteria for HGV is alot stricter (understandably) than for a 'normal' car license. You may fail to qualify for a HGV license but still have good enough vision for a car license.

In terms of how you will be affected by the laser i would ask you Doctor, but i would imagine peoples experiances vary.

Martin
Ophthalmic Health Care Scientist Practitioner.

 

[W.olly]

Thanks for the replys, i had it done last week and as i am back off work after just one day i thought i should let you know the outcome.
Now i knew it would be more intense this one but not as pain full as is it was, i will not go into detail as i dont want to put off anyone reading this but its a bit more than `uncomfortable` as some say.
I had to have it done in both eyes, i could of gone back at a later date for the other eye to be done, `no thanks` i said, `get it over with now`. It was over in half an hour. my vision was very blurry for a few days afterwards and serious head aches and eyes had pain and throbbing, then i noticed a few small blind spots in each eye, just off centre, and then after the 4th day i got the `cobwebs` but central vision wasnt to bad but difficult to read standard print. the cobwebs are a little worse.

My problem now is work (delivery driver), i went back yesterday, looking forward to it realy as i one who gets fed up to quick, a few hours and thats enough for me, its only a 10 min drive to work for me, but within a few minutes i knew it wasnt going to be a good day, as its dark in the mornings the darkness and car lights didnt do much for me, after a few hours at work, in the daylight by time i got going, the headaches started, also i started to feel a little disoreantated aswell, then later in the day the eyes were aching/throbbing and pain full.
Today i have not gone in to work, not worth the risk even though i still have alicence...for now, i told the DVLA as i need to if i have Retinopathy in both eyes, they said they wil send the correct medical forms off to me, then they asked if i have been to see my doctor yet about what my vision is like, well nobody said i had to, so as it happend i should not be driving untill i see a doc to see if i am suitable to drive, i thought it would be a optician first realy, then the docs.

So i have made an appointment with the doc for later on, i just hope i can get back to work asap, for the matter of me going mad at home and cash will be a problem, sick pay isnt much from what i have been told.

Take care all

wayne

 

[m_brown]

Hi Wayne
I have read your post releating to the problems you have had with your eyes and I am curious to find out how you are getting on now after the laser treatment and also would like to know what your control was like in the past and if it if was poor control that has led you to having issues with your eyes?
I have had diabetes for 10 years this year, I am only 19 this month and I want to gain as much information as possible to avoid having any complications!
Hope your getting on well!