Well my day hasn't gone so great!  I had my yearly eye exam and was told I had the very beginnings of diabetic retinopathy.  The one thing I hoped I would never hear.  He said it was only 2 small spots, but wants to see me every 6 months to make sure it doesn't progress.  Do any of you have this?  Is there a chance it doesn't get worse and stays only the 2 small spots?  It does not affect my vision or anything, and he said it is nothing to worry about right now, just keep my bg in control and see him more often.  he said my right eye is completely fine. 

Just need some more input on this please.....

Kenny sorry ot hear about your exam.  It is so important as you know now to watch this very closely.  The earlier the better.  There are treaments in the early stages that canhelp prevent damaging complications.

I would be interested on hearing the responses from others that are in the same boat as you and what they are doing.

This is something I am scared about as well.

Normal Blood Sugars, as well as controlling elevated blood pressure and cholesterol can reduce the risk of vision loss.

Kenny, I went  about 30 years with no testing and who know's what A1c's.  I developed spots that came and went in one eye.  Sometimes they were visible and other times not.  Eventually I went through 2 sessions of Laser treatment on the one eye.  Back then they just blasted the eye with many bursts. Much of it was done in a prophylactic sense.   It has been way over 15 years since and no more spots.  My recent endos say that the treatment I received was commonly done back then and yielded excellent results.  Apparently it is no longer done and now they actually target the actual spots to seal the leakers. The endos don't all feel that this is as good in preventing future problems.  All in all I wouldn't worry about a couple of spots. Even if you have to have it done it isn't a big deal.

I have been a diabetic for over a year now.  It has not been an easy year.  I was diagnosed with my A1C at 11.2....I got it to 6.4 when I developed a horrible abcess near my insulin port site.  To make a long story short I was battleling high blood sugar for 2-3 months when it just got out of control and I needed surgery to remove the horribly infected area that would not heal.    I am great now and back to normal.  Or so I thought when I went to my eye dr.   Turns out I had a blood vessel pop in my right eye which was probably from when my sugars were over 600.  I too have to go and get my eyes check every 6 months to make sure nothing changes.  I have noticed a slight and I mean SLIGHT difference in my right eye.  Things are a little more blurry and my prescription strength for my glasses and contacts are a lot higher.  I take this really seriously cause I have an aunt that went blind, two uncles with no legs, three cousins, and a father....all with diabetes.  I wanna be able to see my son get married and run around with my grandchildren.  I am only 28 and I have a long long life ahead of me.....and am super lucky cause I have the best doctors around!

Kenny, hang in there guy! There is nothing worse than going to the doc and getting news like this.  It's like a kick in the gut!  I have a couple of spots on my eyes that the doc found and is watching them.  I was told the same thing, keep good control and go to the doc every 6 months.  So far they are not changing for me, hopefully this will be the case for you as well.  There are lots of things they can do to halt the progression if it does get worse so keep those appointments.

Thank you to everyone for your hopeful words... They definitely make me feel a little better about this.  Suzanne, how long ago did your doctor find those spots? 

The thing that really irks me is that I have had some really good control in my 11 years with diabetes.  Never had an A1c over 6.4.  This is why I hate Diabetes so much, you do everything right and still get these problems. 

Thank you again for all your help guys!!!

Kenny Kellner at 10:20PM on Oct 12, 2009

Thank you to everyone for your hopeful words... They definitely make me feel a little better about this.  Suzanne, how long ago did your doctor find those spots? 

 

The thing that really irks me is that I have had some really good control in my 11 years with diabetes.  Never had an A1c over 6.4.  This is why I hate Diabetes so much, you do everything right and still get these problems. 

 

Thank you again for all your help guys!!!

About a year and a half ago is when they found mine.  I am on some medicine that can affect my eyes so I have to go every 6 months to make sure the meds aren't messing with my eyes and he keeps an eye on the spots too.  This gives the doc the best indication of the progression since I see him so often. 

I spoke to a buddy of mine who has been diabetic since 1982 and he said he got spots too about a year or so ago.  His A1C has always been 7 or less so he was super frustrated at this.  The did some laser work on him 2 months ago and all is well now.  It is frustrating that you can do all the right things and still get a complication.  Just keep doing what you are doing, it is all that you have control over.  And by the way, what you are doing is an incredible job of taking care of yourself!

Yeah dude! 11 Years under 6.4?!?! You're amazing! I wanna be like you when I grow up! I'm gonna get my eyes checked soon and I hope I get good results back. But like Suzan said, amazing control man! You get a chocolate chip cookie! (24g)!!!!

I had spots first appear in my right eye about a year after my pregnancy with my son - I had pregnancy induced hypertension and they believe that helped bring it on.  I had lazer treatments at that point on just my right eye, and all was fine.  I went ahead to have my daughter, and had a huge leak (it was like an explosion of black) in my right eye - I have had around 8 procedures in my right eye since then, and about 6 in my left. 

Until my pregnancies, I had no complications after 14 years with Type 1.  The eye problems have been the biggest lingering effect since having my kids - and while those eye problems are no fun, I am diligent with keeping my eye appointments and treatments going and hopeful that the progression will slow.  

My left eye is still pretty good, but i do require reading glasses for my right eye an vision in that eye is quite blurry for close-up work.  My night vision is slightly diminished.  But I can still see, and that is all that matters to me.

Best of luck with your eye situation!  Hopefully, you will not require lazer treatment for a long, long time - or ever!

I also have the apathy in both eyes i treated it with laser and vastin shots.(becareful of the vastin shots, there considered experimental and may not be covered by insurance.)  My vision actually got better, but i do have terrible night vision, and a little bit of tunnel vision