Eye Exam :(
Had my eyes dialated today, and after 46 years of diabetes, he said I had a tiny tiny dot in my right eye, I think he said aneurysm. He gave me a report to give to endo and it states diabetic retinopathy right eye. He stated nothing needs to be done, and not to worry and it could even go away. He said pretty good after 46 years, isn't that like saying an A1C of 7 is pretty good because your a diabetic. I asked if I should come back sooner than 1 year he said nope, and he truly sounded not worried, but.............I AM WORRIED.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on -
Yikes! I'm worried for you! I didn't like the first eye doc I saw up here and just went to LensCrafters (who did the whole retina exam thing...) but am always nervous about that stuff!! I'm glad he sounds laid back about it but I totally understand and will worry along with you for a while!!
-
Permalink Reply by MegaMinxX on -
Is this a doctor you have been seeing for a while, and have confidence in ? Based on your comment of it being a (single ?)tiny tiny dot, I would tend to agree that no immediate treatment is required. But I would disagree with the 1 year for followup.
If you're not confident with him, maybe you could review the results with your endo, or seek a second opinion from another ophthalmologist or retinal specialist. If you get additional symptoms, like red flashes or floaters, definitely get another appt.Here is something from my dr's website:
The most important way to prevent visual loss in diabetes to keep blood sugars and blood pressures under good control. Keeping the Hemoglobin A1C (long term measure of sugar control) under 7.0 is extremely important. Tight blood sugar control reduces the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Even if retinopathy develops, patients with tight control tend to have mild and non-sight threatening retinopathy. Annual check-ups by your eye doctor or retina specialist after the diagnosis of diabetes and every 6 month follow-up evaluation once diabetic retinopathy develops is important.I also have 46 years of T1, and have had significant retinopathy, laser treatments and surgery, and my dr also tells me I'm in pretty good shape compared to others with 46 years !
-
Permalink Reply by Karen on -
Thanks for the information, made me feel better. I have been going to this MD for a long time and I have total confidence in him. I go to endo next month and he gave me a report to share with him, and I definitely will ask about a second opinion. I have worried about complications like this for 46 years
-
Permalink Reply by karen on -
I have a tiny spot in my eye which was discovered a couple of years ago. My ophthalmologist said not to worry over this as she sees this type of spot in folks as young as 17. I am far older than that. A diabetic with a tiny spot is not a big deal, but we keep an eye on it (no pun intended). It has not changed in two years...and I have no problem with my sight other than being near sighted. Please don't worry, Karen.
-
Permalink Reply by Clare on -
I am seeing my opthalmologist on Monday and your post makes me nervous. In the 37 years I have been going to the eye guy he has always said he saw no diabetic changes. He also told me a few years ago that if he hadn't seen anything after 35 years he most likely would never see anything. But apparently a tiny, tiny, dot is exactly what he said it is. Not something to stress over so I guess if it were me I would just be happy it was not a big big dot ? Also doctors are notorious for covering their asses. If they see even the tiniest of changes and don't report them then they can be held liable.
-
Permalink Reply by Karen on
-
so true Clare, I think my endo has an eye guy right in the office, so might just have him check me out too
-
Permalink Reply by anagantios on -
6 years ago I went to the eye doctor and had the same thing happen to me. Retinopathy in one eye. We were worried for a little while and I really focused on getting my blood sugar in tight control.
Next time I went to the eye doctor it had completely disappeared. My eyes have been completely clear ever since, despite ups and downs with blood sugar control. So it definitely can go away!I won't tell you not to worry...but worry productively! See what you can do to get even tighter control of your bloodsugar and see if it's still there in 6 months to a year.
-
Permalink Reply by JohnG on -
You should be seeing a Doctor with modern equipment that scans and takes digital images inside of your eye. He should show you the results and compare the images each time you go to see him. I have a small spot in one eye, it has been there for the 6 years he has been taking photos of it, no change so it appears to be a old scar, no worry. The photos will bring comfort and they are easy to understand.
-
Permalink Reply by Marie Torregrosa on -
Don't worry. I have had "spots" for several years now without progression. This is not to say that you should not be mindful to keep your sugars at bay and to pay attention to your kidneys (you might be spilling some protein) they tend to happen at the same time. I have been a T1 diabetic for 54yrs. I check my eyes on a yearly basis. Since I have been diabetic for so long, I expected that some of the secondary conditions due to diabetes would show up. One year, I had three spots (small) and, I found that I was spilling protein in the urine also. My doctor placed me on an ACE inhibitor to protect the kidneys. Six months later, my kidneys were fine and I only had one spot. That has been the case for 12yrs.
Don't worry, it doesn't serve you and it hadds to the stress. However, be proactive--make sure that you check your eyes at least once a year.
My thoughts are with you. Take care
Marie
-
Permalink Reply by Equestrian on -
Karen. If your dr is not a retinal specialist with great experience in diabetic retinopathy, please find one who will determine if your spot is benign or if it is proliferative retinopathy. I am not trying to alarm you, but there are excellent preventative measures like photo pan coagulation that can effectively arrest progression. I had the procedure at the age of 21 and I am now 51 with no recurrence and relatively good vision. Please do not dismiss it as just a spot until you have had a good specialist do the appropriate tests and analysis.
Advertisement
REsources
Groups
From the Diabetes Hands Foundation blog...
Together, We Can Get Diabetes Co-Stars to 10,000 Views!
Above is a photo of Diabetes Hands Foundation’s own Manny Hernandez with the stars of the Diabetes Co-Stars Video, “Strength in Numbers.” In case you haven’t heard the news yet, there is a new video making it’s way through the …Continue Reading
Congratulations Diabetes Advocates Scholarship Recipients!
The Diabetes Hands Foundation and Diabetes Advocates Program is proud to announce and congratulate the members of DA who were granted scholarships to attend diabetes conferences in 2013! Thanks to a generous grant from Novo Nordisk, in 2013 we were …Continue Reading
TuDiabetes Team
DHF STAFF
 Manny Hernandez(Co-Founder, Editor, has LADA)
|
DHF VOLUNTEERS
Lead Administrator
 Bradford (has type 1) |
Administrators
 Lorraine (mother of type 1) |
 Marie B (has type 1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIKE us on Facebook
Spread the word
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
© 2013 A community of people touched by diabetes, run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation.
