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Sore eyes

S

SophiaW

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,015
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
I'm worried about Jess' eyes. Shortly after she was diagnosed with diabetes she complained of having sore eyes, rubbing them and saying she couldn't see properly. It seemed especially noticeable when she needed to do writing or reading. I spoke to her consultant back then and he said it could possibly be due to her blood sugars stabalizing and it should go away. Although on the whole it has seemed to get a little better there are still times when she rubs her eyes complaining that they're sore. I've taken her to the opticians twice in the past couple of years and she's due for her annual check again this month. So far everything has been healthy and clear. The opticians on both occasions in the past have said that there is nothing wrong with her eyesight and perhaps someone at school has glasses and that's why she's complaining of problems with her eyes. None of her friends wear glasses and she says that this is not the reason, her eyes are genuinely sore. Her blood sugars are mostly stable, we don't suffer huge swings from high to low and her last Hba1c was 7.7 (up slightly because during that period she had swine flu). The soreness is not there all the time, only occasionally, and we cannot seem to find any pattern for example it can happen when she's reading, writing, doing art, watching TV, this morning it happened just before breakfast when she'd just got out of bed from resting her eyes all night sleeping. I'm feeling quite helpless right now, my daughter is complaining that her eyes are not right and that they're hurting but the consultant and opticians are all saying that there's nothing wrong with her eyes. Should I be asking to see an eye specialist? Could there be a diabetes related problem affecting her eyes even although her Hba1c is showing as acceptable and the images from the eye tests are showing everything as normal?

Her eyes are not sore all the time, only on intermittent occasions and the soreness seems to last for a few minutes to about half an hour. If she's trying to draw or read we'll take a rest and then she'll come back to it later and be fine.
 
She's seen an optician. What is an Ophthalmologist? I asked our diabetes consultant a couple of years ago if Jess should see someone about her eyes, he said not until she'd had diabetes for about 5 years. I told him about the eye problems she was exerpiencing and that we'd been to the optician and should I see someone else. I got the impression from his response that the optician is who we would see when the 5 years comes. Are you saying there is another eye person a diabetic should be seen by? I'll be upset with him if this is the case because I specifically raised concerns about her eyes and believed that an optician is all who we would see anyway unless their photographs of her eyes showed problems.
 
What is an Ophthalmologist
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An Ophthalmologist is a specialist doctor for eyes, your GP can refer you to him/her.They are generally hospital based and are more highly trained than opticians and also have more sophisticated equipment with which to examine the eyes.
 
Thanks Sue, I'll make an appointment with our GP to get a referral. I really think this needs to be looked into further, at the very least to give us both peace of mind.
 
Hi ya, my daughter who isn't diabetic suffers/suffered from a similar symptom so thought it was worth letting you know - I took her back to the opticians many, many times over 6 years and was told every time nothing wrong, slight astigmatism and she was given glasses to be worn for reading, TV PC work etc but the problem still remained, sore eyes with blurred vision at times, particularly when reading. Then finally, chanced upon a fab Optician who said she had lazy eye balls! lol! what she meant was that when Kyra's eyes would go into the middle (imagine going cross eyed) they would stop and bounce back, she showed me, it was fascinating! because both eyes are lazy it was harder to diagnose. Now, obviously I am not trying to diagnose your daughters sore eyes but it could be worth saying to the Optician about lazy eye in both eyes?? according to the lady I saw it's not un common but easily missed :roll:
 
Thanks, I'll mention that to the optician, we have an appointment next week for her annual check. I'm waiting to hear from the Doctor to see if a referral to an eye specialist is an option.
 
Hi Sophie,
the hospitals don't usually refer children under 12yrs old to see the ophthalmogist( then after the age of 12 its done at a yearly checkup), its where a photograph is taken of the back of the iris (someone correct me if i'm wrong) So you may need to be persistant to get it done.
Good luck and hope all goes well,
Suzi x
 
What is the difference between an ophthalmologist, orthoptist and optometrist?
They are all professionally trained people who treat those with ophthalmic problems.

Ophthalmologists are medically trained doctors who have undertaken further specialist training and study in matters relating to the human eye. They examine, diagnose and treat diseases and injuries of the eye. They can prescribe a wide range of medicines, perform eye surgery and typically work in the Hospital Eye Service.

Orthoptists diagnose and treat defects of vision and abnormalities of eye movement. They are usually part of a hospital care team looking after people with eye problems especially those related to binocular vision, amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (squint). For further information visit the British Orthoptist Society website.

Optometrists examine eyes, give advice on visual problems and prescribe and fit glasses or contact lenses. They are usually employed in the high street but may also work in the Hospital Eye Service. For further information visit the College of Optometrists website.
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How can I make an appointment with an ophthalmologist?
To see any medical specialist working in the NHS, including an ophthalmologist, you need to get a referral from your General Practitioner (GP).
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