anyone here have diabetic retinopathy? if so, how much has it affected your vision? do you see moving spots in your line of vision? does bright light hurt your eyes? had surgery for this? thank you so much for you input!
2007-01-01 06:27:56 · 4 answers · asked by christinedaae 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
I did have diabetic retinopathy several years ago. It would cause dark streamers and floaters to occasionally appear in my eyesight, sometimes for days at a time. It did not sunstantially hinder my eyesight at that stage, but it was both annoying and distressing. (They are actually tiny capillaries leaking on your retina.) Thirteen painful laser surgeries later and my eyesight was back to normal. I've been fine ever since. If you've been diabetic a long time (80% of all diabetics who have had diabetes for 15 years) or have poor blood glucose control, chances are very high it will eventually happen. It can lead to blindness, if untreated. Concerning bright lights, I am told the surgery can cause that side effect, but I have not noticed a significant change in that regard. My night driving seems normal to me. The procedure I had was panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). You can read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_retinopathy
2007-01-01 06:32:39 · answer #1 · answered by Joe D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have diabetic retinopathy. It does effect your vision but if carefully monitored and blood sugar is monitored it helps greatly.
The moving spots are called floaters, these occur when blood vessels on your retina bleed. In the diabetic eye, blood vessels grow where they shouldn't and in retinopathy they bleed. Once a bleed has occurred it just takes time for the blood to be absorbed back into the eye. Laser surgery is cauterizing the blood vessels that bleed. I have had 8 laser surgeries. Bright lights hurt my eyes, so I wear my sun glasses at night while driving.
I had a membrane peel back in July 06. They go in the eye in three places and scrape away the membrane that forms on the retina of a diabetic eye. And now I go in every 3 weeks and have a shot of cortisone around to the back of my eye to reduce retinal swelling.
This is a complicated disease but with modern technology we have a much better chance at saving our vision and avoiding blindness. Once a person has retinopathy it never goes away, you can't get rid of it, but it can be controlled.
Hope this helps...
2007-01-01 16:25:55 · answer #2 · answered by Cat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i have had a whole lot of experience with retinopathy have had many surgeries and have had peripheral sight loss and cannot drive a car now bright lights and cold air bother my eyes constantly wear sunglasses when outside no matter the time of the year if you would like to talk to me just let me know
2007-01-09 01:52:34 · answer #3 · answered by wildirishrose19522000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Moving spots in your line of vision are called eye floaters or vitreous floaters. they may be annoying but harmful. but if it is accompanied by flashes you should see your ophthalmologist
especially for diabetics because this could mean opthalmic migraine or retinal bleeding.
2007-01-07 05:12:25 · answer #4 · answered by aquarius 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋