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Retinopathy, Maculopathy & Eye complications

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Omnipod

Well-Known Member
Messages
533
Location
West Sussex
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all
I just thought i would share this as its helped me.
I was diagnosed with background retinopathy in both eyes and M1 maculopathy. My vision was really bad. I could not even read the TV and or see a persons face if they were more than 5-8 metres away. I had to always wear my glasses.
This really scared me so i have made an effort to try keep my BG below 10mmol. My HBA1C dropped from 12% to 7% over a 2 year period yet my vision was still poor.
I went to boots and decided to try I-Caps which are multi vitamins for the eyes.
Within days, my vision cleared up and now I can even read the TV without my glasses. They are pretty expensive at about £13 a bottle for 30 tablets BUT worth every penny. I will continue taking these and hopefully at my next eye scan I will wait and see if the opthalmologist actually says anything.
 
Interesting Omnipod.

When my own retinopathy was active I did ask about taking vitamins for eye health and the Ophthalmologist wasn't too convinced that they worked, he said that eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veg (the darker the better) was probably better all round, he also said to keep bp below normal and keep cholesterol levels within the recommended target range for diabetics. Let us know what the Ophthalmologist says and I'm pleased that you've seen an improvement in your vision!!!!
 
Thank you Noblehead. I had the same advice given to me but I could feel my vision getting worse even though I am trying so hard. My blood pressure is normal, I do at least an hour of intense training everyday. I eat healthy. My cholesterol level is normal.
Since taking these i-caps I noticed an almost immediate change...within days.
 
Hi Omnipod. I'm glad you have found something that worked for your eyes.

I've had the same advice as Noblehead, and follow it all. (I wonder if Kale crisps count?). On the vitamin front I take Boots Vitality eye support, which work out at just over £7 for 30. I always buy them when they are on a 3-for-2 offer though. I've taken them since I has a major bleed, about 10 years ago now. Maybe they are doing no good, but it seems like a reasonable investment to help safeguard my vision.

My new optician checked out the level of lutein (10mg) and said it would be worth keeping taking them. .

How much lutein is in the I-caps you take?
 
so do you think the vision problems was directly connected to the retinopathy and maculopathy..........

I ask because I have background retinopathy and did have maculopathy, but my vision is OK,well, maybe deteriorating as they do with age....:)....

they pills sounds good though, didn't know you could get vitamins for the eyes, thanks for sharing.......
 
Over the past 18 months I have been using Ocuvite Complete as they contain the same as I Caps but work out at £15 per month. Recently, I switched to Macuvision as the are a bit cheaper but I also have a Berocca tab every day and eat oily fish twice a week and also some carrots every night in my dinner along with plenty of green type veg.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I-Caps
10mg Lutein
Vit A, E, C, B2, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese - All of which contribute to normal vision
I suppose the higher the Lutein content, the better.

I tried vision ace and ocuvite before these but never noticed a visible change as I have with the i-caps.
 
Bilberry Extract is supposed to aid eye health too. I think with vitamins if you can afford to buy them then there's no harm in taking them in the recommended dose, however you can get most vitamins by eating a healthy balanced diet.

Up until 2 years ago I was taking a one-a-day garlic tablet believing it helped with my cholesterol levels, I stopped taking it and my cholesterol levels have stayed below the recommended levels, so did I waste my money buying them in the first place....who knows!!!

The only supplement I take now is Cod Liver Oil, I started taking this after badly breaking my ankle 25 years ago and the bone didn't set right, the surgeon said it was likely that I'd have a arthritis in the joint by the time I was 30 and advised that I took CLO, 25 years on the ankle is problem free but I'll never know if arthritis would have set into the joint had I not taken CLO.
 
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