retinopathy research could reduce screening costs

Cowboyjim said:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-05/tpco-drr050312.php

Since I am going "under the knife/laser" again this month this was a topical one to start the week... I thought I had my BG under good control, last HbA1c was 5.2 but on my last visit to the eye clinic to check on the success of the right eye repair he tells me I have to return for another zap in my left eye. It is an unpleasant experience and mucks up your vision for hours afterwards, well it is the chuffing drops the nurse puts in them that does it... I do wonder if having hypertension as well does aggravate it. Disheartening and one has to re-summon the willpower to go on let alone steel the nerves to actually honour the appointment. That said it might have saved my sight so I suggest to anyone who reads this please attend the clinic. They do their best and it is all free.

I know just how you feel Jim. I have been having laser and injections for almost five years now for retinopathy and macular oedema. IThe hing is that to dae I can stilll see. At times this has been touch and go and he options are fast running out
for one of my eyes but I just try to stay positive about it as I know there are new treatments in the pipeline/
No laser is not a pleasant experience. It is not painfiul -usually - but can be very stressful and disorientating.
People think you grow accustomed o hese things but I never have.

The injection thing is more stressful Particularly if you have the whole operaing theatre procedure and admission o the ward etc as I do. I have to say the most stressful part is waiting to see which surgeon I will get. Yes there is a difference.
If you are offerd Avasin injectins hese are often performed in a treatmebnt room and there are usually no side effects . The steroids do leave you with floaters possibly for a few weeks.
In my hospital steroids are offered a s first option . Smetimes that just solves the problem. Avasin is next and that can be very successful. Unfortunately not for me.

The injections are generally followed up with laser which seals the process. laser is more successful when he fluid in the eye is dried up by he injection.
I was quite devastated when my second eye also needed to be treated.I think though, if you are having treatment already for one eye they may begin treatment on the other at an earlier stage . just purely because they can tell how it has progressed in the first eye. A sor of personalised version of he new proposals you have posted.
If you have reduced your bg levels this can actually make he condition worse. In fact any changes can. As can the treatment.


Hypertension is definitely a contributory factor. I actually had a major bleed when I the ramipiri I was given as a preventative measure was increased. I don't think a great deal is known about this side of things. N one can understand that
Why I do not respond o treatment ecept in the very short term.
Doctors still repeat the mantra about reducing bg levels but they are firmly convinced that 7 is the magic number.
I think that they are still in the early stages of cping with this complication alhough , with increased no of patients they are learning fast.
As you say they have probably saved your sigh and the cost of private reatment is astronnomical.
I have gone through stages of wanting to give up as I don' seem to be improving. I am fortunate enough to be treated by a wonderful consultant whom I trust because he ishonest with me. I am not sure what i would do should he leave.

I am sure that there are ways that the screening process can be improved i is a fairly recent development and never seems to have been implemented satisfactorily on a natonal basis.
Perhaps a rethink is due. I personally wish that they had not rushed into laser reatment in my case because it has done more harm than good. There is always the perception that immediate reatment must be better and more effective.
Not always. Injections to dry the fluid before laser would have been more appropriate for me and less epensive for he NHS
as well as giving me more ptions for the fuure.
I also feel that intensive laser at an early stage should be avaided. less is more? I now have one frazzled retina. if only I could have seen he consulant earlier hings might have been different.
Proceed with caution might be a good policy. At present we have people worried out of heir minds when told they have background reinopathy which may in fact, be reversible.
if only Gps and hospitals could work together patients could be spared uch anxiety. It may be diffferent elswewhere but in my area no GP will even dicscuss hospital treatmen for retinopathy with a patient

yes, you habg on in there Jim. The alternaive is unthinkable.

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