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Vision Issues

W

WizWas

Member
Messages
8
Location
Iwade, Kent
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all
Been diagnosed a few weeks now, and things are slowly coming under control.
My main issue now is my vision, still really poor with generally blurred vision. Before being diagnosed I generally wear glasses all the time for an astigmatism & being short sighted. Now, distance wise I can see better without my glasses (no where near 100%, but much better). Close up i really struggle to read anything. I ended up buying a pair of "Reader Glasses" and wearing both pairs so I can read my screen.

Now I spoke to my practice nurse last week who has referred me to the retinal screening - but I don't have an appointment as yet.

The trouble is I work in IT and stare at a computer screen all day - so am currently seriously struggling. Had to go home early a couple of times as I just can't read what was on my screen - which is not going down well with my employer (They are not a caring sharing type of employer!!).

Not knowing what else to do I have made an Opticians appointment for Thursday, to see what they say, but don't want to fork out for glasses that I may only need for a few weeks...

So any advice from you lovely folks?

Thanks
 
My eyesight was exactly how you described yours until I got my blood glucose under control with a low carb diet. Once I got my BG down to a consistently good level it took about two months before I noticed that my eyesight was back to normal.

I bought reading glasses from the pound shop - I got them in various strengths - don't let an optician persuade you in to buying expensive glasses before you've had a chance to reduce your blood glucose.
 
High blood sugar swells the lenses in the eyes causing blurred vision. As your blood sugar reduces, your eyesight should improve. Best thing to to is to eat a low carb diet to reduce your blood sugars. Avoid breakfast cereals, bread, potatoes, rice and pasta. Also avoid fruit juice and fruit such as bananas and grapes. If you do this your blood sugars will come down and your blurred vision will go in a few weeks.

Get a blood glucose meter to check your blood sugars before and two hours after eating.
 
General effect with declining blood sugar level is for close vision to worsen and distance vision to improve without correction. For most people after blood sugar level stabilisation back at a lower level eyesight reverts back more or less back to the original after 6 to 8 weeks. However, a few people do experience a greater permanent change, and longer settling down period.

I finished up slightly less short-sighted, but slightly more astigmatic, although my old glasses are still close enough.

Any professional optician will decline to even do an eye test during the readjustment period, as it has no long-term validity.

This is the leaflet produced by the RNIB on eye conditions related to diabetes, covering the general effects on sight as well as other conditions such as cataracts, retinopathy and macular oedema etc.
 
Thanks both for the response :-)

I have started eating better (as Art Of Flowers describes), and do have a blood Glucose meter. Before food I generally get a 9-10, 14-17 after.

Problem I have is that with the cheaper reading glasses (I did buy a pair from Asda) is that whilst the text is larger, because of my astigmatism everything is still blurred, just larger. So ended up wearing 2 pairs at once, not exactly a good look (less worried about) or very comfortable.

So would I be right in saying that potentially it could be a while before my blood sugars come down enough that my vision returns? what can I do in the mean-time?
 
Please stop wearing two pairs. I did this some years ago and it caused headaches so bad that I ended up on beta blockers. Keep a copy of your prescription from the optician's and take it with you when you go for your retinopathy screening. I was told that the screening results would take two to three weeks but I received them in about five days. Meanwhile, you can work on lowering your bg. I wouldn't buy a new pair of specs until after the screening or until after a reduction in bg which, I know, means a struggle at work but as a new pair of specs is now running at £100 approx per pair it may well pay to hold fire.
 
It's not unusual to have blurred vision when first diagnosed due to glucose accumulating in the lens of the eye. It can take several weeks for vision to return to normal but the sooner you get good blood glucose control, the sooner the vision should return to normal.

Ready readers come in a variety of strengths so make sure you use the most appropriate one.

I presume as you work in IT you will have already adjusted the brightness, contrast and font size ....
 
WizWas said:
Hi all
Been diagnosed a few weeks now, and things are slowly coming under control.
My main issue now is my vision, still really poor with generally blurred vision. Before being diagnosed I generally wear glasses all the time for an astigmatism & being short sighted. Now, distance wise I can see better without my glasses (no where near 100%, but much better). Close up i really struggle to read anything. I ended up buying a pair of "Reader Glasses" and wearing both pairs so I can read my screen.

Now I spoke to my practice nurse last week who has referred me to the retinal screening - but I don't have an appointment as yet.

The trouble is I work in IT and stare at a computer screen all day - so am currently seriously struggling. Had to go home early a couple of times as I just can't read what was on my screen - which is not going down well with my employer (They are not a caring sharing type of employer!!).

Not knowing what else to do I have made an Opticians appointment for Thursday, to see what they say, but don't want to fork out for glasses that I may only need for a few weeks...

So any advice from you lovely folks?

Thanks
Click to expand...
When you close your eyes are you getting after shadows, shooting stars, bright lights or any other strange effect? If so get in touch with GP straight away.
 
I had hyperglycaemia 22nd Sept and nearly died from Ketoacidosis.

I did low carb diet since and my bg readings now are hitting the 5s and 6s.

However I started having blurry visions.

Could this be neuropathy? My eye test is in mid December.

I’m so scared, please advice.

Andrew
 
I had hyperglycaemia 22nd Sept and nearly died from Ketoacidosis.

I did low carb diet since and my bg readings now are hitting the 5s and 6s.

However I started having blurry visions.

Could this be neuropathy? My eye test is in mid December.

I’m so scared, please advice.

Andrew
 
NewTD2 said:
I had hyperglycaemia 22nd Sept and nearly died from Ketoacidosis.

I did low carb diet since and my bg readings now are hitting the 5s and 6s.

However I started having blurry visions.

Could this be neuropathy? My eye test is in mid December.

I’m so scared, please advice.

Andrew
Click to expand...
Are you on insulin? I found that as my blood sugars came down my eyesight was all over the place. Took about 3 months to settle fully. If you're really worried then worth getting it checked out.
 
WizWas said:
Hi all
Been diagnosed a few weeks now, and things are slowly coming under control.
My main issue now is my vision, still really poor with generally blurred vision. Before being diagnosed I generally wear glasses all the time for an astigmatism & being short sighted. Now, distance wise I can see better without my glasses (no where near 100%, but much better). Close up i really struggle to read anything. I ended up buying a pair of "Reader Glasses" and wearing both pairs so I can read my screen.

Now I spoke to my practice nurse last week who has referred me to the retinal screening - but I don't have an appointment as yet.

The trouble is I work in IT and stare at a computer screen all day - so am currently seriously struggling. Had to go home early a couple of times as I just can't read what was on my screen - which is not going down well with my employer (They are not a caring sharing type of employer!!).

Not knowing what else to do I have made an Opticians appointment for Thursday, to see what they say, but don't want to fork out for glasses that I may only need for a few weeks...

So any advice from you lovely folks?

Thanks
Click to expand...
@Jay-Marc seems to know about eyesight and I hope will correct me if necessary. If you are short sighted then you need glasses with concave lenses ie. with a minus power. As far as I know all the ready readers are for long sight. As you also have astigmatism I would recommend having an eye test and getting some cheap glasses, Specsavers do complete pairs at £25 which seems a good investment in your case even for a few weeks.
 
I'm really struggling with this at the moment. I wear glasses all the time but my glasses aren't working for me for reading etc or looking at my pc at work. I have to take my glasses off and go up close to the monitor. I've been doing the blood sugar diet so my blood sugars are as they should be now but I just hate this part. I know it'll get better but it's hard going. This is the 3rd time and so I'm going to ensure I keep an eye on my blood levels.
 
I sat at a pc for a guy who is also diabetic with sight issues but some of the things I need to use didn't work so I had to go back to my own desk. We cant report it either as I'm not meant to use that pc. Hopefully my eyes will be ok in a few days otherwise I'll get some of those cheap reading classes.
 
pamital said:
I sat at a pc for a guy who is also diabetic with sight issues but some of the things I need to use didn't work so I had to go back to my own desk. We cant report it either as I'm not meant to use that pc. Hopefully my eyes will be ok in a few days otherwise I'll get some of those cheap reading classes.
Click to expand...
Have you had a recent diabetic eye screening?
 
pamital said:
Last year. It’s due again around April/May
Click to expand...
Probably it's a temporary problem due to improved blood sugars but if ready-readers don't work or your vision doesn't improve within a few weeks, don't wait for your screening but see an optometrist.
 
Thank you. I will do. I’m sure it’s just temporary but will make sure I don’t wait too long.
 
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