Retinopathy

[JamieTwigg]

Just has my annual eye screening and had my results today. Got a little worried about it all. Eye screening notes indicate I have r3a active proliferative retinopathy in my right eye and background retinopathy in my left as well as M1 in my left eye. I’m seeing and a Ophthalmologist in a few weeks.
Wondering if anyone has had a similar diagnosis and if so what should I expect? Treatments? Have there been any developments, I.e have things got worse or have they stabilised? How worried should I be?
Only 27 as you can imagine it’s making me a little restless.

 

[Diakat]

Hi Jamie,
Tagging @Mel dCP and @Jaylee and @himtoo they all have relevant a experience.

Try not to worry too much, you have an appointment soon so will be supported quickly.

 

[EllieM]

No specific experience (other than decades of on again off again background retinopathy) but I can confirm that the treatment for diabetic eye disease has improved dramatically over the decades since I was first diagnosed. They have got very very good at preserving diabetics' eyesight, one of the reasons being that diabetic eye screenings like yours catch things so that they can treat you in time. Good luck.

 

[Jaylee]

Just has my annual eye screening and had my results today. Got a little worried about it all. Eye screening notes indicate I have r3a active proliferative retinopathy in my right eye and background retinopathy in my left as well as M1 in my left eye. I’m seeing and a Ophthalmologist in a few weeks.
Wondering if anyone has had a similar diagnosis and if so what should I expect? Treatments? Have there been any developments, I.e have things got worse or have they stabilised? How worried should I be?
Only 27 as you can imagine it’s making me a little restless.

Hi @JamieTwigg ,

Welcome to the forum.

Not exactly the same issue.
I've had treatment for macula odema, which has responded well to the treatment. My once yearly retinopathy scans have always come up clear, but due to the MO they have increased the frequency of these scans too as a precautionary..?
Mine got better.
I understand that it's worrying, but good BG managment can help coinciding with any treatment for the eye to improve any diabetic related condition..

Ironically my odema was discovered after tightening up my A1cs. But I had revised my managment with a sharp shock.
If I was to advise anyone pulling up thir own BGs. I'd suggest "acclimatising" over a 3to6 month period?

I would agree that the tech used these days is a lot better at detecting any potential issues than it was back in the "day" which was taken with a fancy Poleroid camera..
The treatments can be encouraging too.

Hope this helps.

 

[Grant_Vicat]

Just has my annual eye screening and had my results today. Got a little worried about it all. Eye screening notes indicate I have r3a active proliferative retinopathy in my right eye and background retinopathy in my left as well as M1 in my left eye. I’m seeing and a Ophthalmologist in a few weeks.
Wondering if anyone has had a similar diagnosis and if so what should I expect? Treatments? Have there been any developments, I.e have things got worse or have they stabilised? How worried should I be?
Only 27 as you can imagine it’s making me a little restless.

Hi @JamieTwigg Between 1979 and 1983 I had both eyes treated for retinopathy with very primitive laser treatment. The reading glasses in my avatar (2.5) are my only visual aids all these years later. That is down to strict control from 1983 - 2013 (pancreas transplant). It is difficult to comment on individual problems, but just to let you know success is even more likely nowadays. The best of luck!

 

[NicoleC1971]

I have had laserring in both eyes and know someone else for whom it worked well though in my case my retinopathy was really worsened by pregnancy and roller coaster blood sugars.
The point of the regular screening is to spot it and treat it at an early stage. The fact that most screening appointments are annual or bi annual would suggest that further changes may be slow.
As Grant says, keeping sugars in range is going to help massively. Easier said than done so good luck and don't panic!

 

[Dark Horse]

It's good that you have been attending your annual eye screening appointments. Eye screening is designed to detect potentially sight-threatening changes at a very early stage when treatment is most effective. With an R3A grade (proliferative retinopathy), you should be seen in ophthalmology within 6 weeks of screening. If the grade is confirmed on examination, you will be offered treatment, most likely laser.

This leaflet gives some more information (obviously the references to the cafe are only relevant to the hospital that produced the leaflet):- https://www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/panretinal-photocoagulation-laser-prp/

 

[JamieTwigg]

Good to hear all your stories and I have my appointment on the 8th April so it was quite fast which I’m glad about.
I’ve had a bit of a quite word the past few days with myself about sorting my life and health out in regard to my diabetes. I’ve had plenty of good years and some bad years, bad ones being falling out of routine with my blood testing and missing some injections.

But I’m putting myself to the task of living aslong as I can and as healthy as I can.
I’ll try keep you all posted on my eye results.

Thank you so much for all you replies they have made me feel much and given me the boost to get myself sorted.