Retinopathy Confusion

Re: Retinopthy Confusion

MissFortune said:

In October I was told i'd been wrongly referred to hospital due to an "administrative error" ,would need laser and some of my retinopathy looks a bit different progression wise.

I already knew this was a possibility due to being sent for some blood tests in August sand being asked strange questions.

Last week I was back to old place which was a bit upsetting as one thing i've hoped for though all of this is some continuity.
New doctor told me October doctor was wrong but I would need laser next time and warned me about the damage it would cause to my sight and if I drove. Luckily i'd cancelled my driving lessons back in August due to my Diabetes journey being nothing but constant setbacks.


If that's too long and boring here it is in short-

Has anyone stopped the need for laser at the LAST minute? They always tell me my control is good but maybe I should start aiming for 5.5 ioh and not 6 ish?

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Welcome to the forum MissFortune.

I am bumping your post up in the hope that someone can answer your queries.

(Your profile does not class you as a diabetic)

Re: Retinopthy Confusion

MissFortune said:

Has anyone stopped the need for laser at the LAST minute? They always tell me my control is good but maybe I should start aiming for 5.5 ioh and not 6 ish?

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No I haven't as I've always believed that the laser treatment was in my best interests, the Ophthalmologist wouldn't be advising laser surgery if they didn't think it was necessary.

The laser treatment can effect vision but it depends on the amount of laser shots you have and where it is focused, often there's a loss in the peripheral vision but again it depends on the sessions of laser treatment you have. By law you need to inform the DVLA who may ask you to attend a field vision test before issuing you with a 1,2 or 3 year licence, I've had laser treatment in the past and so far have passed the field vision test without any problems and been issued with a 3 year licence.

Definitely good bg control is important in delaying or stopping the progression of Diabetic Retinopathy, if your diabetes has not been well controlled up to now then you need to speak with your diabetes consultant and Opthamologist about how to improve your control, when people develop retinopathy and suddenly tighten their bg control it can make the condition worse....so do ask first!

Re: Retinopthy Confusion

My boyfriend has had laser in the past and then everything was fine, then out of the blue told he needed it again in both eyes. We got a referal as we weren't happy with the way we were told and the lack of information we were given.

We haven't been back there since, we see a new lady and she is so much better, and she said she wouldn't do more laser and just wait and see what happens and see him every 3 months. That was 2 years ago now and he hasn't had anymore laser things seem to have settled down for now which is great

Re: Retinopthy Confusion

MissFortune said:

I know my case is complicated by other issues and i'm due tests next week for yet another new ailment but I just feel so impotent and nervous because if good BG/BP/Cholesterol control isn't good enough i'm wondering the heck is.

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Your doing the right things by the look of it Miss Fortune, my own Opthamologist said the same to keep bg, bp and cholesterol in check and to eat a healthy diet.

Not sure if you've seen the following website but it has a wealth of information with regards to diabetic retinopathy:

http://medweb.bham.ac.uk/easdec/

Worth reading the patient leaflet on Preparing for Laser treatment here:-
http://diabeticeye.screening.nhs.uk/leaflets
It states that only 3% of peripheral laser treatments result in loss of driving licence.