Type 2 Significant bleed behind eye...urgent referral

i have just spent come back from a long consultation at an independent opticians where they found a significant bleed behind my right eye and have an urgent referral to my local hospital. My background story is dx T2 Dec 17 after Specsavers found bleed behind same eye during a routine eye test. I had the hosputal scan June 18 and have background retinopathy in same eye. I have been improving my HBA1c as follows: Dec 17 Dx, 53, April 18,41, June 18, 37, Dec 18, 33. I left it a year to get new prescription glasses because of the changes in my Diabetes and picked up my new varifocals early Dec 18. From the beginning I have been struggling with them watching TV and driving with blurriness and achy eyes. So 2 weeks ago I finally went back to Specsavers and explained. Their supervisor told me they check the glasses against the prescription 3 times and either I “lied at the eye test or its a health issue due to Diabetes and go see your doctor”. So I did and my GP recommended having an eye test with a local independent and so here I am.
Has anyone got any information or experience to help me. I really thought getting good control of Diabetes would help my sight but it doesnt seem to be the case. Can I please tag @Arab Horse because I know you often respond to questions about sight issues.

johnpol said:

I'm sorry to hear about the bleed, I do know that tightening of control can sometimes make the Retinopathy slightly worse before it gets better, my retinopathy got worse as my control got better, and then stabilised. It sounds like one of the new vessels that are associated with the Retinopathy may have burst resulting in the bleed. Is the bleed from the rear part/Retina part? I can't offer any advice as I was extremely lucky that I only had small micro bleeds before and after laser treatment. The urgent referral should come through quickly, mine did. Sorry I can't be of much help to you.

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Thanks John. I am not sure but I think its the rear part. I deliberately left upgrading my glasses for 12 months during which I tightened control but maybe it just wasnt long enough.

Diakat said:

@PenguinMum sorry to hear this, wondering if you meant to tag @Dark Horse ?

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Lol thanks yes thats who I meant to tag. Thanks for doing it for me.

@johnpol thats interesting was that an Endo or Optical consultant? I never know the proper titles for these people but the lady this morning said I will probably be given antibiotics..wonder if that will be oral or topical! I thought I was doing the best thing to avoid complications by getting my numbers down.

Dark Horse said:

Sorry to hear you're having a worrying time with your eyes. Did the optician say exactly what they were referring you for? Although diabetic retinopathy is the first thought when seeing someone with diabetes, there are other causes of bleeds in the eye. The important thing is that you've already been referred to hospital and, as it's an urgent referral, you should be seen relatively soon, depending on exact reason for the referral. Some bleeds look alarming at the optician's but turn out not to be significant - at your hospital appointment, the ophthalmologist will be able to tell what the cause of the bleed is and whether you need any treatment. If you do need treatment, there are good, effective treatments available.

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Thanks for getting back to me. I should expect to be seen within a week they said. I have amsler charts to draw on each day I am waiting. I had a scan at the opticians which I think was called an Optimat? Its just disappointing that I have tackled my control of Diabetes from diagnosis but maybe I had it for a decade before that. Anyway I will remain hopeful.

johnpol said:

That was the Optical consultant, most antibiotics for the eye is by drops (at least mine were for my cataract surgeries) the consultant did say that if you tighten control really quickly it can have a effect on the eye and that is why they say to do it slowly as the new vessels are very delicate, and fluctuations in glucose can affect them easily.

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Thanks John for the info and support.

DCUKMod said:

Hi PenguinMum - That's got to be a blow for you.

I think in the meantime, it's important to keep your control steady and not to panic. Did anyone give you an indication of how long with would take for your urgent referral to come through?

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Thanks for your support. Optician said would prob be seen within a week but defo within 3 weeks. I will try to stay calm.

Fruitella said:

Just a word to hopefully offer you some reassurance. I think it was Boots that said the same to me and got an urgent referral within the next day or so. This was several years ago and the hospital consultant was not overly concerned at the time and said the opticians had panicked and it wasn't as urgent as they had said. Hopefully the same for you.

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Thank you. I will most likely have to change my glasses which I have only had for 8 weeks. Prescription today is different though they did say not to act on it.

Can anyone advise on whether I reduced my BG too quickly or what else I can do to improve my eye health.